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No one should pummel Jamaicans
Faye Jacobs
Saturday, January 27, 2007
I am aware that St Maarten and the British Virgin islands will now follow the example of the Cayman Islands and demand that Jamaicans visiting their country be in possession of visas.
What a calamity on us Jamaicans!
The Jamaicans whose expertise was used to develop and build so many of the economies of the region must now succumb to the rules of separation that are being brandished by these territories.
To put the record straight, let us not forget the sterling contributions that have been made and continue to be made by Jamaicans to the development of the Caribbean and first-world countries.
The contribution of Jamaicans to the development of the world cannot be understated and can be traced from as far back as the 50s when England, under the Tories, came to Jamaica to recruit workers to help with their railway.
During those periods, Jamaicans were welcomed all over the world. Now that development has been achieved, Jamaicans have been relegated to the status of rejects.
I also recall my days at high school when the US dollar fetched 88 Jamaican cents on conversion. In those days we had workers coming to Jamaica from every part of the world, including the wider Caribbean, to earn a living. I never heard of them being given the kind of treatment that is now being meted out to us.
It is evident, however, that there is a vast misconception of Jamaica and Jamaicans which can be seen and heard from the exclamations of disbelief by visitors when struck by the beauty and development of Jamaica.
Even more astounding to them is the fact that we can freely walk around major parts of our cities without being attacked by anyone.
I can assure you that even in some countries in the region, this freedom to move around cannot be realised.
I hasten to add that this is the only country that I know where its own people (and I am including the media ) continue to feature their country in a negative light!
Jamaicans must take back their self-respect and refuse to subject themselves to this kind of humiliation.
After all, we have a history of being a proud people, a people of substance and a people that can rise to meet the challenges and standards of the best.
Let me plead with the stakeholders in the print and electronic media to take another look at the current norms in broadcasting and see how this can be re-shaped to highlight our country in a positive light.
I ask the DJs to consider the image of Jamaica in their lyrics and messages, and I am asking all Jamaicans living here and abroad to conduct themselves with the dignity for which their forefathers fought.
I would like to mention too the theory of the self-fulfilling prophecy which seemed to be practised by a number of countries..
I refer here to people being marginalised on the simple basis that they are Jamaicans.
Clearly, if you begin to treat someone as if they are indeed unworthy, then you will certainly get the behaviour to confirm your impressions.
A second point to note is the practice by embassies here to provide no proper parking and amenities for citizens applying for visas.
In the case of the British High Commission, you must cross the busy main Trafalgar Road to get access to the building.
They have not even bothered, it seems, to secure a pedestrian crossing to assist.
The same applies to the Canadian High Commission and the German Embassy. In the case of the old US Embassy one had to line up in the sun or rain, exposed to the elements. Now you have to pay for parking space.
The missions charge for their services. In fact, I venture to add that this visa business seems to be a profitable operation for their countries.
Instead of assisting developing countries, it appears that some developed countries are capitalising on the despair of our people by charging exorbitant fees for visa services!
Such uncivilised behaviour is being meted out to us in our own backyard, and to make matters worse, you are paying high fees to get a visa to go and spend the hard currency that this country needs!
This kind of conduct I consider blatant disrespect for our people, our leaders and our country.
I am calling upon the prime minister to add another portfolio to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to include "image building". This ministry must seek to portray the true image of Jamaica and rebuild this tarnished image that has been carelessly created by a few.
Jamaica is a beautiful country, with beautiful people and maybe a few misguided leaders, but nonetheless a country of which I am proud to be a citizen.
- [email protected]
Faye Jacobs
Saturday, January 27, 2007
I am aware that St Maarten and the British Virgin islands will now follow the example of the Cayman Islands and demand that Jamaicans visiting their country be in possession of visas.
What a calamity on us Jamaicans!
The Jamaicans whose expertise was used to develop and build so many of the economies of the region must now succumb to the rules of separation that are being brandished by these territories.
To put the record straight, let us not forget the sterling contributions that have been made and continue to be made by Jamaicans to the development of the Caribbean and first-world countries.
The contribution of Jamaicans to the development of the world cannot be understated and can be traced from as far back as the 50s when England, under the Tories, came to Jamaica to recruit workers to help with their railway.
During those periods, Jamaicans were welcomed all over the world. Now that development has been achieved, Jamaicans have been relegated to the status of rejects.
I also recall my days at high school when the US dollar fetched 88 Jamaican cents on conversion. In those days we had workers coming to Jamaica from every part of the world, including the wider Caribbean, to earn a living. I never heard of them being given the kind of treatment that is now being meted out to us.
It is evident, however, that there is a vast misconception of Jamaica and Jamaicans which can be seen and heard from the exclamations of disbelief by visitors when struck by the beauty and development of Jamaica.
Even more astounding to them is the fact that we can freely walk around major parts of our cities without being attacked by anyone.
I can assure you that even in some countries in the region, this freedom to move around cannot be realised.
I hasten to add that this is the only country that I know where its own people (and I am including the media ) continue to feature their country in a negative light!
Jamaicans must take back their self-respect and refuse to subject themselves to this kind of humiliation.
After all, we have a history of being a proud people, a people of substance and a people that can rise to meet the challenges and standards of the best.
Let me plead with the stakeholders in the print and electronic media to take another look at the current norms in broadcasting and see how this can be re-shaped to highlight our country in a positive light.
I ask the DJs to consider the image of Jamaica in their lyrics and messages, and I am asking all Jamaicans living here and abroad to conduct themselves with the dignity for which their forefathers fought.
I would like to mention too the theory of the self-fulfilling prophecy which seemed to be practised by a number of countries..
I refer here to people being marginalised on the simple basis that they are Jamaicans.
Clearly, if you begin to treat someone as if they are indeed unworthy, then you will certainly get the behaviour to confirm your impressions.
A second point to note is the practice by embassies here to provide no proper parking and amenities for citizens applying for visas.
In the case of the British High Commission, you must cross the busy main Trafalgar Road to get access to the building.
They have not even bothered, it seems, to secure a pedestrian crossing to assist.
The same applies to the Canadian High Commission and the German Embassy. In the case of the old US Embassy one had to line up in the sun or rain, exposed to the elements. Now you have to pay for parking space.
The missions charge for their services. In fact, I venture to add that this visa business seems to be a profitable operation for their countries.
Instead of assisting developing countries, it appears that some developed countries are capitalising on the despair of our people by charging exorbitant fees for visa services!
Such uncivilised behaviour is being meted out to us in our own backyard, and to make matters worse, you are paying high fees to get a visa to go and spend the hard currency that this country needs!
This kind of conduct I consider blatant disrespect for our people, our leaders and our country.
I am calling upon the prime minister to add another portfolio to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to include "image building". This ministry must seek to portray the true image of Jamaica and rebuild this tarnished image that has been carelessly created by a few.
Jamaica is a beautiful country, with beautiful people and maybe a few misguided leaders, but nonetheless a country of which I am proud to be a citizen.
- [email protected]