The Editor, Sir:

We note with interest a letter published Saturday, September 8, from a Keith Delapenha, titled 'Bird shooting even after 'Dean''. Among others, the writer makes at least two charges which are largely inaccurate.

Firstly, he claims that the cost of the hunter's permit of $10,000 is depended on by the agency 'to finance a major part of [our] budget' as well as that, the agency does 'not have any interests in [Jamaica's] wildlife protection.'

National Environment and

Planning Agency (NEPA) would like to clarify, however, that the funds accrued from the cost of hunter's permits, which this year were sold at $10,000 is, in fact, used to finance the Bird Shooting Monitoring and Public Education Budget. None of the monies collected as a result of the issuing of hunter's permits are allocated to the agency's operational budget, as may be construed by Mr. Delapenha's letter.

Flawed charge

Additionally, the charge that NEPA does not care about wildlife protection is also flawed. Further to the passage of Hurricane Dean, the agency took the decision, in consultation with a number of experts in the field, to postpone the opening of the 2007 Bird Shooting Season from September 1 to September 30.

The new dates for the season which has been limited to three weeks from the original six started on Saturday, September 8 and will now end on Sunday, September 23.

Please also be reminded that all persons intending to hunt birds during the season must possess a valid shotgun licence and are required to obtain a bird shooting licence from NEPA. Under the Wild Life Protection Act, Hunters' Licences Regulations, all hunters must have a valid hunters' licence in order to shoot birds during the season.

The hunters' licence must be shown upon request by a game warden. Hunting without a licence is a breach of the Wild Life Protection Act and carries a maximum penalty of $100,000, and/or 12 months in prison.

I am, etc,

NATALIE FEARON (Mrs.)

Manager,

Public Education and

Corporate Communication

(PECC) Branch

National Environment and

Planning Agency (NEPA)

11 Caledonia Avenue

Kingston 5