jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

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Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mangoskin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">they need and deserve help, this isn't the way though.... </div></div>

What is the way? </div></div>

soo wat yu seyinn da bruce begginn fii money fii temporailee oouse sum haitian refugees inn jamaicans camps untill imm can send dem bakk iss da anwsar. mii guess da money bruce begginn far wood natt bee better send buildinn house fii de haitian refugees inn haiti since bruce qualifyinn imm begginn bye seyinn imm aggoo send dem back to haiti as soo as itt doan look too badd

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Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body">LOL for a guy who barely quote from Jamaica media and only talk about Jamaica when it is about Batman and buning fiyah pon the new unblack administration you sure are relying exclusively on the Local Media for you commentary in this thread.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">I see your dirty objectives it coming over loud and clear.</span> </div></div>

sah yu knoo mii doan fall fii politrixx dat y mii bunn fiyah pon jlp, pnp,ndm, etc. itt natt bout bunninn fiyah pon unblakk ting. itt bout bunninn fiyah pon tings dat natt inn blakk peeps intarests

local media, yu doan meen jamaica oyinbo owned ting

[Tuff Gong]

Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">sah yu knoo mii doan fall fii politrixx ...</div></div>


LOL just like a lot of dumb azzes you don't follow politics you claim, but you find time to bun fiyah on individual leaders?

[Tuff Gong]

Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">soo wat yu seyinn da bruce begginn fii money fii temporailee oouse sum haitian refugees inn jamaicans camps untill imm can send dem bakk iss da anwsar. mii guess da money bruce begginn far wood natt bee better send buildinn house fii de haitian refugees inn haiti since bruce qualifyinn imm begginn bye seyinn imm aggoo send dem back to haiti as soo as itt doan look too badd </div></div>

Again I see your game but I will play it anyway.
It is standard procedure to temporarily house refugees. It is standard procedure to request funds to care for refugee. Bruce and Company is going about it the wrong way anyway as the request should be directed to the UN not the USA.

In any case it is wise to expect and be prepared for refugees. History has shown that a significant portion of Haitians will jump into boats and leave the Hispaniola.
That said my personal opinion is Jamaica, the USA and the surrounding Nations will no see a flood of refugees immediately for a few reasons:

1. Haitians are still in shock

2. Some Haitians might disperse into the unaffected areas (I will come forward to this later).

3. The Ports around Port Au Prince are heavily damaged and/or disrupted.

4. Most importantly it takes resources to leave Haiti in the years gone by most migration by boats out of Haiti were launched from Gonaïves. There was a significant outlay involved and generally it had to be planned for over time. Gonaïves is some distance off and it would be almost impossible for hungry, starving, shell-shocked Haitians to turn up in Gonaïves and just launch boats into the wild Blue yonder not knowing if they will be allowed to make landfall.

The point I want to is return to is about those that will eventually find their way to Gonaïves and other places on Hispaniola. after a time they might not be able to find settlement in these places for one reason or another. It is at this time that migration out of Haiti in volume might take place and it would be a foolish Government of any Jurisdiction in the region not to be prepared so this possible wave of Migration.

[neutral]

Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">sah yu knoo mii doan fall fii politrixx ...</div></div>


LOL just like a lot of dumb azzes you don't follow politics you claim, but you find time to bun fiyah on individual leaders? </div></div>

Lol !

[blugiant]

Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Again I see your game but I will play it anyway.
It is standard procedure to temporarily house refugees. It is standard procedure to request funds to care for refugee. Bruce and Company is going about it the wrong way anyway as the request should be directed to the UN not the USA.

In any case it is wise to expect and be prepared for refugees. History has shown that a significant portion of Haitians will jump into boats and leave the Hispaniola.
That said my personal opinion is Jamaica, the USA and the surrounding Nations will no see a flood of refugees immediately for a few reasons:

1. Haitians are still in shock

2. Some Haitians might disperse into the unaffected areas (I will come forward to this later).

3. The Ports around Port Au Prince are heavily damaged and/or disrupted.

4. Most importantly it takes resources to leave Haiti in the years gone by most migration by boats out of Haiti were launched from Gonaïves. There was a significant outlay involved and generally it had to be planned for over time. Gonaïves is some distance off and it would be almost impossible for hungry, starving, shell-shocked Haitians to turn up in Gonaïves and just launch boats into the wild Blue yonder not knowing if they will be allowed to make landfall.

The point I want to is return to is about those that will eventually find their way to Gonaïves and other places on Hispaniola. after a time they might not be able to find settlement in these places for one reason or another. It is at this time that migration out of Haiti in volume might take place and it would be a foolish Government of any Jurisdiction in the region not to be prepared so this possible wave of Migration. </div></div>



Let's be humane

Published: Saturday | January 23, 2010

The Editor, Sir:

In the Gleaner, of January 20, there were two opposing points of view regarding Jamaica accepting Haitian refugees. First was the letter from a Mr. Foster of Southfield, whose position was that the Haitians would &quot;rather stay in their own country rather than come to Jamaica&quot;. However, earlier in the same letter he mentioned the &quot;open invitation to Haitians&quot;.

Clearly, an invitation does not contain anything which demands acceptance from the invitee, so it is a bit difficult to grasp the significance of Foster's objection other than to assume that he just doesn't want the Haitians here. If that is the basis of his objection then I can only say &quot;shame on you sir, I pray you will never have to undergo what the Haitians are now experiencing&quot;.

I am happy to welcome our Haitians neighbours and brothers here. They are a friendly and generous people in the worst of times, and we must &quot;do unto others&quot; if we expect the same consideration when our turn of need arrives.

Some years ago, in the 1970s, when &quot;Papa Doc&quot; Duvalier was busy treating the Haitian people like dirt, some Haitians came here by boat seeking refuge from that oppressive regime. They all were sent back aboard one of our Coast Guard boats and, as told to me by an eyewitness, in spite of begging not to be put ashore, they were off-loaded and their execution began while our vessel was pulling away from the dock.

Helping some Haitians now will surely help me to get rid of some of the pain and anguish which I continue to feel because we weren't willing to help that handful of Haitians who came here seeking freedom and, instead, paid with their lives because they mistakenly assumed that we would have taken a humanitarian view of their predicament. Let's try to make amends this time around.

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Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

Unwise invitation to Haitians

Published: Wednesday | January 20, 2010

The Editor, Sir:

Like many Jamaicans, I have sent money and my deepest sympathy to the people of Haiti and will continue where I can. However, I do think that the open invitation to Haitians who want to come to the island needs more thought by the Government.

Haiti, I understand, is over eight times the size of Jamaica and it has not all been destroyed. There is no difference between a tent in Jamaica and a tent in Haiti.

I also have a feeling that the Haitians would rather stay in their own country rather than come to Jamaica, where they will face a language barrier and water shortage, among other problems. We can't even offer them personal security.

It is with this in mind that I believe we should try to help by providing all the assistance we can in the rebuilding process rather than having them come here. While the Haitians are here, they will not be able to access any further help from the world community which will be far more than anything Jamaica can offer.

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Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

On his return from visiting Haiti, Dr Jephthah Ford alerted us of the possibility of an influx of Haitians into Jamaica as a consequence of the earthquake which had struck that country last week Tuesday.

Emotionally, some of us have thrown the book of compassion at Dr Ford. The Government, on the other hand, has apparently thrown the door wide open to the Haitians.

The Haitian situation is not simply a matter for Jamaica nor the CARICOM bloc. It has assumed international dimensions to which that community has been responding admirably. However, the prospect of Jamaica having to contend with a possible influx of Haitians should not be contemplated with emotion but rather with caution. Nor should how we manage it be treated as a secondary matter to be deferred, pending actual arrivals.

Matters needed to be considered and sorted out before arrivals, or our throwing the doors wide open, would include the state and condition of our hospitals, clinics, adequacy of medical staff, drug supplies, housing accommodation, other social amenities and our already meagre resources, not to mention policing.

The assessment should also take into account the already added burden of the impact of the abolition of user fees on our already stressed-out physical infrastructure and human resources.

Meanwhile, it is of note that the Americans, one of the key players to the Haitian response/rescue, have not changed or suspended their foreign policy in respect of Haitians fleeing their country. They are to be turned back at sea.

Temporary reprieve

United States President Barack Obama's recent policy announcement has also been informative. According to that policy, Haitians already and illegally in the USA would be granted temporary reprieve. The turn-back-at-sea policy has not been waived.

Before castigating the Americans, there are some realities that confront us and the world community. One of those realities is that the Haitians likely to flee from Haiti, as a consequence of the earthquake, are unlikely to be the injured. They are likely to be persons reasonably physically and mentally fit to assist with taking deliveries of inflowing aid, storage, packaging and distribution.

There is also the clearing and removal of debris, erection of temporary shelters and other infrastructures. Haiti needs all the hands it can get at this time. Undoubtedly, these and other pertinent matters would have influenced the American policy position toward Haitians fleeing their country at this time.

Let us not dismiss Dr Ford's call for caution or allow our emotions to overcome rationality.

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Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

While most of them were fed up with the impoverished state of life when they fled Haiti for Jamaica, several members of the local Haitian community said they would gladly return to their homeland at this time to assist relief efforts in the aftermath of Tuesday's devastating earthquake.

&quot;I would be happy to go back to Haiti to help right now,&quot; said 46-year-old Vivian Joseph, a female member of the Haitian community in Mount Carey, St James.

&quot;What I saw on the news look very bad and I would be willing to go back and help relieve some of the pain.&quot;

Joseph, who has been crying since Tuesday night as she ponders the possible fate of family members she has been trying without success to contact, said she would not be at peace with herself until she gets some definite news about her family.

Durome Bernadin, a naturalised Jamaican from Haiti, who was the captain of the boat that brought the first group of Haitian refugees to Jamaica in 1991, said he would be happy to return to Haiti this time to assist in the international effort to resettle his homeland.

&quot;Although I am a naturalised Jamaican, I still love Haiti and would want to help in whatever way I can,&quot; said Bernadin, who has five children living in Haiti.

&quot;I am now a carpenter and I am sure I could help in the rebuilding of Haiti.&quot;

Louis Bert, who at age 30 is one of the younger members of the Haitian community in Mount Carey, said he would return to Haiti immediately if given the opportunity.

&quot;My mother and other members of my family are there and I am not satisfied with just worrying about them. I would love to go and help them as well,&quot; he said.

&quot;I am worried sick about the situation and I would just love to be able to go there and do what I can to help.&quot;

Ex-Haitian soldier Edner Fillisma, who has been living in Jamaica for the past nine years, is calling on the local Haitian community to mobilise themselves with a view to coming up with ways to assist Haiti.

&quot;I am calling on all Haitians in Jamaica to come together in order to assist our fallen Haitians,&quot; said Fillisma.

&quot;I pray that the almighty God will have mercy upon them.&quot;

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Re: jamaica begginn fii haiti aid

Jamaica walking a thin line

Marcia Forbes

Saturday, January 23, 2010

I have never wanted to go to Haiti, until now. As a teenager some of my nursing batchmates went there. Their reports drove fear into my heart and although never faint-hearted, I decided Haiti was not for me. They spoke of the voodoo and the cursed stare. Later I heard stories that Haitians feared Jamaicans. We eat sussumba, something they use in their voodoo rituals, and that apparently gave us power over the spirits, ergo we are feared and respected by Haitians. It is amazing how hearsay and the ignorance of youth can colour one's opinions but I didn't want to visit Haiti.

In Cuba I witnessed Santeria and right here in Jamaica have attended a few Kumina rituals where the poor sacrificial fowl had its head bitten off and its blood smeared across the chests of males and faces of females who spewed white rum into the air as they participated in the ceremony. So what did I have against visiting Haiti? Surely it wasn't the spirits. Was it because its most consistent epithet is &quot;poor black&quot;? I already live in a poor black country and travel for me is to explore the different. As a mature adult, whenever I flew over Haiti I'd look at her from the skies and mourn her parched earth and barren look. Now I want to go there.

I was happy and very impressed when Prime Minister Golding and Opposition Leader Simpson Miller visited so quickly after the devastating earthquake which has brought Port-Au-Prince, the Haitian capital, to the ground. When I heard and saw Dr Jephthah Ford warning about potential problems for Jamaica in the wake of the quake, although some of what he said resonated, his non-verbal stance was off-putting and his words too harsh at the time they came. He seemed uncaring and my heart bled for the people of Haiti. I hope none of our Caribbean neighbours would behave this way toward us, were we as unfortunate as Haiti to suffer such a devastating natural disaster.

But there are many like Dr Ford, and one misstep by the prime minister will encourage them to reveal their true feelings. A January 18 news poll, although unscientific, had 80 per cent of callers indicating that Jamaica should not let Haitians on our island. Whatever the number that 80 per cent represents, it does not augur well if our assistance to that country is not competently handled. When Mr Golding was a no-show at the meeting with the unions to discuss Air Jamaica, the unions were not happy. They would have heard as I did via the news media that the PM was off to the Dominican Republic on matters relating to Haiti. While I believe someone would have been asked to deputise, unions want to see the head honcho, not a deputy, and they can be unreasonably hard.

To put the Dom Rep meeting over that with the unions may be seen by some as prioritorising Haiti over Air Jamaica. We know how much of a hot-button topic that airline is and even moreso with its imminent takeover by Trinidad. From my own informal &quot;survey&quot;, Jamaicans are very unhappy with this. Perhaps irrationally so since we cannot afford the airline and to the best of my knowledge the pilots did not put forward a proper business plan. The unions are right in calling for further and better particulars, even if they do not get this directly from Mr Golding.

The prime minister is walking a thin line. In times of great stress at home, escape into foreign affairs is attractive. Importantly though, Haiti needs Jamaica's intervention on its behalf and our prime minister is admirably suited to this. But Mr Golding must be careful not to appear to immerse himself into this role to the perceived neglect of domestic matters, pressing as these are at this time. Air Jamaica is just one, far more important is the Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) for which greater clarity and further discussions are needed to tease out critical aspects of the way forward. Once some of us begin to feel the effects of interest-rate reduction on our &quot;pockets&quot;, we will become more demanding of clear policies to ensure that our belt-tightening efforts are not squandered.

Coming back to Haiti, in the face of media reports of looting and bad behaviour by what seems like a small faction, I have heard some Jamaicans begin to question the humanity of the people of that beleaguered country. While I could never honestly say that I have ever experienced hunger and material deprivation, I can only imagine what it must like to be hungry for days. However, I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like to experience the kind of physical, psychological and spiritual trauma the Haitians must be going through at this time. My godson's girlfriend is a young American but of Haitian parents. She was there during the earthquake and is still there unable to get out. I have seen the trauma his entire family is going through as he gets snippets of information via text messages from her as she tells of the hunger and suffering.

So, before any of us in Jamaica bad-mouth the Haitians and look down on their fight for survival, let us remember the beam in our own eyes. We fight sometimes for no reason and we kill and maim each other almost with wild abandon. Before we cast aspersions on Haiti and talk about their curse, let us look at our own. I have seen Jamaica, once a jewel in the crown of our colonial masters and in more recent times a country that was respected, reduced to mendicant status, robbed of much of its dignity and shunned by some of our own. Mr Prime Minister, all of us will be watching and grading as you negotiate the delicate balance between attention to domestic and to foreign affairs. As for me, I will travel to Haiti, as soon as things settle enough for them to let me in.

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