ANYONE CAN HAVE an opinion – good or bad – on anyone else, but does the rest of the world need to know about it?

Before Rihanna rose to fame I would wager that 99.99 per cent of Bajans didn't know her from Eve, but now she's famous, a vocal minority must have their say on her.

However 99.99 per cent of us still don't really know that much about her, nor did we do anything to help her get where she is. Why must we seem to be a nation of experts on topics we don't know squat on?

I wish to challenge the media powers of Barbados. You are the voices of the nation. Don't allow yourselves to be used disparagingly where Rihanna is concerned.

I'm calling on you to protect Rihanna and the innocent majority of Barbadians from the relatively few bad apples around us.

Let us, as one people, continue to celebrate her for what she is to us: a national treasure and a princess of Barbados. When she comes home, let her continue to feel that she is home. We should line the airport with our umbrellas to welcome her!

I don't know Rihanna, but I salute her. I don't envy her life either, because it cannot be an easy one.

We see the glamorous public side of her new life as a star, but I can only wonder about the personal challenges she will face for the rest of her life because of it.

Let us allow her room and a chance to go through life and learn from any mistakes she may make without allowing a minor bunch of her fellow Bajans to seemingly crucify her in the media.

– WAYNE STRAUGHN