‘I am miserable to the point of tears’ - COVID-19 halts Christmas in Jamaica for many in diaspora
Published:Monday | December 28, 2020 | 12:13 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
Going home to Jamaica for Christmas is what several Jamaicans in the diaspora look forward to each the year.
This year, however, because of the coronavirus pandemic, such plans were put on hold for many, as they were forced to cancel trips to their homeland.
One such person was Dr Rose-Marie Adamson-Lewis, who said that she and her family wanted to spend Christmas in Jamaica with family and friends this year, as always, but COVID-19 changed all that.
“I am miserable to the point of tears,” she told The Gleaner from her home in Coconut Creek, Florida, United States.
If not for COVID-19, she and her family would have been in Mandeville over the holidays enjoying the cool breeze and Jamaican food.
“It is one of our traditions. It takes us back to our roots. I miss the grand market, the making of food and taking it door-to-door for neighbours,” she said.
However, because she has business to take care of on the island, Adamson-Lewis, her husband and one of her sons plan to travel to Jamaica shortly after the Christmas holidays.
Acknowledging that they would have to provide negative COVID-19 tests and be quarantined for two weeks on arrival, Adamson-Lewis said she informed local authorities that they would be travelling to different places on business.
She praised the measures implemented by the Jamaican Government to try and arrest the spread of the virus, noting that she has no intention to violate the protocols.
“I am sad, but happy that the Government has instituted measures to protect Jamaica, even if that means my being unable to fully take advantage of my visit to the island,” Adamson-Lewis said.
BREAK TRADITION
Melvin Foster, too, who also resides in Florida, had his visit back home put on hold because of the coronavirus.
“It is a family tradition to spend Christmas in Jamaica for many years, but COVID-19 put a damper on our plans for this year,” he stated.
“It was a major disappointment not going, as I miss seeing and hanging out with friends and family. I miss the atmosphere of Christmas in Jamaica. It is different from Christmas here. Even the taste of Red Stripe is different when I am in Jamaica.”
Foster, who owns and operates a hair salon and beauty care products business, said he is looking forward to 2021 when, hopefully, he and his family will be able to get together in Jamaica for Christmas, instead of doing a Zoom Christmas, as they did this year.
“We are a close-knit family who love to hug each other, but with the virus we would not be able to do so this year, as we have to be mindful of the elderly members of our family,” he said.
Cornel Cooper is another Jamaican who had plans to be in Jamaica for Christmas but changed it because of the virus.
The New York resident said that his was not an essential travel and given that he would have had to quarantine for two weeks, it was not worth the hassle.
“I really miss being in Jamaica, eating Jamaican food and soaking up the Jamaican Christmas atmosphere, but I had to make a prudent decision; so I decided to skip going to Jamaica this Christmas,” he said.
Cooper is looking forward to next Christmas, when, hopefully, he will be able to travel to Jamaica like in years past.
DIFFICULT TIME
Philadelphia resident Albert Moore and his family also cancelled Christmas plans in his homeland.
“Christmas in Jamaica has always been special, and we will miss spending the holidays with family and friends and enjoying the whole Jamaica Christmas experience, but it was better to be here than expose ourselves to possibly contracting the virus,” said the Jamaican.
Moore said he was extremely disappointed not to be in Jamaica at this time of the year, but he is optimistic that he will get to visit next Christmas.
“Disappointed, yes, but accepting that the world is going through a difficult time right now,” he said.
The Crichlow family has never missed spending Christmas in Jamaica until this year.
“Every year, we have never been away from Jamaica at Christmas until this year. It is very hard not to be there spending time with family and friends and feeling the excitement of Christmas in the air,” said Joy Crichlow.
She said that for her and her family, this year is strange not being in Jamaica.
“It makes me have tears in my eyes not being in Jamaica,” she said.
Crichlow said that Jamaica is a gift of God at this time of the year. She misses the cake and the ham, among the other enjoyment of Christmas in Jamaica.