THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON AUGUST 12, 2003, I was returning to Jamaica after participating in a surgical charity mission to Mozambique in south eastern Africa. During the boarding process for the Air Jamaica flight at London Heathrow, a Jamaican man in the line behind me began a tirade of the foulest language imaginable, against no one in particular, at the top of his voice, ostensibly in protest of the unusually hot weather that has gripped England of late.
After enduring several minutes of this, I took it upon myself to ask him to curb his foul mouth. Perhaps predictably, he redirected his vocal effluent towards me. Surprisingly, however, he found himself helped in his cause by several people in the line who were not obviously companions of his, including a young woman with a small child who joined the others in expressing their hatred of "de white bwoy" (I am not white, but never mind that) and their outrage that I should be attempting to impede their comrade from "expressing himself".
After several not-so-veiled threats against my life, from several persons, I was in no frame of mind to endure the flight seated near to my would-be tormentors. I informed the cabin crew of my predicament, and am pleased to report that I was treated sympathetically. To my surprise, and despite my protestations, I was seated in Business Class and enjoyed the full comfort of that privilege.
I would particularly like to thank Cabin Crew staff Andrew Thompson and Marcia Sherman for their handling of the situation and also give thanks to Mr. Oliver Samuels, who helped to keep me laughing and to restore my shaken faith in my countrymen.
It is a sad commentary on the current state of Jamaican society that this kind of occurrence is by no means rare, as I was informed by the Air Jamaica staff that similar disruptions are almost to be expected on transatlantic flights. I have not even mentioned the behaviour of the several menacing and obnoxious "deportees" that afflicted the very same voyage. That the staff of our national airline can remain sensitive and kind in the face of this kind of constant abuse, and not become hard and jaded, speaks volumes about the type of person that Air Jamaica employs, and the quality of the training that they receive. Let us show them more appreciation, as they are perhaps the most beleaguered and besieged group of airline employees in the world, a fact for which Jamaicans should be, but my fears are becoming incapable of being, ashamed.
I am, etc.,
PAUL S. RAMPHAL
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon
University Hospital of the West Indies
