By Claude Mills, Staff Reporter
Some of the 27 returning residents from the Jamaica Society (Leeds) wave for the camera as they get ready to set off on their recent VMBS-sponsored four-day tour of houses and residential lots for sale in Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Ann and St. Mary. - Contributed
MANY JAMAICANS living overseas have a conflicting relationship with the land of their birth. They are enchanted by memories of a beautiful country populated by warm people, but inside, are tortured by the cloud of negative press mushrooming over the island.
And as is often the case in such matters, love triumphs over manufactured bias, for as the great poet, J.H Payne said, there's no place like home... there's no place like home.
13-DAY TOUR
Recently, a number of returning residents from the Jamaica Society (Leeds) returned to Jamaica on a 13-day tour of the island and expressed an interest in purchasing properties for retirement in Jamaica.
For four days a 27-member group were taken on a whirlwind tour of Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Ann and St. Mary courtesy of the Victoria Mutual Building Society to view houses and residential lots for sale.
"I was really impressed with what I saw. In fact, I am eyeing a property on the north coast which I shall try and convince my friends in the UK to buy with me," said Marie Lucas, a member of the group.
Executives at the VMBS have been trying to woo the Leeds chapter to return to Jamaica for a long-postponed homecoming, and that dream became a reality in March.
Elizabeth Johnson, the wife of Travis Johnson, head of the Jamaica Society (Leeds), hailed the trip as being useful in dispelling some of the negativity that clouds the image of Jamaica in the United Kingdom.
EXPEL THE NEGATIVITY
"It was a very positive experience which they thoroughly enjoyed, and helped to expel the negativity that is often associated with Jamaica because there were a lot of other nationals from Caribbean countries on the trip," Mrs. Johnson said.
Designed to promote commerce while celebrating the uniqueness of each location, these homecoming reconnaissance missions serve to reunite both local and overseas-based parishioners. The Jamaica Tourist Board as well as local civic groups support the initiative.
The group included World War II veteran Marcus Mitchell. The retired RAF member was so overwhelmed by the warm Jamaican hospitality extended to him and his friends from Leeds at a welcome ceremony hosted by VMBS at its Mandeville branch that he broke down in tears.
In addition to the tour of properties, the returning residents were feted at a welcome reception in Ocho Rios by Earl and Yvonne Watson at their Tower Isle residence. The visitors were also feted at VMBS-hosted luncheons at the Ruins in Ocho Rios, and the Grog Shoppe, Devon House, in Kingston.
