JAMEXIT - CARICOM Passport Has No Use To Jamaicans

Here we go again...another incident in Trinidad and Tobago where Jamaicans were treated poorly. In this matter, the Jamaican women entering the country were made to sleep on a hard floor and given only a bottle of water before deporting them back to Jamaica. This kind of disrespectful reaction to Jamaicans is not a typical reaction that would be shown to immigrants from CARICOM countries who enter Jamaica. Such incidents generate the question as to why Jamaica, the most popular and dominant English speaking country of all the Caribbean countries, should continue to issue CARICOM passports or remain a full fledge or even a member of CARICOM. The Jamaica Manufacturing Association (JMA) also presents a list of concerns that the Jamaican exporters experience while doing business with Trinidad. The treatment of Jamaicans by CARICOM countries in general does not indicate that these countries want to engage with Jamaica in working towards a unified Caribbean. It clearly shows that most islands that are separated from Jamaica by their south eastern location want to maintain a close relationship with people in that region but not with Jamaica that is located in the distant north western region. Furthermore, while Bahamas is not located in the eastern region of the Caribbean and is not considered a full fledge member of CARICOM, it, as a Caribbean nation, is renown for its draconian treatment towards not only Jamaicans but people of other Caribbean countries since others are not considered "Bahamian" even by birth. For Jamaica, it is full time to review the CARICOM agreement and disassociate with the regions in the aspects of the agreement that are simply not working. It is time to move on!

President Obama is Well Aware of the Corruptions in Jamaica

The following were highlights of President Obama's visit to Jamaica on April 9, 2015

1. His talk to the young leaders of the Americas clearly showed his known ability to communicate effectively, and he made these young people feel especially comfortable asking him questions. He was gracious, warm and responded to each question in detail. The young people were articulate and demonstrated how poised they were in dealing with leaders of this magnitude. President Obama must have been quite impressed with such eloquent and thought provoking questions.

2. President Obama answered one question in relation to China. He responded on the need for governments to be transparent so that citizens will be aware of the deals that have established between the two countries. Guess he is quite aware of Simpson-Miller's lack of transparency in informing Jamaicans of her dealings with China. Ironically, one of her senators was seated  on the panel behind President Obama shaking her head in agreement with mention of the need for transparency.

3. The president also was diplomatic in responding to a question on IMF by indicating that loans will not be forgiven especially since these loans are due to the mismanagement and corruption of many governments. He mentioned that there has not always been the best fiscal management practices in "some countries". He also mentioned that government's spending of monies that does not enhance the people's life is not beneficial. So, this response indicates that President Obama is quite well aware of the mismanagement practices of  the government of Jamaica over the years. Consequently, Simpson-Miller's request to President Obama to forgive the IMF loans would have been made in vain.

4. The Prime Minister of Bahamas, Perry Christie, brought all Caricom leaders back down to earth when, as the head of Caricom, he mentioned in his speech to President Obama that when the president visited Trinidad for a past heads of government meeting, the promises he made for Caribbean nations have still not yet materialized. It was brave of Christie to bring awareness that it leaves a bad taste to make promises that are not followed up.

5. The multi-million dollar promise to benefit the youth may have been initially thought to be for the Caribbean nations. However, when all come back down to earth, it will be clear that the funds will also be shared with youth ventures in South and Central America. There is already a joke that the portion of funds designated for the youth in Jamaica will be spent by the government on themselves. Nevertheless, hopefully, youth ventures in Jamaica will be impacted by this funding whenever it materializes.

6.. While President Obama was speaking during the press conference with the Caribbean heads of government, Portia Simpson-Miller seemed a bit jittery as she moved her papers back and forth. Her body language and sometimes her facial expression showed a sense of nervousness. This was after her meeting with President Obama. So, by that time, she must have been made aware that President Obama had no intentions of forgiving the IMF loans as he has been made aware of her and her governments corrupt practices.