OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
PUBLIC DEFENDER Howard Hamilton is supporting Britain's and other countries' decision to impose visa restrictions on Jamaicans.
The result of the new measures, he said, would help to restore greater confidence in the country amongst the Jamaican population.
Mr Hamilton said that since independence, instead of becoming prosperous, Jamaica has grown into a fragmented and disunited nation resulting in many people losing faith in the country and opting to seek opportunities overseas.
He said however, that while the visa restrictions may be harsh on some persons, on the other hand, it could be a blessing in disguise for the people of Jamaica to restore pride in themselves, in their country and to begin working together in unity towards future development. Mr. Hamilton made these comments while officially opening the 39th annual convention of the Jamaica Dental Association last week at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios.
He said the need to have visas to enter other countries will make Jamaicans accept who they are. "Either we accept who we are or we change our nationality, but we cannot continue to be sometimes proud to be a Jamaican and sometimes ashamed."
The Public Defender recalled that when Jamaica gained independence in 1962 the country's goal was to become the Singapore of the Caribbean, but he said regrettably one of the most outstanding feature of the country's achievement is the growing lack of unity among the people. "We are a fragmented nation," he stated.
Mr. Hamilton said however, that all was not lost and that what was needed was for Jamaicans to work to improve the country.
Mr. Hamilton said other countries have had their fair share of negatives but that the people never denied their nationalities, unlike some Jamaican who denied being Jamaican when there are negative happenings related to Jamaica.
"Does a German deny his nationality because of Hitler? Does an American deny his nationality because of a Timothy McVeigh or the Italians deny their nationality because of the Mafia? No, they are still proud of what ever their nationality happens to be," he said.
The Public Defender said until Jamaicans begin to proudly accept their nationality, and begin to live and work together as one people the country will continue to falter as the people struggle to move forward.
