The Editor, Sir:

It is with reference to the caption 'Cricket roll call' in The Sunday Gleaner, March 11 (p. A11), that 'my fingers have been on the keys' given my concern about the erroneous synopsis on the Republic of South Africa (South Africa) being 'Africa's largest and most populated country.'

In fact, Africa's largest country is the Republic of Sudan, in north-eastern Africa which has a total area of 2,505,800 sq km (967,490 sq miles). The Federal Republic of Nigeria located in West Africa is the most populous country on the continent with a population of around 130.2 million people (United Nations, 2005) and over 250 ethnic groups.

South Africa, as a matter of fact, possess the largest and best developed economy on the continent, with modern infrastructure common throughout the country and, in particular, its major cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Durban. South Africa is an ethnically diverse nation; it has the largest population of people from a mixed ethnic background, Negro (black), Caucasian (white), and Indian communities in Africa. South Africa's size is 1,219,090 sq km, with a population of 45.2 million people (United Nations, 2005) and 11 officially recognised languages.

Note well

Just for noting, the three largest countries on the African continent are the Republic of Sudan (as noted earlier), the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria (2,381,741 sq km) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2,344,858 sq km), respectively.

With every best wish for a keener eye on presenting facts, figures and features.

I am etc.,

HUGH A. SIMMONDS

Lecturer, School of

Hospitality and Tourism

Management

University of Technology