Dear Editor,

I believe that the defacing of the Ian Fleming airport sign at the former Boscobel Aerodrome, now Jamaica’s third international airport, was just not an act of impulsive vandalism, but a well thought out response to an issue that has ignited passions to boiling point.

If the workers and the people of St Ann and St Mary had been told that they were building an airport to honour Ian Fleming, possibly it would still be a work in progress, and I can understand their deep disappointment, for after labouring long and hard in the boiling sun this is their reward.

The person whose idea it was to name this airport in memory of Ian Fleming was not thinking as a Jamaican, and quite possibly is not even a Jamaican struggling to get by in two of the poorest parishes in the country and looking for a symbol to give him a little hope for the future.

An airport is a very important asset in the growth of a community. It instils great pride in its people, so for something that means so much too little thought was given to the probable repercussions. May I humbly propose that the airport be given its rightful name, Boscobel International Airport, and after a few years of consultation with the people a decision should then be taken as to whom the people want to name their airport after.

Ian Fleming has already had a beach named after his main character, James Bond, so what is the rush to name so many important Jamaican assets after this writer who unquestionably brought a lot of visitors to Jamaica with his writings? But so did Bob Marley, and he was born in St Ann. So was Marcus Garvey, and I am sure that there are many more stalwarts from the two parishes whom the people would love to honour in this way.

Give this matter more time.

Ken Spencer

Kingston 8

ken3_1999@yahoo.com