Wi No Tourist Enough Fi Some Jamaican Attractions?

 

Lois Grant

IS THIS A NEW TREND? ARE WE REGRESSING?

I am still livid from yesterday’s experience at a public property in Mamee Bay, St Ann  that is pointing to what I thought was a forgotten practice but one which seems to be slowly re-emerging in Jamaica.

Over the past few months I have been seeing some viral posts about Jamaicans being excluded from enjoying certain tourist attractions under the guise of coivid-19 management practices .

Take the Puerto Seco beach video where Jamaicans were turned back from paying to enjoy their own beach. Then there was the video with the ’white Jamaican’, telling us about her experience in Portland at the Errol Flyn named property where her guest was refused the right to use the pool.

Let’s cut to my experience yesterday.so I can get the anger out of my system. It’s not good for my diabetes or pressure! But I came home so angry after a very relaxing and productive day in Ocho Rios and Prospect.

There we were exploring the environs of the Mamee Bay area where  a  friend is looking at the possibility of buying property. My suggestion to him was let’s see the surrounding environs so you can make an informed decision. We walked around until we came to this place with a sign which read St Ann polo club.  The gate was opened and we walked inside to have a closer look.

A pick-up  being driven by a red skinned Jamaican woman pulls up..Hear her ..”and what can i do for you people?

His response was..”Oh we were just looking to see what was in the area’. 

Her:..Well it’s not open today so you need to leave.

So he asked..” Are you the owner?”

Her: No I'm the manager? 

Him: Is there a sign that says no trespassing or private property

Her: Well its closed today and you are not allowed to be here. So will you please leave. 

Him: So you are saying, we cant walk to look at what is being offered in this public space:

Her: No.. but you know that's the kind of response I expected from the likes of you. 

Him:   The likes of me? What likes is that? 

Me: You don’t fit the profile. You are wearing red, green and gold  and you are black skinned. 

Her: Well maybe you have the same problem with the likes of me. 

Me: Damn right I do,. Come let’s go..I said to my friend. 

Him: Still arguing and asking her what is the likes of him; 

Her: I'm going to call security .Hawkeye to come and remove you from the property. 

Him: Call dem man ..call dem..let dem come move me.

Her: Behaving like a spoilt child throwing a tantrum…lllaaaalaaa..blaaa blaaa blaa…. child…bllaaaa blaaa blaaa.. Like a flipping heediot. while she is dialing on her phone. 

DAMN I LEFT MY PHONE..AND HE WAS SO CAUGHT UP ARGUING…WE DIDNT RECORD HER TANTRUM;

Me: Come Max(Not his real name) let’s go. I will simply write about this encounter.

I literally pulled him away from the vehicle and we walked off while she burned tyres and going about her business. 

We decided to take picture of the place and this is the story that I'm sharing with the world. This is where Jamaica is heading. A Jamaica that Michael Manley fought so hard for its 99 percent black people to know their rights and to demand to be treated with equal respect by those who considered themselves to belong to the privilege class.

Well friends…it seems like .polo is not for the likes of us black Jamaicans especially those who wear locks as you will see from my pics here and definitely not those who wear red green and gold shirts and who don't look like the slave masters. 

What the hell are you doing on a polo property? The likes of US.

SMDH

Guest Writer - Lois Grant

_________________________________________________

Related Reading

• Bartlett response to treatment of Jamaicans at Puerto Seco Beach

Editors Note:

Ms Lois Grant- JP, MA, BA.(Hons) Dip Mass Comm, Cert. Broadcast Journalism BBC-London. Lois Grant's involvement in the communications and creative industry began in the newsroom at the now-defunct  Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) . She then went on to head the  Public Relations unit, at the now-defunct Grimax Advertising. From there, Grant went into partnership with the creation of the  Promotions/Production agency.. Innercity  Promotions.  Innercity was responsible for the creation of the live dance hall series of concerts at the Harbour View and New Kingston Drive-in cinemas... the firsts in the history of entertainment in Jamaica. At the start of the '90s Grant formed her own agency under the banner, Corporate Image Communications and Productions. She stood out as a trailblazer in developing several innovative events as well as programmes for corporate brands such as  Tastee Limited,  Jamaica National Building Society, City of Kingston Cooperative Credit Union, and various government agencies. Looking back Grant notes that she has played her role in changing the political landscape of three Caribbean islands, including Jamaica. Her last assignment before taking early retirement, saw her as the Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica from 2007-early 2013.