Errol Hewitt, Contributor"And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound."
- Luke 15 verse 27
The nation has been enthused with the series of annual conferences held with representatives of the Jamaican diaspora living in countries such as Canada, United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa, etc.
Jamaicans in the diaspora have faithfully and consistently stood with us through the years, and their loyalty to family, as attested by the impressive remittances sent home, is a testament in general to the sanctity in which the family is held.
In net terms, this tangible means of family support is Jamaica's leading source of foreign exchange and remarkably, when weighted by population, is one of the highest levels of remittance per capita internationally.
Successive Jamaican governments have also been interested in securing the active support of Jamaicans overseas. The support being sought requires their becoming citizens in the developed countries in which they live, and through the power of their votes, possibly influence such governments on Jamaica's behalf, in areas such as trade and the widest range of assistance and support programmes. The political support of the diaspora is also a prime, though not stated consideration. At the same time, ironically, the migration oftalented Jamaicans continues seemingly unseen by the authorities.
'Nobody knows the troubles I've had'
Thinking of the Jamaican diaspora inevitably brings to mind stories of great sacrifice covering a wide range of circumstances, including two and even three daily jobs; it's not all glitter, it's unrelenting hard work, sweat and tears to survive there and send home those remittances.
Encrypted in their memories will always be the year-long struggle to access the widest range of sales to fill the barrels of 'goodies' - clothes, toys, groceries, etc, inflexibly expected back home for Christmas. This consistently high expectation back home can be suffocatingly depressing to satisfy.
Many of those in tertiary institutions have to self-finance their way through university, which means getting a job which facilitates the institution's schedules. Those who are unfortunate to have to work in the outdoors during winter are understandably teary-eyed from more than just the freezing wind. And for some, the perception of an unforgiving society at home means that failure is not an option to 'go up like johnny cake and come back like dumpling'.
The sacrifice of living overseas means for some the heart-wrenching loss of the face-to-face parental roles with the children left home in Jamaica - this can never be an easy decision. On the children's side is the loss and even socio-psychological damage which sometimes result from stressful and continued separations, some of which seems to have major negative national implications.
The decision to emigrate from Jamaica was not easy and, for most, there were no other options - and it is important we keep this latter fact in mind.
Settling in overseas for the majority has been traumatic, especially from a cultural perspective, and still is to this day for some. In fact, many are unable to cope with the intense pressures and become mentally ill. Yet, despite all this and the reality of crime and violence at home, there is still an unending love of country and the awareness at heart, that "no whey no betta than yard".
'Sometimes I'm up, Oh, yes Lord'
In the diaspora our people are faced with greater opportunities in much more open societies and have made great socio-economic strides forward, and achieved much in virtually every sector of occupation, on every continent and in myriad countries across the globe.
Many of these have expertise Jamaica could immediately use, and are usually quite willing to be of service to the country.
In fact, many Jamaicans in the diaspora have not been waiting to be asked to help and have not been only sending home remittances, but have been active in their old students' association and/or in support of a school and students in their communities, etc.
For the more academic/professional, there is willingness to comply with the Government's request for help in respect to national or ministry projects, but there is also [and understandably so] some caution due either to prior personal experience or reports from others that after the initial 'glee and glamour' reception, successive governments response to their subsequent consultations and recommendations is, at best, lukewarm.
Not amused
Nobody is willing to waste time or to have their reports/recommendations shelved, as have so many others before. Many are not amused by the thought that the written representation of their effort would be sharing shelf space with similar recommendations by a who's who list of notable Jamaicans. All are in common, responding to a stirring challenge of service to the country and the urge to be patriotic.
This year, the number of representatives of the diaspora was an impressive 700, and on the local side involved not only senior ministers of government but a significant number of private sector leaders over the two days. The speeches and presentations were from all reports stirring and all fashioned to stir even greater commitment by the Jamaican diaspora. The conference's commitments are impressive, and assuming the representatives were democratically elected, they each will need the continued support of members in endeavouring to accomplish these.
'Sometimes I feel like a motherless child'
Successive Jamaican governments have all been enthused with the concept of utilising the assistance of Jamaicans domiciled in developed countries for both national and political party interests. But it does not seem that successive administrations are concerned about the reasons for their emigration in the first place and, logically, to apply the lessons learnt to ensure that those remaining are satisfied to continue to do so. The allegory is that instead of bolting the farm gate through which half the herd has bolted, the farmer chases after them, unmindful that the remaining animals are still going through the gate, driven by whatever scared the herd in the first place.
The focus has, therefore, been on what those who have migrated [for whatever the reason] can contribute, whether to country or party. Yet, the migration of our brightest and best continues unabated, and not just to the traditional countries such as Canada, the UK and the US, but now to countries such as Botswana, South Africa, and Dubai, etc.
There has been no real lessening in the reasons to migrate including economic [the desire to afford a better quality life for self and family]; education [the basis for socio-economic progress] and professional development [the realisation of our full potentials]. But crucial among these is the lack of opportunities not only because of the country's marginal socio-economic development over the last several decades, but also because of the fact that it's a closed and very ascriptive society. Many still find this deplorable and frustrating, representing, in effect, a mostly closed door to their professional and financial expectations. Many of our young engineers, economists, technicians and administrators, etc, are, for example, in southern African countries due, among other things, to the closed options in Jamaica as against the comparative opportunities and openness of Botswana, bilingual Canada, etc. And there are those still remaining at home, hemmed in by the closed nature of the system, goaded by their insuppressible ambition and the certainty that there has to be more to life.
Economy in poor shape
Our economy is not in good shape; it is not providing the required number and quality of jobs and is reeling with the seriously escalated price of oil and the initial onset of the rapidly approaching 'food tsunami' - high prices and scarcity of food.
The lot of pensioners, those with fixed incomes and their dependents, is becoming increasingly perilous. Price gouging by the widest cross section of persons is at epidemic proportions and seriously affect the survival and opportunities of others. To start a business, for example, assuming one has got past the enormous obstacle of the titles office, may require a valuation of property as security for a bank loan.
But the cost of the valuation involves an initial deposit supplemented by a fee of $2,000 on each million dollar of the valuation as assessed by the valuator himself - the classic conflict of interest.
This could mean over $70,000 in fees on a property/farm valued at $30 million. Beginning a small business with an initial cost of $70,000 before even the bank loan and its own series of fees are received, is discouraging.
The avid drive to fully utilise all that Jamaicans in the diaspora can offer ignores both the reason for their migration and the wealth of talent, expertise and experience that is right on our doorstep at home, but is closed out because of the selfish and ascriptive nature of our society, which ignores merit and embraces mediocrity in order to maintain the status quo.
It is ironic that it now seems that the way to contribute to the development of a Jamaican's own country is to migrate and become part of the diaspora.
"Distant water won't help to put out a fire close at hand."
