LETTER OF THE DAY - Elderly not proud of Jamaica again

THE EDITOR, Sir:

ON THE 27th of November, while travelling on Virgin Airline VS069 from Gatwick Airport London to Norman Manley Airport, I was robbed of £3,000 by a Jamaican woman.

I am a 67-year-old woman who was travelling alone. In the departure lounge, this woman asked me if I could watch her bag while she sorted out something at the immigration desk.

On the plane, she was sitting in seat 31J and I was sitting alone in seats 63J and H. As the meals were being served, this same woman came and sat in the seat beside me and had her meals. She started a commotion with the flight attendant about her meals, spilling her food on the floor. I dozed off while eating my salad.

I felt my food was drugged. When I awoke, the woman had left and my money that was in two bags by the window was gone, and the empty leather bag was found on the aisle seat under a blanket where she was previously sitting.

Possible accomplice

There was also a man who was seen hanging around the area. I found out later they were together. The alarm was raised about four hours into our journey. When we landed at Norman Manley Airport, the police were called and they were both searched and the money was not found. They were released. With regard to the theft of my money, everything points to her. The questions one asks is why did she ask me to watch her bag when she was travelling with her husband?

Why sit beside me to have her meals, causing so much commotion instead of returning to sit with her husband?

Traumatic time

She took everything I had and now I am at the mercy of others. It is a very traumatic time not only for me but for other elderly citizens, who have suffered through various scams carried out by fellow Jamaicans. For years I was proud to be a Jamaican, and was a great supporter, but no more.

A lot of us Jamaicans don't love and respect ourselves and this is reflected in the way we treat each other. More returnees are packing up and leaving our shores. Many Jamaicans abroad have lost interest in this country. Others who could are not prepared to invest their hard-earned cash in this country because their savings are at risk. This is the present reality of Jamaica.

Anyone who has had a similar experience to mine travelling to or from Jamaica, please get in touch: blossom5@fastmail.fm. Working together with the authorities we should be able to bring about changes. We have to help the Jamaican institution to protect us.

Millicent Henry

St Catherine