THE EDITOR, Sir:I REFER TO the article by Dawn Ritch in last Sunday's Gleaner ('Émigrés with water guns') which, if I understand her correctly, asserts that Jamaicans living abroad have no right to contribute their thoughts and ideas about our country.
Jamaica is the country of my birth, and the fact that I have moved overseas retracts from neither my love nor my hopes for the country and our people.
That I share with the 700 Jamaicans in Birmingham, England who attended the conference to which Ms Ritch refers. Most were born in Jamaica and still have family living there; some hope to return. They expect nothing from Jamaica, but are passionate in their wish to contribute to the well-being of Jamaica.
DEFEND THE LAND THEY LOVE
They are saddened by the reputation of their homeland, and are keen to act as ambassadors to defend the land they love. I make no apology for that, and I doubt any of them would either. In Ms Ritch's eyes, this may make us figures of fun, but it will not diminish our love of nor our actions in support of our country.
I was asked by the conference organisers to speak about how Jamaicans in Britain might contribute to building Jamaica's image and therefore its economy. I said: "I am personally fed up with hearing Jamaican politicians calling each other corrupt, because if a Jamaican politician says that, then we can't blame investors for believing that we are indeed corrupt - and not wanting to invest in our country."
I do not apologise for that statement, and I am saddened that it would seem that it is now the sport of some journalists also to demean Jamaica's politicians.
On the House of Lords issue, Ms Ritch might benefit from reading the report of the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords of which I was proud to be a member - the full text is available on the Internet. Among its proposals was that the composition of the House of Lords should be part elected, and that debate is continuing.
PEERAGE IN HOUSE OF LORDS
As for its role, the House of Lords has existed as a separate Chamber since the 14th century. It plays a key role in revising legislation sent from the Commons; it can send back legislation to encourage the House of Commons to think again, but in the end it is the House of Commons who can override the Lords by the use of the Parliament Act, not the other way round as Ms Ritch states.
I am proud to have been offered a peerage in the House of Lords and make no apology for accepting it. I hope it will enable me to continue to support - in a more tangible manner - some of those people around the world, many of whom are Jamaicans, who have no voice and no-one to speak up for them.
I am, etc.,
BILL MORRIS
18 Marsham Court, Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4JY
