THE EDITOR, Sir:

For someone who writes a perfectly literate letter to the editor ('Canadians diss our national flag', September 11, 2012), Mr Richard May shows astonishing ignorance of basic flag etiquette.

In regard to his strident complaint that the Canadian High Commission has shown "gross disrespect to our country and our citizens", I would simply refer him to the Jamaica Information Service booklet on national emblems and symbols.

On the page which outlines the national flag code, item 5 states correctly: "No other flag should be placed above or to the right (not 'left', Mr May) of the Jamaican flag, except at foreign embassies, consulates and missions." Item 6 continues: "Except at foreign embassies, consulates and missions, no foreign flag may be flown publicly, unless the flag of Jamaica is also flown."

The chancery premises of a foreign embassy or (for a Commonwealth nation) high commission is virtually the foreign soil of the so-called 'sending state', and citizens of the 'receiving state' or any other country technically require invitation to enter.

MERRICK NEEDHAM