Being your worst enemy

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Two Americans were relating to us last Sunday their recent experience of visiting Jamaica. Obviously, these two individuals were not just prophets of doom; one commented on the jerked chicken and other dishes he tried, saying he almost lost his mind, while the other said one of those beers he had was ‘mad’ - possibly Red Stripe. However, the dark side almost presented a scenario of a cow giving a pail of milk and kicking it over. One of the visitors commented that he would not go beyond the environs of the hotel where he was staying, as he would be surrounded by merchants who would not give him a breathing space as soon as they recognised that he was an American. He felt he was ganged upon, which shattered his confidence. As much as he praised the experience of Dunns River Falls and other recreation spaces, he said never again. But when he was told that these were possibly overzealous merchants who meant no harm, he said he would still like to return. The man who praised the food related that while they were travelling in a car, they were surrounded and interrogated by police with long guns, resembling a war setting. Yet, the reason for the stop was only to verify their approval to drive in Jamaica. Phew! I said to them, “Like many places, you have good and bad. Jamaica is no exception, and it can be a little unfair to use a single experience to categorise a whole country.” They agreed.

Jamaica is a contradiction - which features the kindest and most genuine people on the one hand, while on the other extreme and in the same setting, may rise the coldest and most heartless persons you will encounter. But, because most people tend to accentuate the negative and downplay the positive, isn’t that reality an albatross around the neck of the tourism (industry)?

HOMER SYLVESTER

Elmsford, New York