THE EDITOR, Madam:
AFTER READING the short-sighted comments/solutions to invigorate tourism in Jamaica from Senator Brian Wallace, I felt compelled to respond.
Mr. Wallace, making Jamaica more visible will not reverse the declining number of visitors to Jamaica. What keeps tourists (and visiting/returning Jamaican nationals living abroad) away is the crime that has become endemic to Jamaica.
The issue, Mr. Wallace, is crime. Jamaica is visible to the world, unfortunately because of the incredible crime rate and the seeming lack of effort from Jamaican leadership to control it.
Jamaica will continue to lose tourist dollars until leadership stops trying to develop ways of hiding the truth about what is happening on the island and initiates an aggressive offensive focused on crime prevention.
Don't hide crime, Mr. Wallace, work to reduce it by increasing efforts to educate Jamaica's youth and provide opportunity for those who successfully complete their education. Research supports the contention that the majority of those who commit crimes have little or no education.
Mr. Wallace, instead of spending additional funds to make Jamaica more visible, you would better serve our country by pushing to increase funding for public schools; funding to ensure that every child has the opportunity to complete high school, especially those children from low-income families.
But, increased funding alone will not solve this or any other issue; funding must be coupled with accountability. When leadership is held accountable for quantifiable outcomes and adequate funding is appropriated, results are realised. It must be said that improving the public school system cannot cure the many social causes of poverty; but if given the opportunity, resources and support, school teachers and administrators will do their part to improve conditions in Jamaica. Together Jamaicans can make the country a place where all children receive an education that will give them the skills and knowledge needed to help Jamaica succeed in the world economy, where residents and visitors feel safe, where institutions and government encourage investment in Jamaican children.
I strongly feel that Jamaican nationals living abroad must play a role in achieving this goal and Jamaican leadership must cut the path, but it appears that Jamaica's leadership has no vision or mission statement for the future. Rather than increasing visibility, leadership should concentrate its energies on basic priority areas (education, crime prevention) that will most benefit Jamaicans living on the island.
Invest in Jamaica and in Jamaican youth instead of chasing foreign currency.
Invest in Jamaicans and they will re-invigorate the country, ignore them and they will destroy it.
I am etc.,
NEVILLE COOKE
E-mail: Artgcooke@yahoo.com
Austin, Texas, USA
Via Go-Jamaica
