I believe Hunter Gray (Letter of the Day December 3, 2009) lost it a little bit when he declared that "overseas Jamaicans should stay out of it and let the folks at home find their own solutions". This gentleman was making reference to corruption and injustice in Jamaica, which I deem as the two major issues thwarting the positive development of Jamaica and its people. How callous can you get, Mr Gray? Why would you become a part of the very problem you identified?
He further stated: "Those with the means have become selfish, as they have no intention of losing their positions of privilege and prestige". I hate to say it, Sir, but you seem to be a member of that group.
I am also a Jamaican living abroad, and there is absolutely no way I would heed that advice. I will continue to do all I can to help, and to encourage every Jamaican everywhere to do the same. The need for our help today is unprecedented. Our friends and family who choose to remain in the country are now experiencing the challenge of their lives. Not only do they have to cope with the decline in the global economy and Jamaica's receding foreign-exchange-earning industries, they have to be constantly grappling with a crime situation that increases in atrocities daily.
Lots of Jamaicans living above and below the poverty line have dedicated themselves to a great future for Jamaica, or to die trying to obtain that future. The least we can do (those of us who opted out) is to give them our undivided attention and our unflinching moral and financial support.
It is one thing to assimilate the fact that our loving and caring nation of the 1950s has been diminished to a nation of cold-blooded murderers in 2009. It is quite something else to accept the fact that the police force has a difficulty in curbing corruption inside its ranks, and that certain gangs are somehow associated with political parties. My dear Jamaicans, we have work to do. We have ownership of the bejeweled rock known to the world as Jamaica.
foreign-exchange problems
I am further imploring all Jamaicans living abroad to send every dollar that you can to Jamaica. This will help our foreign-exchange problems, help to cure our financial health, and ultimately, find a way to suppress criminality through proper, affordable education, and creating viable jobs for our young people.
The greatest asset to any country is its people. With great people we will have a great country. There is absolutely no doubt that we have some of the greatest people the world has ever seen. Jamaicans are fundamentally peace loving, caring responsible people. We have allowed criminals, corrupt cops and politicians to damage our international image. We must repair that image, and we must do it now.
I am, etc.,
RUPERT ANDERSON
alfomega32@hotmail.com
Brooklyn
New York