THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WRITE in response to the letters regarding finding a job in Jamaica.
Firstly, I would suggest that they may wish to have a look at the following web sites but would advise them that time scales are very elastic in the Caribbean and that applications often yield no response whatever and that many jobs shown are months out of date (depending on the web site).
www.bizja.com or www.Imis-ele.org.jm or www.jobbank-ja.com or www.jobinthesun.com.
Secondly, I would outline some of my experiences.
I am a 52-year-old Englishman who came to Jamaica for the first time in 1999 met a local girl, fell in love and brought her back to England where we were married in June 2000. I have been a manager/senior manager for about 30 years mostly in financial services but latterly in manufacturing, public service and telecoms. Added to my extensive business experience, I gained a Masters degree in business economics in 1995. More than a year ago, together with my wife, we decided to relocate to the Caribbean. I have applied for and been awarded Jamaican citizenship and have been trying to get a role in Jamaica (or elsewhere in the Caribbean) without success.
From my experience, international candidates seem to be treated with a great deal of suspicion, it is hard to get access to suitable roles and therefore, Jamaica is wasting a valuable and willing resource. I want to utilise my skills, education, training and experience for the benefit of the Jamaican economy. The Jamaican economy would appear to need people with special skills and education to help build a prosperous future. However, unless I can find a Jamaican employer who is open-minded and can utilise what I have to offer, both Jamaica and my wife and I, together with all the other international jobseekers and the diaspora, will be worse off. I live in hope.
I am, etc.,
IAN BRADSHAW
ianbrads@hotmail.com
Fareham, England
Via Go-Jamaica
