THE EDITOR, Sir:I RECENTLY vacationed in Jamaica with my family, and having not visited for three years, I was shocked back to reality by some of my experiences.
A visit to southern St. Elizabeth left me pondering how the farmers in "Jamaica's Bread Basket" are supposed to survive?
I drove past miles of fields with tomatoes, melons, cucumbers and other produce, just left to fallow and burn in the sun, because there is no water to maintain the fields. I understand there has been no rain in the area for the better part of three months.
The water supply leaves much to be desired. In the two weeks I spent in the area, there was water flowing in the pipes only three times. Just enough to fill the airtank. Had we not been at home at the time, we would have missed this glorious event. There is no schedule, so that the residents can plan to collect water, so if you are not home, too bad.
How can this country promote community tourism when you cannot even promise your guests a bath at the end of the day?
How can we expect the farmers to continue farming under these conditions? And then we complain about the prices of the produce, or pointedly ask incoming Jamaicans if we are bringing onions or garlic in?
Will we have a new generation of farmers, if they see that it is such a struggle to bring a crop to fruition?
My father was a farmer who paid for truckloads of water when there was none, but I wonder if he would even bother with farming now, given the current cost?
I was also disappointed with the Montego Bay airport. I travelled with my two infant children, and thought that using a double stroller would make things easier. I suppose I was expecting too much when I inquired if there was an elevator to avoid the steps up to Immigration, and down into Customs. I had to remove the children from the stroller and rely on the kindness of other people to get to these areas.
What happens to people who cannot walk these distances to the Arrivals Hall, and manoeuver the steps? Wheelchair-bound passengers, those with canes? and like myself, those with infant children? Is the airport handicap-accessible at all?
I expected much more of an airport which purports to be the hub of a major regional airline, and the gateway to a country which thrives on tourism.
My last gripe has to do with Customs. Having lost a piece of luggage, I had hoped I would be able to at least take children outside to get some fresh air, deposit them with relatives who had come to meet us, and return to deal with my missing bag. Not so!
My Customs officer informed me that the children could not exit the hall until we were done in there. Given the fact that there was no air conditioning, only two large fans that I could see, and three flights arriving simultaneously, the conditions in there were appalling, to say the least. If I were a tourist, I would probably head for the Departure Lounge.
This is NOT what an arriving tourist wants to experience, especially on a first trip. Frustrating is a mild word to describe that experience.
Finally, despite all the aggravation, I really had a great time. A visit to old neighbours and friends reminded me of the really important facets of life that I do not enjoy in the United States. The beauty of the landscape made the potholes insignificant, the stars were brighter than anywhere else, the fruits sweeter, the jerk pork better, the air fresher.
It was indeed, good to be home!
I am, etc,
J. JULES
E-mail:
dexnjax@hotmail.com
Pennsylvania
Via Go-Jamaica'
