The practice of releasing plastic balloons at community events has come in for criticism again from an environmentalist.

James Conyers said last week's balloon release during the opening ceremony at Cup Match gave him new reason for the minute of silence that followed.

In a Letter to the Editor, Mr. Conyers said he was impressed with the colours and pageantry at the St. George's Cricket Club on Thursday.

But the "horrific'' release of the balloons "effectively destroyed all the festive spirit'' of the holiday weekend for him.

And he cited a Royal Gazette article on July 23 detailing the threat the balloons pose to marine turtles.

When contacted on Monday, club president Louis (Red) DeSilva promised the next East End Classic will not have a balloon release.

Fresh from a Cup Match post-mortem, Mr. Desilva said: "Mr. Conyers' comments are appreciated. Tell him that if I have control over it next time, it will not happen again.'' He added: "It is something we will definitely have to consider in the future.'' Balloons and other man-made debris like plastic bags and bottles are often mistaken by animals as food, particularly marine animals who may see them as jellyfish.

Not only is the plastic toxic but it also blocks the stomach and prevents the animal from receiving nutrition from real food.

"They can ingest the balloons but the fish and marine mammals can't digest them,'' Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson said on Monday night.

Mr. Hodgson said the Ministry discourages the practice but said an active programme had not been considered.

"At this point the problem hasn't reached the proportions where we feel the need to implement a special programme,'' he said. "When we are contacted, we discourage it.'' Mr. Conyers said he did not want to single out the club for criticism, saying workmen's clubs like SGCC were important to the Island's social fabric.

He added he was headed to the club to watch the match when he heard it on radio.

Mr. Conyers is the coordinator of the locally based Conservation and Research of Island Species and Insular Systems (CRISIS) which assists countries fighting to save wildlife.

"It was never my intention to criticise the club,'' he said. "But now they can take it to their members what balloon releases do. I don't hold the clubs at fault.'' Marine menace: James Conyers