The Editor, Sir:

I can hardly believe what I have just read in the article 'Cockpit study to be disclosed', that a Government-appointed team spent three months and more than $2 million studying the Cockpit Country boundaries and didn't seek to meet with the Cockpit Country Stakeholders Group (CCSG).

My recollection is that it was this group that brought the issue to public attention, and pressured the minister to conduct this study. It has within it a number of civil society organisations, NGOs and individuals with a great deal of expertise and interest in precisely this issue. Yet, according to Diana McCaulay, the group was only able to meet with the Government-appointed team last week, despite repeated requests by the CCSG. This casts a great deal of doubt on the process of consultation that took place. Surely, this team should have wanted to hear for itself the information and ideas of a group which has shown so much interest in the Cockpit Country, and without whose efforts, this study would never have been commissioned. For consultation to be genuine and thorough, the views of all stakeholders need to be sought and given proper consideration. I would really like to hear from the team an explanation of why they didn't initiate and hold an earlier meeting with the CCSG.

I am, etc.,

COLEEN ROBINSON

c.robins.365@gmail.com

Kingston 8