Dear Editor,
The Ministry of Commerce in The People's Republic of China has given the opportunity to a number of Jamaicans and other nationals from developing countries across the globe — mainly from the Caribbean, South Pacific and Latin American countries — to participate in seminars directed at national development. I was one of the individuals given the chance to be a part of a seminar on international trade that was conducted in Beijing.
The presenters were mainly government officials and the opportunity was eye-opening as we got to see development first-hand: the results of planning and being able to transition into the future.
The dedication to and concentration on nationalism has brought China into development for the future that is arguably as breathtaking as the past, and they were so eager to show it to the world. The wonders of the present, such as the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, are as astounding as the wonders of the past, such as the Great Wall in Beijing.
On this trip the Chinese taught many lessons, but it was those outside of the classroom on sight-seeing tours that brought home the real meaning of the lessons taught. Their ability to plan and make every individual productive was brought into focus; from the relationships with overseas firms that manufacture and operate in China, to the individuals who protect and maintain each landmark and street corner.
Jamaica prides itself on being a premier destination as it relates to tourism and yet we have not really tapped into the full potential of our attractions to increase our tourist arrivals. An example is Port Royal, which was once the most popular place on Earth due to the lifestyles of the individuals there, and the fact that it was the hub for the pirates of the world. If we were to take a page from the book of the Chinese the entire Port Royal community would be a tourist attraction, just as the Chinese have done with Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square which is located in the centre of Beijing. There is also room for the building of modern attractions, as individuals whether private or public could invest in architectural marvels when constructing offices. We could also build large marvellous monuments to the memory of individuals who have left their mark on the country and the world as this would attract tourists to the island.
There is so much potential in Jamaica that we are merely sitting on. Let us not just sell beaches but sell our past, sell our culture and create a future. Let us allow visitors to leave wanting to come back, as China has done, where the visitor is left with the desire to see more as there is so much to see. Let us create a past now for the future to see. Let us not be afraid to close our eyes and dream, but on opening our eyes make that dream a reality. Let us put country over ourselves as we strive towards a better Jamaica, a better future.
Shaun Reynolds
Beijing, China
shaun7reynolds@gmail.com
Realising Jamaica's full potential
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The Ministry of Commerce in The People's Republic of China has given the opportunity to a number of Jamaicans and other nationals from developing countries across the globe — mainly from the Caribbean, South Pacific and Latin American countries — to participate in seminars directed at national development. I was one of the individuals given the chance to be a part of a seminar on international trade that was conducted in Beijing.
The presenters were mainly government officials and the opportunity was eye-opening as we got to see development first-hand: the results of planning and being able to transition into the future.
The dedication to and concentration on nationalism has brought China into development for the future that is arguably as breathtaking as the past, and they were so eager to show it to the world. The wonders of the present, such as the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, are as astounding as the wonders of the past, such as the Great Wall in Beijing.
On this trip the Chinese taught many lessons, but it was those outside of the classroom on sight-seeing tours that brought home the real meaning of the lessons taught. Their ability to plan and make every individual productive was brought into focus; from the relationships with overseas firms that manufacture and operate in China, to the individuals who protect and maintain each landmark and street corner.
Jamaica prides itself on being a premier destination as it relates to tourism and yet we have not really tapped into the full potential of our attractions to increase our tourist arrivals. An example is Port Royal, which was once the most popular place on Earth due to the lifestyles of the individuals there, and the fact that it was the hub for the pirates of the world. If we were to take a page from the book of the Chinese the entire Port Royal community would be a tourist attraction, just as the Chinese have done with Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square which is located in the centre of Beijing. There is also room for the building of modern attractions, as individuals whether private or public could invest in architectural marvels when constructing offices. We could also build large marvellous monuments to the memory of individuals who have left their mark on the country and the world as this would attract tourists to the island.
There is so much potential in Jamaica that we are merely sitting on. Let us not just sell beaches but sell our past, sell our culture and create a future. Let us allow visitors to leave wanting to come back, as China has done, where the visitor is left with the desire to see more as there is so much to see. Let us create a past now for the future to see. Let us not be afraid to close our eyes and dream, but on opening our eyes make that dream a reality. Let us put country over ourselves as we strive towards a better Jamaica, a better future.
Shaun Reynolds
Beijing, China
shaun7reynolds@gmail.com
Realising Jamaica's full potential
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