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An August to remember
published: Wednesday | August 29, 2007
Hilary Robertson-Hickling
This is certainly an August to be remembered in Jamaica. Emancipendence, an election, Hurricane Dean, the performance of Asafa and Veronica, as well as the rest of the team in Oaska, Japan, at the games.
While we have been focused on the pressing matters at hand, we face the future with uncertainty in terms of recognising that some places in Jamaica are definitely unfit for human habitation and that new planned settlements are the only way to address this problem. We are concerned about the dislocation in the lives of many citizens, the challenges facing the educational system and many more problems.
We also congratulate the security forces, the workers of the public utility companies, the health and productive sectors which have demonstrated such skill and resilience that the majority of the country is well on the way to recovery after the hurricane.
End of the industry?
We recognise that the banana industry in Jamaica has suffered much devastation and that coupled with the end of the preferential access in Europe and the WTO rulings, that the industry might have come to an end. This may also be the fate of many of our neighbours who are faced with this or even worse scenarios. St. Lucia is a case in point and we recognise how dependent that economy was on the banana industry.
As regards the tourist industry, reports in the media of the United States of America have been reminding us that the new passport requirement has opened the world to Americans who will increasingly move beyond the fear of terrorism and the benefits of the nearer, safe Caribbean destinations to the bigger world. The banana industry helped to spawn the tourist industry in Jamaica, so it is interesting that both industries have to make serious decisions about the shape of the future and our economies have to plan for this new situation.
While we have been engrossed in our internal matters, we also know that Trinidad and Tobago ispreparing for an election and we hope that country will find a way to reconcile some of the difficulties that it has experienced in the past. We, as a country and region, have many challenges to face and we have demonstrated that in spite of many risks we are resilient. We realise that we cannot just be 'bandwaggonists' that is, people who only support ideas, parties, teams and countries when things are going well. It is when things are going badly that we test our true mettle.
We have a nation to build
Veronica Campbell's mother identified one of our failings. she noted that when Veronica won a silver medal, many of her countrymen and women treated her very badly. Many are almost crucifying Asafa. We have to provide support of these young people who have demonstrated over and over what it takes to be a world champion. Not only must we deal with success, but the many failures and disappointments that face us as individuals, teams and communities, and as a nation.
It is time that those who stand on the sidelines and criticise contribute some of their untested talents to as many efforts as they can.
I wish the country, political candidates and parties a free and fair election. The election is like a wedding, but the aftermath is really about a marriage. Those vows are very serious and whoever wins, we have a nation to build. Let us take heart from our team in Japan. They are running their lives out; let us love respect and support them. Let us love, respect, and build our nation and region.
Hilary Robertson-Hickling is a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies UWI, Mona.
published: Wednesday | August 29, 2007
Hilary Robertson-Hickling
This is certainly an August to be remembered in Jamaica. Emancipendence, an election, Hurricane Dean, the performance of Asafa and Veronica, as well as the rest of the team in Oaska, Japan, at the games.
While we have been focused on the pressing matters at hand, we face the future with uncertainty in terms of recognising that some places in Jamaica are definitely unfit for human habitation and that new planned settlements are the only way to address this problem. We are concerned about the dislocation in the lives of many citizens, the challenges facing the educational system and many more problems.
We also congratulate the security forces, the workers of the public utility companies, the health and productive sectors which have demonstrated such skill and resilience that the majority of the country is well on the way to recovery after the hurricane.
End of the industry?
We recognise that the banana industry in Jamaica has suffered much devastation and that coupled with the end of the preferential access in Europe and the WTO rulings, that the industry might have come to an end. This may also be the fate of many of our neighbours who are faced with this or even worse scenarios. St. Lucia is a case in point and we recognise how dependent that economy was on the banana industry.
As regards the tourist industry, reports in the media of the United States of America have been reminding us that the new passport requirement has opened the world to Americans who will increasingly move beyond the fear of terrorism and the benefits of the nearer, safe Caribbean destinations to the bigger world. The banana industry helped to spawn the tourist industry in Jamaica, so it is interesting that both industries have to make serious decisions about the shape of the future and our economies have to plan for this new situation.
While we have been engrossed in our internal matters, we also know that Trinidad and Tobago ispreparing for an election and we hope that country will find a way to reconcile some of the difficulties that it has experienced in the past. We, as a country and region, have many challenges to face and we have demonstrated that in spite of many risks we are resilient. We realise that we cannot just be 'bandwaggonists' that is, people who only support ideas, parties, teams and countries when things are going well. It is when things are going badly that we test our true mettle.
We have a nation to build
Veronica Campbell's mother identified one of our failings. she noted that when Veronica won a silver medal, many of her countrymen and women treated her very badly. Many are almost crucifying Asafa. We have to provide support of these young people who have demonstrated over and over what it takes to be a world champion. Not only must we deal with success, but the many failures and disappointments that face us as individuals, teams and communities, and as a nation.
It is time that those who stand on the sidelines and criticise contribute some of their untested talents to as many efforts as they can.
I wish the country, political candidates and parties a free and fair election. The election is like a wedding, but the aftermath is really about a marriage. Those vows are very serious and whoever wins, we have a nation to build. Let us take heart from our team in Japan. They are running their lives out; let us love respect and support them. Let us love, respect, and build our nation and region.
Hilary Robertson-Hickling is a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies UWI, Mona.