By Andrew Green, Staff ReporterJAMAICA IS not building the friendships it needs or effectively using the friends it has to improve its image overseas, a Gleaner Editor's Forum on Jamaicans in the diaspora has found.
Jamaica does have, "an image issue," said University of Technology Chancellor Sir William Morris. He said it was a, "challenge" that needed to be addressed.
The country has an image of being violent, with negative implications particularly among the country's large immigrant community, several participants in the Gleaner Forum said. The forum was held at the Gleaner's corporate offices in downtown Kingston on Wednesday. "The first step to resolving that is for us to recognise it," said Sir William, who is the former general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union in the United Kingdom. He said it is only then that the necessary work can to be done to handle this issue.
THE DIASPORA
In dealing with its problems, he said, it should be remembered that, "It is not just what Jamaica can do for the diaspora. It is what the diaspora can do for Jamaica."
Sir William, along with the other overseas participants in the forum, had participated in a symposium on improving relations between Jamaica and its emigrant community. Held on Monday, that symposium had been organised by the Mona School of Business and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. "Some Jamaicans are now elected officials," said Irwine Clare, managing director of the New York-based company, Caribbean Immigrant Services. He said these officials should be used as a lobbying force.
Jamaica also has a "natural resource" in terms of its nationals living overseas with the right to vote in their adopted country, Mr. Clare said. Voters, he said, "have access to political leadership."
There has to be, "some co-ordinated effort to engage these people in this process," Mr. Clare said.
US CONGRESS
As well, Jamaica has friends in the US congress and many, "would like to come to Jamaica for more than one reason," Mr. Clare said. Several congressional representatives have large numbers of Jamaican and Caribbean constituents, Mr. Clare said. Regarding these representatives, he said, "we need to reach out to them and establish relationships."
Jamaica's "best friend" in the congress is representative Charles Rangel of Harlem, Mr. Clare said. He questioned whether Jamaica was, "harnessing that relationship."
The island needs to reach out beyond its own overseas nationals and their representatives, said rabbi Robert Kaplan, public relations director of the Jewish Community Relations Council in the United States.
"It is not just Charlie Rangel that you need to speak out about Jamaica," said rabbi Kaplan. "It is other members of congress that you need."
The Jewish community has built links with other communities, the rabbi said. By supporting the causes of other communities, the Jewish community can call on reciprocal support for its own issues.
When Israel needs friends, "we are there for them," the rabbi said. "It cannot be done without building coalitions."
