Dear Sir,

After reading the article in Wednesday's Royal Gazette on the front page of the Sports section, I feel an overwhelming sense of duty to set the record straight for (reporter) Mr. Sam Stevens and anyone else that may have read his article and believed all the contents of it including comment by Mr. Brunson.

Knowing Mr. Stevens as I do, it disturbs me to think he would write such untruths without fully verifying their accuracy.

I cannot speak for everyone that Mr. Stevens has listed in the "all expenses paid" category but I can speak for the chairman of selectors, Mr. Arnold Manders, as it was me, his wife, who booked and paid for his first class ticket.

Furthermore, he did not stay in a room paid for by the BCB at the Hilton as Mr. Stevens incorrectly reported nor was he given any spending money for his daily expenses.

I also know for a fact that Mr. Fray, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Richardson didn't stay at the Hilton at the BCB's expense nor did Mr. Thomas travel first class on the BCB's dime. I know this because I too was there, and NO the BCB did not pay my way either!

I would also like it known that for years, before the $11 million, when no one cared about how the BCB got by financially, including our Government, Arnold was always giving to Bermuda's cricket for absolutely free. He has never expected any form of payment and has given freely of his time and knowledge because of his love for his country and the future of cricket in Bermuda.

In fact, as the coach for the Under-19s he has been training three times a week since January and he will be spending in excess of almost six weeks this summer taking them to Barbados for the Sir. Garfield Sobers Tournament and then to Toronto for the U-19 America's Regional World Cup qualifiers.

All of this, he has done for years and for free! Just know that $11 million is NOT what motivates Arnold to do what he does for cricket and Bermuda and, as someone that knows him well, I resent the implication that he was given an "all expenses paid" vacation with our tax payers money.

I would also question why Mr. Stevens did not investigate who paid for our Premier, his entourage, previous Bermuda captains, the team's wives and the 'Dream Team' (previous Bermuda cricketers) to attend the World Cup? In case you did not know Mr. Stevens, we, the taxpayers paid for them to attend. No-one pointed a derogatory finger at the Government for their kindness so why are we pointing a finger at the BCB for allegedly doing the same thing?

Furthermore, if the BCB did in fact pay for the executive committee to go at the ICC's invitation, then why should they not show their continued appreciation to the people that have given freely of their time and worked diligently for years for nothing in return to get Bermuda where we are today by paying for them to go?

For goodness sakes, can't we stop being so negative and open our eyes! We, Bermuda, made it into the World Cup! Stand up and be proud of what we have accomplished and instead of attacking the people that have assisted us in getting there let's be thankful to them! It is time that we stop promoting bad publicity for Bermuda! I understand that as an employee of The Royal Gazette it is your job to sell papers but remember, good publicity sells papers too Mr. Stevens.

ROBIN L.MANDERS

Wife of Chairman of Selectors Mr. Arnold Manders

and longtime supporter of Bermuda cricket

SPORTS EDITOR'S NOTE: We stand by our story that certain members of Bermuda Cricket Board have travelled to Barbados for tomorrow's World Cup final at the Board's expense. However, it has been brought to our attention that not all Board members who attended Bermuda's World Cup matches in Trinidad last month were compensated by the BCB.