THE EDITOR, Sir:

I feel obliged to comment on the singing of Jamaica's National Anthem by sports administrator Ian Andrews at the National Stadium last Friday night at the start of World Cup qualifier football match between Jamaica and the United States.

Mr Andrews' rendition of the anthem, done a cappella, was, to say the least, in poor taste and an affront to one of our national emblems.

While there is no question that he has a good singing voice, he bastardised the anthem from start to finish by singing off-key in parts, adding extra notes and bars and even introducing slurs and phrases in parts where they were not meant to be. This was most noticeable towards the end of the last verse at which point he got into a long slur.

At the end, he must have felt accomplished as the many fans clapped and cheered.

Mr Andrews must take a look at the original script of the anthem and see the difference in his rendition. It is high time he be told his so-called singing of the anthem is an aberration which must be discontinued.

All our national emblems should be treated with respect and not be varied.

Perhaps the performing of our national anthem should be confined to a recorded version of that done by the Jamaica Military Band.

ANTHONY O'GILVIE

Kingston