Debbie from Debenhams will be coming to Carmarthen tomorrow (Wednesday 17th February), ahead of the official Easter opening of the grand new high street store in the town.Debbie (whose part will be played by Llinos Roberts, a member of the Welsh Language Society) will address the people of Carmarthen at 2pm outside the market. She will then hand out leaflets in the town centre inviting people to the shop, and then deliver a love letter to Mark James the Chief Executive of Camarthenshire County Council.Commenting on the Welsh language, Debbie will say:"We were told at headquarters that you had your own cute little language called Welsh - I didn't know that it was so widely spoken.. very old apparently?ohh, I can hear it everywhere around me here. It's popular innit? Cymraeg it's called innit? Apparently, it's widely spoken in Carmarthenshire-more so than in any other county in Wales, but there we go - sooo many languages in this big world of ours. We do try to be sensitive to these little differences at Debenhams - we've got some ethical policies or whatever, but we're so lucky we've got the English language that everyone can understand - even you - yeah,and that's why were throwing in a little smattering of Welsh into our fab new store - just to keep you Welshies happy!. What? did I hear someone say that Welsh should have equal status to English? hey! Your'e having me on aint you? What? Welsh signs everywhere? Oh no my darlings, that wouldn't be possible - it would cost far,far too much! We only made 95.1 million pounds in profit last year wiv it being the recession and all, oh we are struggling babes!"

Sioned Elin, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Sir Gar added:"In her speech, Debbie showed the true attitude of these big companies to Welsh.Members of Cymdeithas are targeting Debenhams today to say that their attitude is not good enough. It's their duty to offer a completely bilingual service to people inCarmarthen. That would mean that not just a few permanent posters are bilingual, but that all signage, prmotional leaflets and marketing - whether they are permanent or temporary is bilingual. It would mean there is training for non-Welsh speaking to learn the language, bilingual instore announcments and that there is a Welsh language version of their website. We are now giving Debenhams and the other big companies who come to the new shopping centre in the town, a chance to ensure that they respect the people of the county, not only the 50% who speak the language but the other 50% who are non-Welsh speaking who don't have the chances to learn the language."