THE EDITOR, Sir;
ALLOW ME to respond to J. Kinglings' letter published January 8, 2003, captioned "Bring on the visas for the UK."
Firstly, I would congratulate Mr Kinglings for achieving the success of passing his Law Degree. However, it causes me deep concern when a fellow Jamaican wallows in shame at being who he is and supports his theory for doing so with speculation rather than facts as a lawyer should.
It has been confirmed, Jamaicans entering the UK will require a visa and the decision became inevitable during the past three years or so. It is not as Mr Kinglings claims, 80 per cent of Jamaicans are wreaking havoc. Indeed, the converse is true and Mr Kinglings should visit one of the money transfer organisation and listen to the mothers who lament on how many menial jobs they do in a day to sustain their families in Jamaica.
In respect of Mr Kinglings' comparison with Africans not committing 75 per cent of the misdemeanours Jamaicans do, come on Mr. Kinglings. Where are the facts? Aren't you aware that most black men from other countries claim they are Jamaicans, the very person you are ashamed to be? And do you not know, in the eyes of the indigenous population, every black person is a Jamaican until proven otherwise.
Mr. Kinglings, you 'hail' Tony Blair and David Blunkett for implementing the visa system and perhaps you would now like them to dust down the 1812 Vagrancy Act of which sections were used with great effect during the 1970s to criminalise black people and thus, ensure the success of the implementation of the visa system you now applaud.
This is a sad day for Jamaicans wherever you are but I maintain my pride at being who I am. We are a great people. We have had to climb mountains of hardships and prejudice, yet wherever we are and have been, we did great things to build those places and help our homeland. Recently, a few of us, a small minority have tried to dismantle that which we built and consequently, contributed to our demise in this regard. Nonetheless, I cannot join with you Mr Kinglings and rejoice as you do at that fact. Jamaica forever! Backwards never!
I am etc.,
AUBREY ESCOFFERY
aecrest@aol.com
LONDON, UK
Via Go-Jamaica
