THE LORD Mayor of Nottingham, Jamaican-born Councillor, Desmond Wilson, says he is in favour of the introduction of a visa system by the UK Government for Jamaicans wishing to travel to that country, but only if the new system proves to be a more efficient immigration process.
"As long as there isn't any third-degree (interrogation) of Jamaicans under this new system, I am all for it," he said.
Councillor Wilson is the first Jamaican to be named Lord Mayor of Nottingham, famous for its links with the legend of Robin Hood and Raleigh bicycles. It has a population of 250,000 - 12,000 of which are of African-Caribbean descent.
According to Councillor Wilson - who has been a Councillor in England for 12 years and was appointed Lord Mayor of Nottingham in May 2002 - he has had to deal with hundreds of Jamaicans who have had immigration problems. "A number of the cases involved Jamaicans who were invited by relatives in the UK to spend vacation in that country, but on arrival were refused entry by racist immigration officers. So if the visa system will make it easier for Jamaicans to travel been here and England, I am in favour," said the Lord Mayor.
He was speaking during a tour on Friday, January 10 of the Joy Town Community Development Foundation (JTCDF) projects in Trench Town, Kingston. The Lord Mayor was invited to visit the inner-city community and view the activities being undertaken by the Foundation at the Joy Town Learning Centre; the Rema Reading Centre at the Hugh Sherlock Building, which was visited by Queen Elizabeth II during her Jubilee visit to Jamaica last year; a fish raring project, in addition to Bob Marley's house, being renovated and marketed by the Trench Town Development Association.
Councillor Wilson was in the island to participate in the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica Conference which took place at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Resort Hotel, Ocho Rios from January 7 to 9. He was a part of the delegation from New College Nottingham and City College Birmingham to the conference, which brings together Community Colleges from across Jamaica with foreign institutions. And to recognise Councillor Wilson's achievements and dedication to the UK city, New College Nottingham announced a new bursary, named in his honour, for young Jamaicans who want to continue their studies in Nottingham.
