Smith

The Gleaner continues its presentation of the thoughts of influential leaders in society on the more positive features of Jamaica. Today, we bring you the views of Harry Smith, former Digicel marketing guru, now executive in residence at the University of the West Indies.

Jamaicans are a very resilient people; we are a flavour all on our own. In any situation, we find a way to bring out the best and the humour. We are colourful and expressive with our language and so, in other countries where there would be public strife over vexed national issues, we look at the bright and funny side every time.

It is innate in us to reserve the best for visitors and treat them even better than we treat ourselves. That is why there are so few crimes against them. In our homes, we were taught at an early age to use the best china only when strangers come.

Unfortunately, we are also very mercurial and tend only to back winners. In the marketing field, we defy all norms and so the leading brand is always way ahead of others in the same class. Others do not understand this about us, but it's part of what makes us unique.