The phenomenal, indeed astronomical success of the Jamaican team in Berlin and the recent hosting of members of the diaspora by Jamaica forced me into a mode of reflection as to what benefit is the diaspora to Jamaica's success?

In the United Kingdom (UK), the diaspora can be divided into two groups. The first group is made up of Jamaicans who settled in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, and their offspring, as well as others who settled here a little later.

The second group forms those Jamaicans, born in Jamaica and have only entered the UK in the last decade or so. The members of this group are usually in their 20s to 30s. They bear the brunt of the discrimination and prejudice from not only white British persons, but also members of the first group. They are often derogatorily referred to as 'yaadies'. Many of them are hard-working and ambitious. Many did not get, or make full use of, educational opportunities in Jamaica, but they almost always have sought to further their education in the UK. Many of them have been victims of fraudulent colleges who take their money without providing either the certificates or the promised visas. By choice or necessity, there is no duality in their commitment to Jamaica. They are 'out and out' Jamaicans.

Hard-working Jamaicans

Jamaicans in the UK take on the hardest and sometimes the most menial jobs. Working two and three jobs, they form the main source of remittance to Jamaica. They have no choice about supporting children, parents, brothers and sisters. The money for bills, medication, school fees and food for their relatives in Jamaica has first call on their income. Unlike the first group, they do not give from disposable income, they remit because they must. They visit because they have to.

Diaspora needs Jamaica

My contention is that the recent embracing of the diaspora is simply another demonstration of our 'foreign' mentality. Jamaica does not need to look to the UK dias-pora as it is often portrayed. Diane Abbott's election to Parliament in 1987 has not resulted in either a greater proportion of African-Caribbean persons, or women in general being selected to represent the political parties. In fact, one wonders if her election has had the opposite effect. Jamaica does not need to look to Jamaican-born Stuart Hall, a doyen of British cultural studies; we have Rex Nettleford. We can choose to look at both the diaspora and Jamaica, but let's not elevate the diaspora to new heights of grandeur.

There are numerous ways in which the diaspora needs to look to Jamaica. Our sense of community and generosity continues to be a beacon for others. Our cultural creativity and entrepreneurship have been a gold mine for many persons including non-Jamaicans. Our ability to forge ahead despite opposition is something that the parents of many diaspora leaders took with them but their children have not embraced. If the drive and love for knowledge and education were upheld by the UK diaspora, they would have been in a better position to not only criticise, but also help Jamaica. Alas, the educational attainment is sadly low.

I am, etc.,

GREGORY JOHN ROBERTS

g3210ster@gmail.com

BIRMINGHAM, UK