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Let's give our own a chance to develop our own
published: Sunday | August 12, 2007
Tony Becca
Let's give our own a chance to develop our own
published: Sunday | August 12, 2007
Tony Becca
Jamaica celebrated its emancipation from slavery two Wednesdays ago; on Monday last, it celebrated its independence from Britain, and, as they should be, as they deserve to be, Jamaicans throughout the diaspora were happy.
Throughout the length and breath of Jamaica, North America, Britain and elsewhere in Europe, in Africa and right around the world, Jamaicans - the descendants of Paul Bogle, William Gordon, Nanny, Marcus Garvey, Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante - celebrated in song and dance and by raising a toast, the greatness of Jamaica and the achievements of Jamaicans down the years.
Some great people
And, make no bones about it, as Governor-General Kenneth Hall and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said in their addresses to the people on Independence Day, in spite of the crime and the corruption in the society, as noted by Leader of the Opposition Bruce Golding, this small country, known to many as 'the rock', is a great little place, and one which has produced some outstanding people, some great people, in every aspect of life.
Apart from those who have risen to grea in foreign countries around the world, when one recalls great Jamaicans like Edna Manley, Louise Bennett, Rex Nettleford, Norman Manley, Vivian Blake, Trevor Rhone, Bob Marley, Dr. Sam Street, Dr. Thomas Lecky, Abe Issa, Carlton Alexander, George Headley, Lawrence Rowe, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Herb McKenley, Merlene Ottey, Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell, Deon Hemmings, Lindy Delapenha, Michael McCallum, Patricia McDonald, Herbert McDonald, Tony Bridge, Leila Robinson, Mike Fennell, and Molly Rhone, Jamaica is something special in every endeavour, and especially so in the arts, in law, in singing, in medicine, in agriculture, in business and in sport, on and off the field.
So great is Jamaica, so much have so many of its people achieved in so many fields, that Jamaica is, in many ways and for many reasons, the envy of the world.
The black, green and gold - probably because of the Reggae Boyz of 1998, probably because of the track and field ambassadors over the years - is one of the most popular combination of colours around the world. So much so that it is almost as popular as the red, white and blue, the famous colours of the Union Jack of Britain and the Star Spangled Banner of the United States of America.
For those who did not read them or did not hear them, these are some of the words of the Governor-General and of the Prime Minister.
From the GG: "Our global reach into the wider world has guaranteed recognition of our capacity for excellence in the fields of sports, intellectual pursuits, and the arts, for the sterling contributions by Jamaicans in our diaspora on both sides of the Atlantic, for the resilience and sustained sturdy application in a wide range of activities here at home, as well as for the clear evidence of efforts to attain mastery over our individual and collective lives."
From the PM: "On every continent, and especially in the Americas and in Europe, Jamaicans in the diaspora are excelling in various fields. We have created our own 'Brand Jamaica' popular music form, which has captured the imagination of the world. Many of our entertainers are giants on the international stage. In sport, we have established an amazing reputation, especially in track and field."
Why foreigners?
If all that is true, and I know that it is true, if Jamaica has been so great and Jamaicans have achieved so much, at home and abroad, why then, I must ask, should some Jamaicans, living in an independent Jamaica be against the Caribbean Court of Appeal and in favour of a court situated thousands of miles away in the country from which Jamaica, after a fight waged by men like Norman Manley and Bustamante, gained its Independence?
Just as importantly, however, are these questions: Why should Jamaica employ so many foreign experts? Why is Jamaica thinking about bringing in foreign teachers? Why, for example, is Jamaica paying so much money for a foreign football coach? Why did Jamaica bring a foreign netball coach to Jamaica?
That is just as bad as the West Indies, the team that has produced many of the game's greatest players; the team that for so long was the best in the world; employing a foreign cricket coach and assistants - including a trainer and a physiotherapist.
With the crime situation so bad and with Jamaica not boasting a good history in fighting crime, one can agree with a little help from anywhere - even from the old 'mother country' for which we now need a visa even to visit.
It is, however, difficult to understand why Jamaica, 45 years after Independence and despite being so great and with so many great sons and daughters at home and abroad, need to go foreign in an effort to solve its problems.
In his message, the GG also said that 45 years ago our founding fathers charged us to "go into the world (and) stand on our own feet and make our own way forward by hard work and discipline".
Own development
In closing her message, the Prime Minister said that "Today, Jamaica with its modern highway network, up to date telecommunications systems and advances in health and education is on course to becoming a developed country, and in celebration of the nation's birthday, I encourage Jamaicans everywhere to rise up to the highest expectations of those who went before us", and that is wonderful.
What is important, however; what would be wonderful, however; what Norman Manley, Bustamante, and all those who fought with them for independence would have liked to know were they still alive however; is that their fight will not end up being in vain and that Jamaicans will determine their own destiny.
What would have made them proud is the sight of Jamaicans leading Jamaicans to the promised land, and what they would like to know is that Jamaica, all those in leadership positions in Jamaica, will encourage Jamaicans to play their part in the further development of Jamaica and Jamaicans by giving them the opportunity to teach - to assist in the development of their own.
published: Sunday | August 12, 2007
Tony Becca
Let's give our own a chance to develop our own
published: Sunday | August 12, 2007
Tony Becca
Jamaica celebrated its emancipation from slavery two Wednesdays ago; on Monday last, it celebrated its independence from Britain, and, as they should be, as they deserve to be, Jamaicans throughout the diaspora were happy.
Throughout the length and breath of Jamaica, North America, Britain and elsewhere in Europe, in Africa and right around the world, Jamaicans - the descendants of Paul Bogle, William Gordon, Nanny, Marcus Garvey, Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante - celebrated in song and dance and by raising a toast, the greatness of Jamaica and the achievements of Jamaicans down the years.
Some great people
And, make no bones about it, as Governor-General Kenneth Hall and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said in their addresses to the people on Independence Day, in spite of the crime and the corruption in the society, as noted by Leader of the Opposition Bruce Golding, this small country, known to many as 'the rock', is a great little place, and one which has produced some outstanding people, some great people, in every aspect of life.
Apart from those who have risen to grea in foreign countries around the world, when one recalls great Jamaicans like Edna Manley, Louise Bennett, Rex Nettleford, Norman Manley, Vivian Blake, Trevor Rhone, Bob Marley, Dr. Sam Street, Dr. Thomas Lecky, Abe Issa, Carlton Alexander, George Headley, Lawrence Rowe, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Herb McKenley, Merlene Ottey, Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell, Deon Hemmings, Lindy Delapenha, Michael McCallum, Patricia McDonald, Herbert McDonald, Tony Bridge, Leila Robinson, Mike Fennell, and Molly Rhone, Jamaica is something special in every endeavour, and especially so in the arts, in law, in singing, in medicine, in agriculture, in business and in sport, on and off the field.
So great is Jamaica, so much have so many of its people achieved in so many fields, that Jamaica is, in many ways and for many reasons, the envy of the world.
The black, green and gold - probably because of the Reggae Boyz of 1998, probably because of the track and field ambassadors over the years - is one of the most popular combination of colours around the world. So much so that it is almost as popular as the red, white and blue, the famous colours of the Union Jack of Britain and the Star Spangled Banner of the United States of America.
For those who did not read them or did not hear them, these are some of the words of the Governor-General and of the Prime Minister.
From the GG: "Our global reach into the wider world has guaranteed recognition of our capacity for excellence in the fields of sports, intellectual pursuits, and the arts, for the sterling contributions by Jamaicans in our diaspora on both sides of the Atlantic, for the resilience and sustained sturdy application in a wide range of activities here at home, as well as for the clear evidence of efforts to attain mastery over our individual and collective lives."
From the PM: "On every continent, and especially in the Americas and in Europe, Jamaicans in the diaspora are excelling in various fields. We have created our own 'Brand Jamaica' popular music form, which has captured the imagination of the world. Many of our entertainers are giants on the international stage. In sport, we have established an amazing reputation, especially in track and field."
Why foreigners?
If all that is true, and I know that it is true, if Jamaica has been so great and Jamaicans have achieved so much, at home and abroad, why then, I must ask, should some Jamaicans, living in an independent Jamaica be against the Caribbean Court of Appeal and in favour of a court situated thousands of miles away in the country from which Jamaica, after a fight waged by men like Norman Manley and Bustamante, gained its Independence?
Just as importantly, however, are these questions: Why should Jamaica employ so many foreign experts? Why is Jamaica thinking about bringing in foreign teachers? Why, for example, is Jamaica paying so much money for a foreign football coach? Why did Jamaica bring a foreign netball coach to Jamaica?
That is just as bad as the West Indies, the team that has produced many of the game's greatest players; the team that for so long was the best in the world; employing a foreign cricket coach and assistants - including a trainer and a physiotherapist.
With the crime situation so bad and with Jamaica not boasting a good history in fighting crime, one can agree with a little help from anywhere - even from the old 'mother country' for which we now need a visa even to visit.
It is, however, difficult to understand why Jamaica, 45 years after Independence and despite being so great and with so many great sons and daughters at home and abroad, need to go foreign in an effort to solve its problems.
In his message, the GG also said that 45 years ago our founding fathers charged us to "go into the world (and) stand on our own feet and make our own way forward by hard work and discipline".
Own development
In closing her message, the Prime Minister said that "Today, Jamaica with its modern highway network, up to date telecommunications systems and advances in health and education is on course to becoming a developed country, and in celebration of the nation's birthday, I encourage Jamaicans everywhere to rise up to the highest expectations of those who went before us", and that is wonderful.
What is important, however; what would be wonderful, however; what Norman Manley, Bustamante, and all those who fought with them for independence would have liked to know were they still alive however; is that their fight will not end up being in vain and that Jamaicans will determine their own destiny.
What would have made them proud is the sight of Jamaicans leading Jamaicans to the promised land, and what they would like to know is that Jamaica, all those in leadership positions in Jamaica, will encourage Jamaicans to play their part in the further development of Jamaica and Jamaicans by giving them the opportunity to teach - to assist in the development of their own.