Gordon Robinson | When tribalism reaches the diaspora
Published:Sunday | January 28, 2024 | 12:07 AM
So Jamaica’s bitter, divisive, tribal politicking has spread to Kingston 21.
Jamaica woke up, bleary-eyed, on December 27 to learn that one Rupert Francis, chairman of a group with the fancy fandangle name of Jamaica Diaspora Crime Intervention & Prevention Task Force had written to Jamaica’s USA Ambassador. The letter listed the Task Force’s concerns about Jamaica’s increasing corruption and violent crime plus Government’s alleged failure to honour promises to the Diaspora regarding involvement in the political process.
One more Jamaican gaan abraad
One more disciple leave di yaad
But if yu think sey we a go stan’ up an’ wait
No way while we hold the gate fi yu
No t’ink so at all!
Jamaica’s Diaspora resides mainly in USA (1.1 million); UK (400,000) and Canada (309,000). South Florida, as home to USA’s largest Jamaican immigrant community, is what’s meant by “Kingston 21”. In 2020, non-profit Migration Policy Institute estimated there were over 336,000 members of the Diaspora in Florida with most in South Florida. Rupert Francis, a South Florida resident, said the letter was written on behalf of concerned Jamaicans in Jamaica and the Diaspora and was “a call to action”.
The letter threatened protests and to seek redress (whatever that is) from Jamaica’s “international partners.”
But, when you stop and check out di facts,
is a whole heap a t’ings Jamaica lack.
But when you run from a problem it never solve
No man waan fi get involve at all.
We sit down an’ bawl
Rupert told The Gleaner the protests are to bring attention to Government’s failure to control crime and corruption. Rupert also said he’d be asking donors to review where their money is spent.
Wha, wha WHAT?
In that regard Francis served notice on the Ambassador of plans for countrywide protests at offices managed by the Jamaican Government in Miami; Washington DC; New York; Canada; and United Kingdom.
The letter drew immediate response from Government and Diaspora members with contrary views. His “concerns” were labelled politically motivated. Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and its youth arm accused him of trying to embarrass Government. Gleaner reported that Nathaniel Peat, elected representative for UK South of the Global Jamaica Council, said the document “undermines efforts to solicit investments.” The Junior Foreign Affairs Minister insisted Diaspora members enjoyed an “unprecedented” level of engagement with Government.
Me? Yawn…
But I man on ya!
fi go a Canada!
No way sah.
Pot a bwoil ya
an’ belly full ya
Sweet Jamaica!
Over several past decades, Rupert and 10 per cent of Jamaica’s population have left our shores to pursue happiness and opportunity in lands allegedly of milk and honey. I’ve no problem with that. It’s their choice; their lives. I see no reason, however, that they should then seek to do anything that might endanger whatever happiness or prosperity those of us who chose (or had no option but) to remain have achieved and wish to maintain.
By all means have concerns about conditions back home. By all means express those concerns through GJDC (set up in 2018 to replace the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board as Government’s advisor on Diaspora Affairs) or directly to Government. By all means invest in Jamaica (or not) as the spirit moves you like anybody else resident elsewhere. By all means, if you haven’t renounced Jamaican citizenship, fly home to vote.
But don’t mistake “concern” for a right to recklessly risk causing damage to the nation you chose to leave.
Five flight a day to Miami
don’t mean a t’ing to dis man.
As long as man give labour honest work fi money
There is not a man can move me from my land!
So, after much blather, including Rupert’s boast that he’s receiving “widespread backing” and his activism “is resonating with the broader Diaspora community”, of hundreds of thousands South Florida Diaspora members, seventy placard bearers showed up outside the Jamaica Consulate-General’s Miami Office. No protests were mounted in Canada; Washington; New York; or UK.
Fizzle, fizzle, split, splat. It fell flat.
All you Jamaicans gaan abroad,
when last you really check a yaad?
Remember saltish-fritta bulla and pear
Wash it down with a ice cold beer
Rupert’s Task Force was formed in 2016. In July 2017 Rupert told JIS News that the task force pooled professionals from a broad spectrum to aid Jamaica’s fight against crime.
“We will bring to bear the criminal-justice operators or professionals, whether in psychology, sociology and any aspects of these professions that can help anyone to understand why crime exists, how it exists, reasons it exists and [how] we can stem it. Also, we would be introducing various aspects of law enforcement that have worked in the past from the community, social, political and economic levels,”
Wha’ppen to dis Rupert?
In 2017, Rupert’s Task Force members included LAPD Homicide Division Chief, Captain Peter Whittingham; Senior Intelligence Analyst, Herbert Nelson Jr; and former Winnipeg Police Chief, Devon Clunis.
Are they still members Rupert? If not, why not?
According to JIS, Task Force members visited in October 2016 on a “fact-finding and project-planning mission”. They met with Ministers of National Security and Justice.
How um the relationship so sour these days Rupert?
Seven years ago, Rupert’s Task Force had big plans. They were going to roll-out an Intelligence Fusion Centre; create a Safer Cities programme; work with the Justice Ministry to reduce court backlogs; offer assistance in cyber security; and create a program for at-risk youth.
Wha’ppen to these grand plans Rupert? Are you protesting against yourself?
In 2017, Rupert advocated community and church should be involved in crime-fighting: “The people cannot get anywhere, especially with the current spurt in crime and murders especially against women and children. We have to get them involved as stakeholders for them to understand this is something that affects all of us, not just some of us.”
How cum you not protesting against Church and Community Rupert? Did your Task Force fail to “get them involved”? Why?
In 2017 Rupert said the Diaspora takes very seriously its role in the process.
“We want to make sure people understand that we will never forget where we are coming from; we do believe in it; and we want to make sure it’s a safe place to be. We are one Jamaica and we must speak with one voice, for one purpose, for the enhancement of Jamaica and ridding our country from all this criminal activity. I think that if we all get together and put our hearts, hands and minds together, we will be able to resolve these issues.”
How many voices are you encouraging us to speak with now Rupert? Why the change of heart (hands and minds)? Did you expect crime, after 45 years journeying to this “chronic”, to be fixed in five? What did you do from Kingston 21 to help fix it?
In 1976, in the midst of political strife; during an island wide State of Public Emergency; after Michael Manley’s arrogant “Five flights a Day” invitation to Jamaicans who didn’t like his policies to take one, recording artiste Pluto Shervington spoke for every patriotic Jamaican of whatever political belief when he wrote and recorded I Man Born Ya.
He was thumbing his nose at Manley and equally at elites giving away homes and fleeing to seek fortune in the land of the free. The song filled every dance floor as the music’s nationalistic fervour resonated with party-goers.
But I man on ya.
I man born ya
I nah leave ya
fi go America
No way sah.
Pot a bwoil ya;
belly full ya
Sweet Jamaica!
Shortly after the song was released, Pluto was on one of those flights to Miami where he resided until he sadly passed away on January 19. As a committed humourist, Pluto proved he could laugh at himself by adjusting the lyric when visiting to perform:
I nah leave ya
Leighton Keith “Pluto” Shervington, born August 13, 1950; died January 19, 2024, R.I.P. I helped fill those dance floors. I’m still here. Perhaps many who chose to go are nostalgic but prefer to critique from afar rather than return and fight the good fight with us. We don’t read about crime in the news. We see and feel it every day. We don’t need Rupert and friends living in Kingston 21 making political demands of Government.
Your opinions are welcome. But don’t encourage investors to go elsewhere. Don’t mount protests to embarrass Jamaica. Thanks very much for your advice Rupert. We’ll take it from here.
Peace and Love.
Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com