THE EDITOR, Sir:
GROWING UP in Jamaica, my fellow classmates, my friends and I talked about the deteriorating conditions of Jamaica. We sat for hours planning and devising ways to improve the country. I wanted to be the Member of Parliament for my parish and if I was not, I wanted to form a pressure group that would push the government to change and work in the interest of the citizens who put them in power.
We were young and full of such dreams for a better Jamaica because we knew that the future rested in us, the youths. By migrating and learning from the best education systems around the world we would return and apply all the knowledge we had gained to our plan. The plan was to improve the medical, economic and social landscape of Jamaica. We all had this plan.
Some migrated, while others continued their studies in Jamaica. But something happened. I migrated and then I along with my fellow friends got caught up in the countries we adopted as home. We no longer care about Jamaica, we care about ourselves. I talk to my friends occasionally about the conditions in Jamaica. We talk about the high crime rate and the high prices of goods that poor people cannot afford, (although, I could never understand why the people did not have enough money to buy the necessary things for survival such as food, but they could buy a luxury item such as a cellphone). Yes, we sit and talk for hours; but I realise something is different, we have no solutions. We just plan not to return to Jamaica to live. We only want to visit for a week. I encourage everyone I know to leave Jamaica.
I came here with a dream to make the best of America and return and make a difference but I have abandoned that dream. There are so many educated Jamaicans around the world who can help to improve the country but we just sit and complain.
Jamaica needs those innovative minds that have left to return, myself included, and tap into those resources we have, and utilise them to improve the country. My fellow Jamaicans along with myself need to get refocused and put the plan into action. All those Jamaicans who are so consumed with themselves, instead of complaining we should all help our country by reinvesting in Jamaica.
I am, etc.,
BRENDA WILLIAMS
michboo@hotmail.com
Queens, NY
Via Go-Jamaica
