very real, living part of a large number of Bermudian lives.

This was the focus of Mrs. Louise Jackson's speech to the Hamilton Lions Club luncheon this week.

Mrs. Jackson has written two books about the Gombeys, conducted extensive research and produced a video on them.

Mrs. Jackson said that there was written documentation that traces the Gombey back to slavery. But its renaissance came in the early 1970s with the Gombey Competition at City Hall, organised by the first Bermuda Arts Council.

The winner of that competition, Dennis Place's Crowd, then went on a tour to Cali, Columbia and presented the Gombey dance to crowds of enthusiastic people.

But Mrs. Jackson voiced her disappointment over the apparent disinterest in the media and public.

She said: "I attended the recent Gombey Competition held at the Belmont Hotel. It was a wonderful day, sunny and bright, with hundreds of people -- mainly Bermudians, but with a nice mix of visitors.

"So why is it that not one word was said about this very positive, well-attended event on any of the radio or television stations on Sunday or Monday? "If these same little Gombey boys had been breaking the law, it would have been headline news.

"Why are we ignoring the richest part of our Bermudian heritage, our only indigenous dance? On the same note, why haven't we had a postage stamp on the Gombey? We've had stamps of dogs, flowers, airplanes and other inane things, but never our Gombeys. When this was explored several years ago, the then head of the Stamp Advisory Board said that the Gombey was not a part of Bermudian culture.'' Mrs. Jackson also said that there was an increasing lack of money spent on activities for youth other than sports.

"Those of us that are not athletic really take a back seat,'' she said.

"The sports facilities and budget are far and away beyond that given to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, whose budget is virtually eaten up paying grants and funding Sesame Street.'' She said that there is a need to preserve and protect our heritage, and we all must do our part.