Invite to see the other sides of Paternoster

THE opinion piece by Ryland Fisher “Time stands still for the poor of paradisic Paternoster” (Weekend Argus, January 6) refers.

While we appreciate his views of Paternoster and welcome his writing about the uniqueness of this small fishing village on the West Coast, I believe – and was asked by the local community to write this letter – a little more research and assistance by that very local community would go a long way to paint a clearer picture of our town and its unique residents.

We would like to introduce him to local teachers and pupils, where local businesswoman Sanita van der Merwe of the Paternoster Peoples’ Partnership has for years been running a feeding scheme and afterschool homework assistance classes. This has led German publisher Christian Neuber to invest heavily in education assistance of the local school with full-time German volunteers coming to Paternoster. These volunteers will soon be assisted by student volunteers from the University of Stellenbosch.

We would like to introduce him to the small communications company that annually sponsors the top achievers’ certificates and accompanying rewards in every grade. This team assisted the first winner in attending an international study tour last year. So well was this received by outside people that a Gauteng-based businessman offered to annually sponsor the top achiever with school clothes and possible learning material.

We would like to introduce him to the voluntary reading class, started by former magazine editor Joan Kruger, who is now assisted by three additional Mengele. voluntary reader-tutors. A simple

Adams says he makes no apology birthday wish by a local resident for for suicide bombers and killers of “school reading books” culminated children, whatever their religious in over 200 books that will be donated sympathy. to the reading class on January 25 –

I have yet to hear of an Israeli Ryland is invited! suicide bomber or of an Israeli We would like to introduce him to slaughtering a family of five, the local business couple who annually including a three-month-old infant. bring to the school a German dental

Meanwhile in Myanmar, the and speech team to care for the pupils’ Buddhist nationalists have been teeth and check for possible speech persecuting the Rohingya Muslims impediments. for years, and in the latest episode of We would like to introduce him ethnic cleansing, 870 000 Muslims fled to the hospitality teams that jump the land of their birth. No Jews or into action to assist the tourists who Israelis had a hand in this. descend on Paternoster during holiday

Adams repeats thetime.liethat“Israel is an apartheid state and all the world We would like to introduce him knows it except for Donald Trump and to the Pato Neighbourhood Watch a few puppets”. where residents give neighbourhood

He forgets that Israel is the only watchers a cup of soup during cold democracy in the Middle East with winter nights and a cool drink during equal rights for all its citizens. summer.

The only person being racist in this We would like to introduce him debate is Adams. to the “Oldies club” which provides monthly entertainment and skills classes at the local store “Oep ve Koep”.

We would like to introduce him to the real Paternoster – this is an open invitation.