QUO FATA FE
*FERUNT
1. ee. Miss Hanna
og vess
2 E and R.
DGO 261/2
Miss Thorda Abbott-Watt,
MAED,
FCO.
G
Telephone 2-2587
Deputy Governor's Office
Government House, Bermuda
30 December 1987
MRE 26416
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 28 JAN 1988
DESK
INDEX
ALAISTRY
! Action Taxe
Dear Thonda
1.
Thank
CONSERVATION IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES "FRAGMENTS OF PARADISE"
for you
the copy of Sara Oldfield's book "Fragments of Paradise" sent under cover of the copy of your letter to the Governor, Anguilla of 27 November 1987. You asked for comments.
із
2. Apart from a number of factual inaccuracies (e.g. Bermuda is not a part of the West Indies), of which you are no doubt aware, our main criticism would be that the book is written as though the British Government had responsibility for the areas of policy criticised by the author. In fact environmental matters are very much the responsibility of the local Government and here in Bermuda we have a Ministry of the Environment and a very active Minister. As is often the case environmental policies are political footballs kicked around between Government and Opposition and the criticisms of Government in the book will be seen as criticisms of the present United Bermuda Party Government and its policies. As such it is likely to be seized upon by the Opposition for the purposes of making political capital.
3. Given the constitutional separation of powers and the controversial nature of the subject, our advice to you would be to stand well organisations in the counterparts.
The
back and let the non-Governmental United Kingdom deal with their local Bermuda National Trust and the Audubon
Society being the relevant points of contact.
Yours ever,
Brian
B.G.J. Canty
CC: WIAD, FCo.