The Editor; Dear Sir,

I have read Christian Campbell's open letter to Yvonne Morley in the 3-5 December issue of your Weekender supplement. His statement therein that the U.B.P. chose to stay out of the emergent University of the West Indies and to distance The Bahamas completely from the Region should not go unchallenged.

The truth of the matter is that 40 years ago, in 1964 to be exact, The Bahamas became a constituent member of the University and contributed financially to its operation and sent Bahamian students there. I was appointed UBP Minister for Education on the 7th January, 1964 and a month later I attended my first meeting of the Council of the University at Mona, Jamaica. In those days the Council met at Mona in February each year. I was the representative of the Government of The Bahamas on the Council.

It was Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, the then Chancellor of the University, who initially invited me to be a member of the Council and appointed me for three years. She was the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria. Her husband had been Governor-General of Canada and South Africa. She was greatly revered by Council members who for the most part comprised Prime Ministers and Ministers of Education from the Region. During my tenure as Minister Her Royal Highness Princess Alice visited The Bahamas in her capacity as Chancellor and on 26th September, 1964 Dr Philip Sherlock, the vice-chancellor, attended the official opening of the new purpose-built Teachers' Training College (now C.C. Sweeting High School) at Oakes Field.

I note Mr Campbell is a poet, cultural critic, lecturer, journalist and a Rhodes scholar and it puzzles me why he would not have taken the time to research the matter before spreading such misinformation. In failing to check the facts, it seems to me that Mr Campbell has fallen prey to "a very deliberate brand of ideological propaganda" (adopting Mr Campbell's own words).

Yours etc:

GODFREY KELLY, CMG