THE EDITOR, Sir:
PETER ESPEUT must be heartily congratulated for the informative article on the Aboriginal people and their valuable contribution to our Jamaican Heritage. This is so vital since we seem to be so "Euro-centric" in our views.
So much reference is focused on the post-1494 era as if there was nothing here or nothing happened before Columbus' so-called discovery of Jamaica.
From all indications, these were great people. This is well supported by the remarkable height of the Inca, Mayan and Aztec aboriginal civilizations in Central and South America about the same time Europeans started to appear in the region. The primary basis of governance including the family, religion, rules, travel, food supply were at its pinnacle when Columbus landed in the region.
European dominant/subordinate approach towards other cultures through imperialism, mercantilism and colonialism had some negative impact on the New World: the diseases that killed thousands in Europe (malaria, tuberculosis, small pox, veneral diseases to name a few) plus slavery, the gun and bullets, disruption, food, competition for supplies wiped out most of these aboriginal people of Jamaica. Not to mention the imported animals and pests e.g. mongoose, the rat species, cattle, pigs, goat, horses, donkeys and mules.
Every effort should be made to preserve what is known about this primary part of Jamaican history, culture, and heritage. However, let us be careful not to be swept away by the "Euro-centric" dominant view and interpretation.
For example, when Peter Espeut indicates that present day St. Ann's Bay was named by the aboriginal people then it's a case of pushing the underlying "Eurocentric" views too far. As a churchman I feel certain he is aware of the history and use of the term "Santa" (including Santa Klaus). Was not Santa Ann the patron saint of sailors? History must be lived forward looking but understood looking back."
In the same way the aboriginal people did not give Santa Cruz its present name so they cannot be given the credit for the name the Spaniards gave what is now St. Ann's Bay.
I am, etc.,
Dr. FRANK E. LAWRENCE, J.P.
Box 302
Runaway Bay
St. Ann
