THE EDITOR, Sir:

On July 18, one of South Africa's greatest heroes is celebrating his birthday.

Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former South African president, a living legend, freedom fighter and champion in the struggle for democracy for Africans everywhere, will be celebrating his 90th birthday with an AIDS benefit concert to be staged in London, England.

According to news reports, numerous artistes will be paying respect in song to the great man. The concert is named 46664 which was Nelson Mandela's prison number in his 27 years of incarceration.

There is also a poignant side to the benefit concert in that Mandela lost his son to AIDS in January 2005. Happy 90th birthday, Nelson Mandela, from Jamaica and Jamaicans everywhere.

I am, etc.,

Baldwin Collins