Dennie Quill, Contributor

My column entitled 'Anti-Jamaican sentiments rising?' has provoked responses from Jamaicans at home and abroad. I have received more than 30 responses to this column, which bemoaned the fact that Jamaica's image was taking a battering even among countries like Costa Rica with which we have long historical ties.

Some readers were beating loudly on the patriotic drum, citing reciprocity among nations by urging Jamaica to respond to Costa Rica by also imposing visa restrictions on its citizens. Then there were others who flayed local politicians who appear to have uncomfortably close relationships with criminals. A reader writing from England said corrupt activity has caused a massive criminality crisis in Jamaica, which is being exported abroad. He added, "No action is being taken in Jamaica because the very bodies established to lead are deeply criminally corrupt."

'Jamaicanos' in Costa Rica

An interesting email came from a reader in New York. "Whilst being driven to JFK airport for a flight to Jamaica a few years back, the driver asked me which terminal and airline. I replied, 'Air Jamaica'. He asked me several questions about the country. The driver identified himself as Costa Rican.

"He then asked me: How are black Costa Ricans referred to in Costa Rica? I said I had no idea. He replied they are called 'Jamaicanos', explaining that many of the blacks in Costa Rica (like several other Central American countries) had originated in Jamaica."

While discrimination may play a part in the country's decision to restrict Jamaican visas, these are examples of what else may have fuelled the government's decision.

One Jamaican writer felt that the Costa Rican Government made the right decision. She said, "If I were a part of the government of Costa Rica and was following the news of murder and mayhem, I don't think I would necessarily wait for new immigrants within the Jamaican community in Costa Rica to start acting up, before a decision is made to keep them at bay.

"Please don't be hard on the Costa Ricans; they are just doing what we should have done long ago: solve a problem before it becomes a behemoth."

Meanwhile, a Jamaican employed to the United Nations warned that other countries are also likely to introduce visa requirements for Jamaicans.

He writes: "In the old days, as a Jamaican I could travel throughout Europe, Asia and LatinAmerica without the need for a visa, but not so nowadays. We are treated the same as Nigerians, which means that we are constantly viewed with suspicion and treated accordingly, the only part of the world where we can now visit without a visa is Africa, and that may soon change because the last time I was in Ghana people were complaining about the violent behaviour of some Jamaicans living there. Israel used to welcome Jamaicans, but due to the complaints of many individuals about those who arrive with Jamaican passports and get involved in crimes they are also reconsidering (I live there and I listen to the complaints on the radios)."

'Murder music'

And if we ever needed any reminder of just how much Jamaica's reputation has declined on the world stage, Shatta from California drew attention to the fact that the recent Live Aid concert which featured the world's best music excluded reggae from its line-up. He wrote: "I am a reggae promoter and I have noticed that now our music is being referred to as 'murder music', so much so that club owners and venues don't want to be associated with the music that told the world 'One Love'."

So clearly, there is a problem with Brand Jamaica. The image people have of a country says lots about how it is viewed as a tourist destination, a place to invest or a source of consumer goods. In today's competitive global marketplace every country is seeking broader access and opportunities for growth. So who is protecting Brand Jamaica? Are we content to sit back and watch countries like Costa Rica market its produce and condiments as 'Jamaican Style' while we do nothing?

A country with a poor image is bound to be marginalised and languish at the bottom of the ladder of opportunities.