THE EDITOR, Sir:
MY HUSBAND and I just spent 10 days in Jamaica. Rather than heading for a resort, we decided to rent a car and travel around the parish of Portland and into the Blue Mountains. Jamaica is a beautiful country. However, we were depressed in talking to Jamaican people that many of them want to leave and see no future in their country.
This hopelessness seemed best expressed by the piles of garbage littering the roads and beaches. As well, we were disturbed by the condition of many of the goats and dogs we saw. If people care about a place that they live, they treat it and their animals with respect.
We also felt more than a little unsafe in the places that we visited. Jamaicans were very aggressive about pressing us to make purchases we did not want. In more than one instance we were duped into giving money for services to which we had not agreed. When we declined we were threatened with possible physical violence. Again, all of this smacks of the desperation that people seem to be feeling.
Key infrastructure such as good roads, quality education, and health care seem to be sorely lacking. Tourists such as ourselves are happy to come, travel and spend money in local economies. However, we need to feel safe, welcome, and treated fairly by local people.
I urge all Jamaicans and the government to consider these comments. In order to develop a sustainable tourist industry that does not revolve only around resorts and benefits local people, much work needs to be done.
I am, etc.,
TANIA GOTTSCHALK
tania_gottschalk@umanitoba.ca
11 Oakdean Crescent
Winnipeg, MB R3J 3N4
Canada
Via Go-Jamaica
