I disagree with the Rev Devon Dick referring to the Queen as a foreigner.

This Jamaican was born at Half-Way Tree, just before the outbreak of the Second World War. I was taught by my mother, born on Hope Road, that I was British subject by birth, a citizen of the mightiest empire to exist since mankind began recording history.

Wrong move

Since the Queen of England is also the Queen of Jamaica, it is not correct to describe her as a foreigner. I had the birthright to appeal to the Sovereign Queen of England because I was born in Jamaica. Suppose she decided to take up residence in Jamaica.

Suppose she were to ask the English government to find itself a governor general, because she didn't plan to return to England in a hurry, would Englishmen then have the right to descend on Jamaica willy-nilly, or wouldn't we have the right to demand that they get a visa to visit Jamaica?

The Rev Dick must understand that Jamaica is just as independent politically as our sister dominions of Australia, Barbados, Belize, Canada or New Zealand; that our peculiar arrangements with British institutions such as the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council have been made to suit us, not the English, who would probably like to have as little to do with us as the reverend would like to do with them.

Most important, we are supposed to be a Christian kingdom, not a secular republic like the United States of America or that which England is apparently struggling to become.

I am, etc.,

R. J. HOPKIN

PO Bax 4

Kingston 6