The Editor, Sir:

This is a quick thank you to the city of Montego Bay for the wonderful hospitality shown to my wife and me during our stay inyour city during the end of January and into February we stayed on the 'Hip Strip' and were in the heart of things most of the time. We had stayed previously on another part of the island at an 'all-inclusive', and while it was certainly very nice, it was somewhat 'plastic' and lacking the flavour of the people.

We found that this time, from the pork pit to the all-night street parties, the vibrant nature of Jamaica shone through. The staff at the Doctor's Cave beach were tremendous, every day. We got to know one of the attendants a bit and he ended up taking us, on his day off, to Negril. He asked nothing for this, and we were treated to a tremendous day trip. Wayne should be commended for his pride in Jamaica and its people.

We were fortunate to meet sister Hazel Dalley as well. In the short time we got to know her and her staff at Dalley's shop on Gloucester, we were truly treated like family. Her walls are covered with commendations and awards from far and wide; it is very obvious why. She is a fine woman.

I met a young man named David, who had one leg. We talked like old friends one morning, early, when I went for my walk. Again, he asked for nothing, only my company. I learned about his country and he about mine. Trust me, I am not nave. I know the difference between whether I am being hustled or not.

STRUGGLING WITH VIOLENCE

Much is sometimes made of Jamaica's struggles with violence. Some people here in Canada even asked us why we would take the risk of vacationing in Jamaica. Certainly January was a difficult month for violence.

My wife and I have travelled extensively in the world. The answer is this: some of the finest people I have ever met, anywhere, were in Jamaica. The kindness, the genuine nature of their personalities, the strong spiritual strength that was exuded by everything that they did, made them such a pleasure to be associated with.

Reading The Gleaner every day, with the letters and editorials, it was obvious that Jamaica abounds with persons of this sort - fine,upstanding people who only want the best for their country and countrymen and women. The struggles are there, to be sure. Nuisance drug dealers abound, which takes away from the beauty of the city. Violence, however, encapsulated within small areas, cannot be tolerated. Poverty rears its head often.

Yet, the beauty of Jamaica and especially its people, overwhelms all of that. I speak as a police officer of 21 years service here in Canada, who has seen much. My wife is a nurse with similar years of service. We could likely be accused at times of being jaded by what we have seen; yet we see the beauty in our own city and nation, every day.

Jamaica is a paradise - and not a paradise lost - but found. We will be back soon.

I am, etc.,

CURTIS KEMP

ckemp@polce.regina.sk.ca

Regina, Canada

Via Go-Jamaica