This letter was originally intended to be one of support for the statement by BICREF (September 11) about the importation of six dolphins.

These are intelligent, wild creatures which have been captured to "entertain" humans. They are used to swimming up to 100 miles a day. How far will they swim in their pool here? How long will they live? Certainly not their normal lifespan.

How would any human react to house arrest? Not happily, but they would still have some diversion with books etc. These innocent creatures have nothing. Would the powers that be have done the same thing to their children? This is a religious island. Are not dolphins, or any wild animal for that matter, God's children?

Apart from the totally amoral aspect of the importation, who provided the vast amount of money spent?

The last straw is the letter by Ray Bezzina. Forget all the blurb (this is putting it politely) about how his department is following all the rules etc.

Just go to the last sentence. That the workers' future would be in jeopardy. Firstly they have a choice and can find other jobs. Secondly, the amount of money spent would have kept them for years without them having to do a thing. Thirdly, and most importantly, the dolphins did not have a choice.

This whole episode is wrong and appalling and any country acting in this manner should be ashamed of itself.