Dear Editor

This is a response to the “Let’s keep our beaches clean” letter in the paper of June 12.  What the ‘Concerned Citizen’ saw was probably a stray and misguided student throwing away his book.

India does not have such a custom. Books and education are worshipped in India. Books are used and reused, never thrown away.

We have a special day in the year when Goddess Saraswati (who looks after the educational aspect of our life) is worshipped.

Rituals are performed in schools and colleges across the country so children understand that the tools of learning are sacrosanct.

I fully agree that Antigua’s beaches should be kept clean and they should not be littered with any thing, least of all books. Beaches are a national treasure and must be enjoyed with care and respect.