Get language priorities right

AT the beginning of the year I had the opportunity to speak to family and friends who had emigrated abroad.

During the conversations they mentioned the report that it was the Welsh Government’s aim to get one million people in Wales to be bilingual.

Their enthusiasm evaporated when I mentioned that it was English/Welsh bilingualism that was being implemented.

Their children, who are now adults, were taught French and Spanish and obtained jobs with that advantage.

One has to wonder if our grandchildren who are being taught through the medium of Welsh will thank us, or will they regret the choice we have made?

Years ago I had an opportunity to travel to Singapore, Malaysia and Borneo, visiting my employer’s agents and customers in remote areas.

I picked up a few words of Malay, mainly greeting and thanks, and was pleasantly surprised by their positive response when I used them on site.

I saw in the middle of a Borneo jungle a transformer with a name plate stating it was made by South Wales Switchgear, that, together with our Welsh factory’s stone-crushing plant, made me proud to be from South Wales.

Wales will have great opportunities after Brexit. We need to get out there and sell Wales. Will our children be ready? If not we will be responsible. John Roberts Pontypridd