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Re: The Day After
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Happy Reader
Give Us Your Money, Not Your Vote
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Nov 29 03 8:25 AM
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Ja wants our money but not our votes
published: Saturday | November 29, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
LETTER WRITER Leslie Reid ("How much suffrage for 'Jamaicans'", Gleaner, November 13, 2003) has a 'bag' of questions. These questions are posed, it appears, in an effort to give pause for reflection. So let us reflect.
To begin with, Reid harbours the notion that all exiled Jamaicans live in the USA. This perhaps explains the jaundiced outlook. There are Jamaicans in Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, etc., etc. We are part of the big wide world and are truly cosmopolitan.
Whether or not the right to vote passes to generations of children born overseas to 'foreign Jamaican citizens' depends on how deep and wide the politicians are inclined to reach in their desperate attempt to get their graspers on our resources. It is neither here nor there to us. We are simply making it clear to the politicians in Jamaica that we are not prepared to give up our resources without gaining a measure of empowerment.
They want increases in remittances; we want to have a say in the manner in which these remittances are used. If they want to reach into our children's pockets, then they too are going to want to have a say. This applies to our grandchildren, and so on, and so forth.
"Local Jamaicans" can define their interests and pursue them. "Foreign Jamaicans" are not by any means a hindrance. From where I stand the "locals" interests are as alien to me as mine are to them. Clearly, though, in general terms, there is an intersection of interests, both locally and abroad. It is tied up in one billion in remittance money and a bunch of greedy, unscrupulous, and incompetent politicians.
It is clear that we, who dwell overseas, and who have to fight daily against nearly insurmountable odds, know what is best for us. We know that it is very foolish, indeed, to send our money to Jamaica.
The last US presidential elections has nothing to do with Jamaicans voting in Jamaican elections. And as for above-board voting, what harm would accrue from any shenanigans that the Bronx and Miami enclaves of Jamericans would engage in above and beyond that engaged in by the dons in the Kingston garrisons? It is a dubious caution, to say the least. Worse, it is Yardie bashing, and the chief remitters take grave exception to this.
As a matter of fact we believe that our education, skills, and resources, which so excite the politicians in Jamaica, qualify us to form political parties and to field candidates to run for office. We have no trepidation about our ability to win a majority in any electoral contest and to constitute a Cabinet for the effective administration of the country's affairs. Anything is an improvement over what exists.
We are sick of those beggars popping up all over the world seeking hand-outs and claiming they are doing it on our behalf. We have proven our mettle in earning our keep, so, it would be a different kind of government under our direction. For starters, there would be no begging on the international stage!
Reid informs us that: "I would submit that Jamaica would no longer be an 'independent' country but just an island for ego titillation of wannabe politicians." Has Jamaican politics been anything other than "ego titillation? It has been one endless parade of egomaniacs since 1938!
I'll say one thing: A country that is dependent on the charity of its exiles for more than half of its foreign currency earnings is by no means independent.
I am, etc.,
ADUKU ADDAE
countrybwoy@cox.net
P.O. Box 120411
San Diego, California
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