From: richard@auvax1.adelphi.edu
Subject: Jamaica gone to perdition!
Organization: Adelphi University, Garden City NY
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 23:58:03 GMT

Does anybody want to talk about the downfall of Jamaica?  Let's get it ON!
I saw a lot of young underage boys doing and talking about things I never even
knew existed till I was in my late teens.  I saw faces and bodies burned and
disfigured by acid and blades, I saw young girls living with old men (and wives
thus loosing husbands), I saw uptowners acting like downtowners, and on and on.
It was nothing like last christmas.  My mouth was constantly gaping as I was
dumbfounded by one surprise after another. On the good tip there were
multitudes of fine looking ladies that might lead one to tear up a return
ticket, but they showed little discrimination in choosing their mates. From
cool to idiotic, all had a girl or two as long as he could play the role of
brinks ( you know - to roll out a wad of hundred dollar bills) and buy two
hundred dollar pizzas and three hundred dollar Burger King meals.  The shit hit 
the fan though when I saw open color discrimination used against me and others
of darker persuasion at a local nightclub.  Every day in the news was another
tale of corruption, embezzlement, murder, etc, etc.  Hustling is the rule of
the day, and a walk through a supermarket is a sure date with depression.  You
cannot even drive around at night withought fearing that operation ARDENT will
suddenly pop up and leave you possibly incarcerated for the night.  Then there
is the police brutality against the 'nobodies', the persons who don't have
big money and therefore no rights. Eighteen men were placed in a brick cell
made to hold about five after being jailed without explanation.  Morning came
and three of them were stone dead.  The survivors told tales of suffocation, 
having to lick the sweat off the brick walls and each other to quench burning
thirst, of vomiting and open defacation in stifling heat, of being packed so 
tight as to be rendered immobile in complete darkness with no fresh air 
whatsoever. An inspector when interviewed stated that the cell could hold 'up 
to twelve men quite comfortably'. 
There is a whole lot more I could add, stories and events that shocked the
daylights out of me, but I think you get the idea.  For the first time in my
life I have to admit to myself that I do not wish to return to my homeland, not
the way it is now.  You have to be there to understand what I mean, as I know
what I am saying may piss some of you off, but the two weeks I spent were two
too many.  I am afraid that Jamaica is slowly becoming a little Haiti without
the extreme politics.  It is also becoming difficult to distinguish the
Jamaicans from the New Yorkers or the Brixtonites.  Pram city also rules (ie
nuff pregnant women).  What will become of the land?  I think that that recent
shake up may be God's warning.  He took Port Royal before, and he may take
Kingston too.  What thinkest Thou?  

 
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Richard L. Dennison               -\--/-  Internet: richard@auvax1.adelphi.edu
President, Caribbean Club        |  \/  | Fone:(516)352-1926 Fax:(516)877-3296
Chairman, Afrikan Concerns Assn  |  /\  | Caribbean Cultural Awareness Club
Editor In Chief, AFRIKA UNBOUND!  -/--\-  Adelphi U., Garden City, N.Y. 11530
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