THE EDITOR, Sir:

I recently visited the examination depot to obtain a fitness certificate for my car. The certificate issued quoted the colour of the vehicle as 'brown' which corresponded with the registration certificate, but differed from the certificate of title which quoted the colour as 'gold'. When I questioned what I considered to have been an error, the examiner asked me quite nicely "Madam, what is gold? Isn't it a precious metal? Gold is not a colour," he said. I was so taken aback.

In discussing my situation with the other road users who were at the depot, one man explained that the colour of his car, which was logged on his papers as beige, was also altered to brown. During the lively discussion that ensued, it was brought out that silver is now classified as gray.

'Odd-coloured'

My vehicle is imported and was shipped with documents stating the colour as gold. I believe we can all identify with and visualise gold as a colour be it white gold, yellow gold or red gold. Since the Examiners are making this change, I now ask, is it in line with accepted standards? Are members of the general public and the police aware of these changes? Or is it just owners of these 'odd-coloured' vehicles, through their experience at the depot, who are being made aware?

If my vehicle was stolen, and the colour was referred to as brown, what would the unknowing citizen be looking out for? It could be right under somebody's nose and they would not even know.

Brown and beige and gold are so far from each other - how can they all be logged as brown? And irrespective of what we classify gold and silver as (metal or otherwise), do they not have colour?

Enlighten me if I am wrong. But I wonder now too, what other colours are being changed?

I am, etc.,

JOY DEMERCADO

Box 465

Montego Bay PO #1

St James