THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM a Caribbean national living in Toronto. Over the last few weekends seven young black men were shot to death, and 10 wounded.
According to a policeman friend, all of them were either Jamaicans, or were born to Jamaican parents. He suggested strongly that "they" - meaning Jamaicans, are violet, crude and inhuman, and he further stated that this view is held by many in the police force, but they cannot say it publicly.
I vigorously opposed this view, and argued that each country and community has a criminal element, and this element is not the norm. I have several Jamaican friends and work with many Jamaican youth who are ordinary decent people.
He backed off, but seemed unconvinced and left with this parting shot: "Why is it that of the Caribbean-born people arrested in Toronto, over 90 per cent are Jamaicans?"
Following this conversation, I tried to see if there are any differences in the young people I work with at a college in Toronto. They are of Jamaican, Trinidadian, Barbadian and Kittitian heritage. The biggest group was of Jamaican background.
One thing I noticed was that the Jamaican kids had the largest percentage of single parents, and many of them lived away from their parents. Many had one parent in Jamaica and one in the States, or their parents had left them behind in Jamaica, then sent for them many years later.
I would like to appeal to the people in Jamaica who believe they are making a better life for their kids by leaving them behind when they immigrate, to think again. No matter what your circumstance, always take your children with you. Keep them close and shower them with love (a hug and a kiss are free), and they will be much less likely to do wrong.
Jamaica is one of the jewels of he Caribbean, we cannot afford this jewel to be tarnished.
I am, etc.,
VANESSA AARON
vanaaron53@yahoo.com
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
Via Go-Jamaica.
