The Editor, Sir:

When I travel overseas and see people in Barcelona who can't speak English enjoying dancehall music, or when I pass a stall in Milan selling Reggae Boyz jerseys, or when I tell someone I am Jamaican and they smile as they begin to sing a Bob Marley song, I often wonder whether we as a people really know how much impact we have on the world.

I am forever proud when I travel to faraway places and see our Jamaican brand on display.

new application

It was recently brought to my attention that a new application called 'Yeahmon' is available for iPhone and iPod touch. This application allows users to learn to speak Jamaican Patois, the user enters English into the handset and at a click of a button the word or phrase is converted into 'Jamaican'. Wow! Why Jamaica? Why our 'likkle' country?

Personally, I was blown away when I heard of it. To learn that a multinational corporation, Apple Inc, chose to invest in Jamaican Patois, a language that is not even formally recognised, when there are over 5,000 languages in the world. It is awe-inspiring that our tiny dot, that you have to squint to see on the world map, has such a massive influence out there and while there are those who would focus on the bad things that come out of Jamaica, I am proud to be Jamaican as I believe that, per capita, we are way out in front in most things that we apply ourselves to: education, sports, entrepreneurship, whatever.

one thing missing

If only we could get away from the politics; if only we were not 'born PNP', or 'born JLP'. If only we were simply 'born Jamaican'. The one thing missing from our armoury is the ability to work together and build a better country. If only we could stop tearing each other down; if only we could realise our full potential, we would do so much better for all our people.

Rise up, Jamaica! We have so much to be thankful for.

I am, etc.,

APRIL JACKSON

Miss Jamaica Universe (2008)

apriljackson4@gmail.com

Trident House, Newport West

Kingston 13