R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take?

**Tuff Gong** · 07-08-2009, 05:14 PM

Re: R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><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: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body">even in the synopsis he admitted he was apprehensive about visiting jamaica- </div></div>
Do you have <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">any apprehension </span>about visiting Jamaica? </div></div>

yes- depending on where i'm going;....</div></div>

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">
Case closed!</span>

**evanovitch** · 07-08-2009, 05:39 PM

Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community

Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community
Wednesday, 08 July 2009

A documentary on Jamaica and other Caribbean countries recently aired in the United Kingdom (UK) has raised the hackles of the Jamaican community in Britain.

The documentary, entitled the 'Secret Caribbean' which aired last weekend on the British television channel ITV1, is felt to have given Jamaica a poor image.

Members of the UK/Jamaica Diaspora have taken issue with renowned broadcaster, Sir Trevor McDonald who presented the film.

The UK journalist who is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, visited several islands in the Caribbean including Jamaica, on behalf of ITV1, to film the documentary.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Sylbourne Sydial, President of Facilitators for a Better Jamaica, a Jamaican lobby group in the UK, laments that the filming took place with the apparent knowledge of one of Jamaica's public relations agencies in the UK</span>.

The documentary showed the luxury and opulence of islands in the Bahamas owned by David Copperfield, describing how beautiful it would be to spend a week there.

In stark contrast, his visit to Jamaica is said to have portrayed the country as blood soaked and impoverished, with most natives unemployable.

Jamaica's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Burchell Whiteman, has reportedly supported the defence of the island by the Jamaican community.

<span style="font-weight: bold">H</span><span style="font-weight: bold">e said that it is important for the British/Jamaican community to challenge all forms of negative stereotyping and misinformation about Jamaica and Jamaicans. </span>

Mr. Whiteman said that Jamaica is a vibrant and diverse country and admittedly, like many others across the globe, is facing challenges.

He further added that any programme or report on Jamaica that serves only to highlight what is wrong, does a grave disservice to all Jamaicans, people of Jamaican heritage and friends of Jamaica.

**Tuff Gong** · 07-08-2009, 05:43 PM

Re: Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jamaica's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Burchell Whiteman, has reportedly supported the defence of the island by the Jamaican community.

<span style="font-weight: bold">H</span><span style="font-weight: bold">e said that it is important for the British/Jamaican community to challenge all forms of negative stereotyping and misinformation about Jamaica and Jamaicans. </span>

Mr. Whiteman said that Jamaica is a vibrant and diverse country and admittedly, like many others across the globe, is facing challenges.

He further added that any programme or report on Jamaica that serves only to highlight what is wrong, does a grave disservice to all Jamaicans, people of Jamaican heritage and friends of Jamaica.
</div></div>

I guess everyone tuned out the part where it was actually a <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">Menli</span>e that helped them.... and for Burchell Whitemen to be sitting in jolly ole England with his mouth filled with Tea and Crumpets to be talking fawt...it is just precious!

**uswe** · 07-08-2009, 06:12 PM

Re: Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community

Sir Trevor and ITV must be quaking in their boots in the wake of protests from Burchell Whiteman and Facilitators For a Better Jamaica.
All we need now is for the GG to issue a fatwa and Sir Trevor will end up having to go into hiding like Salman Rushdie.

**evanovitch** · 07-08-2009, 06:29 PM

Re: Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community

r dem could use some of the cockedanready pon yah since dem already fyahed up ..is nuff claim seh dem a gargon, even abroad, so dis is di time fi mount up n ride, dont

**Tuff Gong** · 07-08-2009, 07:08 PM

Re: Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: uswe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sir Trevor and ITV must be quaking in their boots in the wake of protests from Burchell Whiteman and Facilitators For a Better Jamaica.
All we need now is for the GG to issue a fatwa and Sir Trevor will end up having to go into hiding like Salman Rushdie. </div></div>

LOL Burchell Whitemen this is one of worse Minister of mis-Education Jamaica had ever seen.
The Minister who by fiat forced the retirement of 300 teachers because he did not want to pay them then complained when they left Jamaica for foreign jobs. It was also under his regime than many teachers were overpaid and recently in a scene that that can only be written by a Jamaican Politician Omar Davies his Minister of Finance was recently heard grilling a lowly Government functionary about the fact that the overpaid teachers seems to have vanished into thin air and left the Ministry holding the bag.

As for this Facilitators For A Better Jamaica…wasn’t this the group who opening act was to complain about customs duties charged to members of the Dias-poor-rah?

**Dr.Dudd** · 07-08-2009, 08:24 PM

Re: Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community

<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: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jamaica's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Burchell Whiteman, has reportedly supported the defence of the island by the Jamaican community.

<span style="font-weight: bold">H</span><span style="font-weight: bold">e said that it is important for the British/Jamaican community to challenge all forms of negative stereotyping and misinformation about Jamaica and Jamaicans. </span>

Mr. Whiteman said that Jamaica is a vibrant and diverse country and admittedly, like many others across the globe, is facing challenges.

He further added that any programme or report on Jamaica that serves only to highlight what is wrong, does a grave disservice to all Jamaicans, people of Jamaican heritage and friends of Jamaica.
</div></div>

I guess everyone tuned out the part where it was actually a <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">Menli</span>e that helped them.... and for Burchell Whitemen to be sitting in jolly ole England with his mouth filled with Tea and Crumpets to be talking fawt...it is just precious! </div></div> sarah Manley did not help him. He was suppose to cantact her and he did not. And what if hst did help him? Is he his editor?e

**Tuff Gong** · 07-08-2009, 08:28 PM

Re: Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">sarah Manley did not help him. He was suppose to cantact her and he did not. And what if hst did help him? Is he his editor?e </div></div>Ok...sorry!
Did the Virgin Guy help on Jamaica?
The guy we gave our AirJoke landing rights to?

**andronian2** · 07-09-2009, 05:07 AM

Re: R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take?

Well, every body know seh Jamaica have prisons an crime: dat a no secret.
America has prisons too you know, and depressed communities with gangs and drugs.
I think people are rightly upset by the one-sided presentation especially in light of the more favourable (but equally one sided) presentations of the other islands.
It seems as if Jamaica was used to embody all that was wrong with the Caribbean and that is unfair considering how much more the 3rd largest/4th most populous island has to offer.

It seems as if documentaries either portray Jamaica as a sunny and sandy playground for tourists or a 150 mile long blight fit only to sink into the sea.
When will someone paint a more balanced and TRUE picture?
Jamaica is neither heaven nor hell but somewhere in the middle the way most real countries are.

That said, mi no mek dem BBC/ITV people bada mi too much.
Dem have a long history a dem kinda derogatory documentary.
Maybe they like highlighting the failings of former colonies as a form of self flattery.
If so, they need to be reminded that Jamaica under English slave rule was a violent hell-hole that most of the rich landowners didn't even live on.
So with all the problems, what currently exists can't be worse.

**uswe** · 07-09-2009, 06:46 AM

Re: Document earns the ire of UK/Jamaica Diaspora community

<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: uswe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sir Trevor and ITV must be quaking in their boots in the wake of protests from Burchell Whiteman and Facilitators For a Better Jamaica.
All we need now is for the GG to issue a fatwa and Sir Trevor will end up having to go into hiding like Salman Rushdie. </div></div>

LOL Burchell Whitemen this is one of worse Minister of mis-Education Jamaica had ever seen.
The Minister who by fiat forced the retirement of 300 teachers because he did not want to pay them then complained when they left Jamaica for foreign jobs. It was also under his regime than many teachers were overpaid and recently in a scene that that can only be written by a Jamaican Politician Omar Davies his Minister of Finance was recently heard grilling a lowly Government functionary about the fact that the overpaid teachers seems to have vanished into thin air and left the Ministry holding the bag.

As for this <span style="font-weight: bold">Facilitators For A Better Jamaica</span>…wasn’t this the group who opening act was to complain about customs duties charged to members of the Dias-poor-rah?
</div></div>

Are a virtually unknown navel gazing group consisting of a few people, check out their website at www.ffbj.org
Burchell Whiteman's living nice in "his massion" in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. I don't think he's in any rush to return home.

**Tuff Gong** · 07-09-2009, 10:09 AM

Re: R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: andronian2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, every body know seh Jamaica have prisons an crime: dat a no secret.
America has prisons too you know, and depressed communities with gangs and drugs.</div></div>
Sure Jamaica is bad but the USA is bad too. So what is wrong with the Documentary made by a British TV?

Oh we will get to that

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: andronian2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think people are rightly upset by the one-sided presentation especially in light of the more favourable (but equally one sided) presentations of the other islands.
It seems as if Jamaica was used to embody all that was wrong with the Caribbean and that is unfair considering how much more the 3rd largest/4th most populous island has to offer.

It seems as if documentaries either portray Jamaica as a sunny and sandy playground for tourists or a 150 mile long blight fit only to sink into the sea.
When will someone paint a more balanced and TRUE picture?
Jamaica is neither heaven nor hell but somewhere in the middle the way most real countries are.</div></div>

So the problem is the documentary is unfair. Is the Documentary wrong about Jamaica?
BTW did you watch the documentary?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: andronian2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That said, mi no mek dem BBC/ITV people bada mi too much.
Dem have a long history a dem kinda derogatory documentary.
Maybe they like highlighting the failings of former colonies as a form of self flattery.
If so, they need to be reminded that Jamaica under English slave rule was a violent hell-hole that most of the rich landowners didn't even live on.
So with all the problems, what currently exists can't be worse. </div></div>

You are sure that the British TV folks are setting out to make bad documentaries of all their former colonies. What is the master plan?
As for Plantation life I have to defer to you on that you seem to be an expert on the subject.

**andronian2** · 07-09-2009, 04:43 PM

Re: R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Sure Jamaica is bad but the USA is bad too. So what is wrong with the Documentary made by a British TV?
</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So the problem is the documentary is unfair. Is the Documentary wrong about Jamaica?
BTW did you watch the documentary?
</div></div>

No, I did not watch the documentary but did read about the series and the episodes.

Nothing is wrong with it per se.
They are free to make documentaries.
However, if the depiction is one-sided Jamaicans and other people of Caribbean background might be offended, yes.
Remember the context is one in which other islands are just as stereotyped though in a (questionably) more positive way.
In fact, from what I've read the Barbados episode focused on this rich white Barbadian that owns much of the land and the Bahamas episode on Sir Richard Branson's acquisition of an island for himself.
So, apparently, the only island that featured more representative Caribbeans had nothing but violence and drugs to its credit.
I think the implication is very strong if the facts are as I understand them.

It's a bit like a documentary on European countries going into the fashion houses of France, the historical sights of Greece, the Alps of Switzerland, then featuring the slums and prisons of London with maybe a mention of Buckingham palace.
If it strictly untrue that London has prisons and slums? Of course not!
However, the treatment of England, what they chose to highlight there, would certainly be considered very strange in this context.
It would stink of an intent to cast England as a very bad place compared to the rest of Europe.
If you can't understand that mi cyaan elp yu.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
You are sure that the British TV folks are setting out to make bad documentaries of all their former colonies. What is the master plan?
As for Plantation life I have to defer to you on that you seem to be an expert on the subject.
</div></div>

I don't know they do documentaries about all former colonies; I don't remember saying that.
There are long strings of books and documentaries out of England about all the ills of Jamaica.
"The Dead Yard" book, "Secrets" turned out to be one by stealth and there are others historically as well.
Not that they're all wrong but of necessity one-sided and in the case of Secrets out of place.
As for master plan, how yu expec me fi know?

BTW, I hope you are not saying I can't comment on plantation life because I wasn't there.
Because that would be unbelievably stupid unless a pointless aagyument yu a luk.

**jah_yout** · 07-09-2009, 05:05 PM

Re: R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take

<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: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Originally posted by jah_yout

even in the synopsis he admitted he was apprehensive about visiting jamaica- </div></div>
Do you have <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">any apprehension </span>about visiting Jamaica? </div></div>

yes- depending on where i'm going;....</div></div>

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">
Case closed!</span>

case open again-
you omitted the rest of my statement where i stated i also have apprehension about visiting american city brownsville in brooklyn, or camden, nj or any other number of places;
i could go into these places & present it as 'america' but would that be a complete, balanced & honest portrayal?
this 'sir' trevor guy is firmly indoctrinated in that old mentality that the caribbean would be better off under british rule

**Tuff Gong** · 07-09-2009, 05:11 PM

Re: R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: andronian2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">BTW, I hope you are not saying I can't comment on plantation life because I wasn't there.
Because that would be unbelievably stupid unless a pointless aagyument yu a luk. </div></div>
No you have given a very comprehensive answer and I can't fault it.
I would urge you though to look deeper 99% of all the books, film and other publication about Jamaica I have ever seen paint it as an idyllic paradise, even as they acknowledge poverty, urban slums, income disparity, violence in certain areas and high migration rate.
In fact one National Geographic article I have somewhere mentioned the high migration out of Jamaica set against the background of paradise.

If we are getting more negative press now, we must ask ourselves is it that the journalist have turned on us or have we regressed to the point where it has become noticeable?
My guess is the changing attitude towards Jamaica and the unwillingness of others to overlook or gloss over our problems has to do with our increasingly high crime rates, lower expectations of advancement and high migration rate.
.

**Tuff Gong** · 07-09-2009, 05:17 PM

Re: R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body">case open again-
you omitted the rest of my statement where i stated i also have apprehension about visiting american city brownsville in brooklyn, or camden, nj or any other number of places;</div></div>
My friend we are talking about Jamaica, not Camden <span style="font-style: italic">(which I lived next door to for awhile)</span>, not Brownsville, not Brooklyn.
You said his apprehension made him pre-disposed to certain thinking about Jamaica.
You are using this to show that he could not be expected to write a favourable piece on Jamaica.
You have apprehensions too it turned out, so the case is closed, how can we expect you to be an honest broker given your predisposition...or are you different?

R u offended?....at what r why not, depending on ur take?

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