FIRSTLY, let me compliment you on your fine Opinion column "The Surreal Life . . ." (, March 3) and, secondly, may I request space as soon as possible for the following concern as I fear it may already be a case of the typical "done deal" behind the scenes in the grand old Bermuda style (choreographed so there will be useless protests after the permission has already been granted).

Arriving back in Bermuda yesterday to be faced with the news that there are plans to bring another circus to Bermuda involving the display of captive animals, is a sad reminder of the abusive undertones which still plague our society.

"Man's inhumanity to man begins with man's inhumanity to animals," said George Bernard Shaw and as highly developed as the "financial" Bermuda may be, we must make a concerted effort to develop a caring and nurturing attitude to the living world, particularly in children before they become desensitised to sustained cruelty to animals.

Circuses such as the Zerbini, which DNA Entertainment brought to Bermuda in December, 2002, exemplify many forms of abusive management practices and the captive display of animals for "entertainment".

I find it very encouraging indeed that Teresa Ince, manager of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has expressed unambiguous objection to the Press and clarified the situation with respect to pending permission from Government.

It is, however, not correct that Dr. Andrew Madeiros (the SPCA shelter chairman and a private veterinary practitioner) took an adamant stand against the arrival of the circus in December 2002. Nor was it the SPCA that alerted the Captive Animals Protection Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It was, in fact, the private charity wing of our veterinary hospital, the LPAE, which wrote to both organisations seeking immediate help and support ? which was given quickly and strengthened the stand we took on this matter. We forwarded the fact sheets about the Zerbin circus to the SPCA.

Indeed, it was through these organisations we obtained the many posters, which were affixed around various locations in Bermuda by members of our staff, friends, supporters and yours truly. I find it amazing that my colleague can claim he made any sort of stand whatsoever against the presence of the circus on the island in December, 2002, when, in fact, I protested to him personally after he visited the circus at its St. David's location (not far from where I live) and "signed off" on an agreement about its condition.

I was also sickened to have inspected the vessel berthed here in St. David's in which these poor creatures were shipped in very rough seas to and from Bermuda. They departed in appalling weather on December 23, 2002, this sad cargo, in a ship which by all accounts was not safe.

It was only after our tireless efforts to raise awareness of the reality of the situation, which involved my taking video footage of the elephants during less than sociable hours and other photographic evidence and sending the footage to CAPS in the UK, that the matter became public.

Deeply affected by having to witness this cruelty on my doorstep in St. David's, I was up each night of that terrible week before Christmas writing letters to editors, documenting all that I had witnessed, editing footage, writing emails to CAPS, etc. Through all of this the SPCA was silent.

That was why we reached out to CAPS, who then also directed the issue to PETA on our behalf. The truth is my personal and direct appeals to Dr. Madeiros were met with equivocation and he and the SPCA remained publicly silent until the last night of the circus performance ? when they became aware of deep-running feelings against the display of a caged tiger at the Esso garage on Par-la-Ville Road intended to boost ticket sales.

Educated dissent had then ? as usual ? been labelled "radical" or "outspoken" by those who had the power, before the event took place, to make a difference.

It is the final result which is important. And it is at least encouraging that now there is a more timely response ? and that Dr. Madeiros now officially joins the increasingly mainstream opinion that it is not "appropriate in this day and age to regard circuses as educational events: and recognises he has the power and duty as SPCA chairman and veterinary professional to make a difference.