Dear Editor,
It is quite unfortunate that the situation of 13 Jamaicans being turned away by Trinidad and Tobago immigration officials has escalated the tensions between these two islands.
I, along with many other Jamaicans, live and work in Trinidad and Tobago. The majority of those I interact with on a regular basis have treated me quite well. I have been welcomed and accepted as family here, even though I have no blood ties to the country.
I do understand the plight of these Jamaicans who were reportedly ill-treated by T&T immigration officials, but blanket statements of hatred destroy diplomatic ties and boycotts cannot be the answer.
There must be opportunities for civil dialogue and mutual understanding between the two countries. Yes, the negatives are often highlighted when it comes to 'Jamtrinbagonian' relations, but there are also Jamaicans in T&T and T&T citizens in Jamaica making valuable contributions to each other's countries. There are T&T citizens who love Jamaican people and culture and there are Jamaicans who love T&T people and culture.
We don't boycott the United States, Canada or the UK when our citizens are ill-treated, deported or when they give us unfavourable trade agreements; so why is this the automatic response when our citizens are ill-treated by Caricom countries?
Where is the call for stopping diplomatic relations and placing trade levies on the developed countries that deport our citizens in droves each year? If a Jamaican is refused entry into the United States, even while in possession of a valid US visa, this does not cause Jamaicans to lash out against the US.
The Jamaica Observer reported that in the period 2010 - 2013, 54,362 Jamaicans were admitted into Trinidad and Tobago without any problems, while 1,962 were sent back. This means that 96.5 per cent of Jamaicans travelling to Trinidad and Tobago met the requirements for entry and only 3.5% did not. Let us examine the facts clearly showing why these persons were turned away. Are there any statistics to compare with the percentage of Jamaicans denied entry from other countries?
Were the 13 persons sent back treated respectfully? No, they were not, but we must resort to mending diplomatic relations in a civil manner without the vitriol being spewed from both sides. Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have a lot to teach each other and a lot to learn from each other, and it is time we put aside our differences and work things out in an amicable way.
Nicole Brown
nicolemarie.brown@gmail.com
#YardieinT&T
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It is quite unfortunate that the situation of 13 Jamaicans being turned away by Trinidad and Tobago immigration officials has escalated the tensions between these two islands.
I, along with many other Jamaicans, live and work in Trinidad and Tobago. The majority of those I interact with on a regular basis have treated me quite well. I have been welcomed and accepted as family here, even though I have no blood ties to the country.
I do understand the plight of these Jamaicans who were reportedly ill-treated by T&T immigration officials, but blanket statements of hatred destroy diplomatic ties and boycotts cannot be the answer.
There must be opportunities for civil dialogue and mutual understanding between the two countries. Yes, the negatives are often highlighted when it comes to 'Jamtrinbagonian' relations, but there are also Jamaicans in T&T and T&T citizens in Jamaica making valuable contributions to each other's countries. There are T&T citizens who love Jamaican people and culture and there are Jamaicans who love T&T people and culture.
We don't boycott the United States, Canada or the UK when our citizens are ill-treated, deported or when they give us unfavourable trade agreements; so why is this the automatic response when our citizens are ill-treated by Caricom countries?
Where is the call for stopping diplomatic relations and placing trade levies on the developed countries that deport our citizens in droves each year? If a Jamaican is refused entry into the United States, even while in possession of a valid US visa, this does not cause Jamaicans to lash out against the US.
The Jamaica Observer reported that in the period 2010 - 2013, 54,362 Jamaicans were admitted into Trinidad and Tobago without any problems, while 1,962 were sent back. This means that 96.5 per cent of Jamaicans travelling to Trinidad and Tobago met the requirements for entry and only 3.5% did not. Let us examine the facts clearly showing why these persons were turned away. Are there any statistics to compare with the percentage of Jamaicans denied entry from other countries?
Were the 13 persons sent back treated respectfully? No, they were not, but we must resort to mending diplomatic relations in a civil manner without the vitriol being spewed from both sides. Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have a lot to teach each other and a lot to learn from each other, and it is time we put aside our differences and work things out in an amicable way.
Nicole Brown
nicolemarie.brown@gmail.com
#YardieinT&T
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