The Editor,

Re: "Casino plan is a bad deal for South Surrey," the Now letters, Dec. 6.

While I certainly do respect Mike Bickerton's right to add his voice to the small minority of constant whiners and complainers, he seems a little out of touch with reality.

He states that all South Surrey will be getting is a casino. How about the 1,000seat show theatre, or the 27,000-square foot conference centre and a 200-room, four-star hotel that comes with the casino? Not to mention new restaurants and 500 permanent new jobs - all in the South Surrey and White Rock area.

Bickerton also adds that it would be nice to have a world-class aboriginal centre. Just what is a world-class aboriginal centre? I have never heard of one. Is it a gathering place or an educational institution?

I have attended many shows at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in Coquitlam, which is attached to a large casino. Never in all my visits to the theatre have I ever seen any problems at all with the casino.

Let's be a little more open-minded, and stop whining about anything new that is being built. There are far too many negative people living in B.C.

Derek Coughtrey, Surrey