THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WRITE this letter to highlight how much in Jamaica we continue to have a serious class/colour prejudice still existing among us in today's modern era of 2002.
A friend and I went to Carlos Café Xmas Show on Saturday December 28, 2002, at 22 Belmont Road, New Kingston. The featured artistes were Andru Donalds, Andrew McIntyre with guest Farenheit. When we got there and proceeded to have a seat at the dining area, to our dismay we were told by the waiters that these tables were reserved for other guests attending the show. Immediately, I queried why was this so and one waiter said that the tables in that particular area were reserved for persons dining. At this point, the said waiter directed us to the bar area to have a seat on the stools located there as these were directives given to her from the Manager of the Café. Reluctantly, we went across to the bar and sat there.
After a while, we decided to have a drink at the bar. My friend suggested we could order some jerk chicken wings and garlic bread, as we had enough time to eat before the show started. At this stage, after placing an order to dine, we asked the waiter again serving us if we could sit in the area reserved for dining, the waiter reiterated that the manager gave strict orders that no one was to sit there as those tables were reserved. The waiter who was trying to accommodate us, also mentioned that the manager indicated to her that there is an area to the back of the pool table where we could eat if we so desired.
This we felt was unbecoming, disrespectful and totally unprofessional as the manager for Carlos Cafe was insulting our patronage to the show, and he was sending a direct message that he could not care less whether we were there to enjoy ourselves at the show or not. We were forced to dine at the bar area on the uncomfortable stools.
Near starting time of the show, we noticed a number of patrons entering in large groups. To our surprise, a few selected patrons were guided by the manager to the tables which we had been told were reserved for dining, yet throughout the night, the patrons sitting in the reserved area did not dine at all, in fact these patrons were some of Jamaica's top celebrities. We all came there to enjoy ourselves but some persons, particularly those sitting at the 'dining' tables were treated with high regards and were constantly given courteous attention by the waiters and manager to see to it that their needs were taken care of.
Mr. Editor, we felt that our rights as Jamaicans were violated. Needless to say the level of prejudice played out that night to us made us angry and frustrated and reminded me personally of a plantation slavery mentality from our documented history. Nevertheless, the worst was yet to come, as this was an outdoor venue and the rain came pouring down.
Both my friend and I proceeded to seek shelter under a balcony, only to be told that those seats that were not occupied, were reserved. The question that came to mind, was, why had we wasted our time to come to a venue after paying an entrance fee of $500 per person, and we were not able to sit in a comfortable spot, not able to shelter from the rain in so-called reserved areas and last, but not least, not able to enjoy the show without being constantly checked by these waiters, under given instructions from the manager, not to have us sitting in these restricted areas. As result of such disrespectful treatment, we will not be visiting this venue again.
Finally Mr. Editor, I petition the powers that be to implement a secretariat whereby consumer complaints of racial and class prejudice can be reported without being laughed at.
I am etc.,
ERROL C. WILLIS
Management Consultant
Kingston 6
