The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
So, in the Caymanian Compass I saw where Magistrate Margaret Ramsay–Hale, who by the way is a Jamaican (I think she was a Miss Jamaica World contestant one time too) sentenced a Jamaican visitor to nine months in jail Thursday after he pleaded guilty to two charges of theft.
"There is as yet no visa requirements for Jamaicans travelling to Cayman", the magistrate noted. “People like you who abuse [that relationship] are slowly but surely eroding the affection that once existed between Caymanians and Jamaicans.", she said. “There is an increasing reluctance to have Jamaicans in our midst.”
I know exactly what she meant! The thief should have been given ten years, not a piddling nine months! As she said, its Jamaicans like these who give the rest of us a bad name. Check out the magistrate. She is an example of the good! She is from Yard, but she has come here and is doing good things for the society, just like many, many other Jamaicans from all walks of life. Its not just her, you know... theres more, people, click the link to see the rest nuh?
Plenty Jamaicans are here doing good things! We are some of the lawyers, the teachers, the doctors... down to the household helpers, and the guys involved in construction, trucking, the police force! We are part of the foundation over here to ra$$! We do nothing wrong and yet we have to sit and listen to jokes and/or cursings against all Jamaicans because of the few rotten apples who come on over here and carry on with their wrongs. Its just disgusting! 
Whenever anything is stolen, you hear that its Jamaicans who did it. Just a few days ago, Natty told me that our landlord was chatting with her. The landlord told her that the company where she works had a fleet of cars which were flood-damaged in Hurricane Ivan. She said that all these vehicles were parked in their parking lot while the company waited on their insurance claim to be processed. "One fine day," she said, "some Jamaicans drove up and began to strip these vehicles of parts.... in broad daylight!!!".
Apparently they didn't do anything to stop them, and to be truthful, I'm not sure how they know that the thieves in question were Jamaican, but she continued on to say that she couldn't take all these foreigners who came to people's countries and couldn't abide by the law of the land. Of course, when you hear a story like this, you just squirm with embarrassment!
Its not just the thieves though. Its the Jamaicans who just don't obey the law in general... the ones who drive bad all the time, or who blare their music till the wee hours in a residential area.
So, I have told you about the good Jamaicans and the bad Jamaicans... what of the ugly? I also read (at www.jamaicans.com and after, in the Star, so its a true story) about a Jamaican employee at KFC Manor Park who lost it and threw hot oil on a customer! Can you believe it? KFC Manor Park, where most of the employees were my bredrins and all of them used to love MBJr. so much! 
Apparently a male UWI student and about three girls went to KFC Manor Park and were buying some "meal deals" when the male employee started to pass inappropriate comments about the ladies. The UWI student complained to the guard, who did nothing about the verbal abuse. Eventually, the ladies went outside, while the UWI student waited on the food they had ordered. After the yute got the food, he went outside and the employee followed him outside. An argument developed, and it escalated into a fight, which the security guard intervened in and managed to part them.
The KFC Manager came and was apologising to the UWI student, and they were talking when the KFC employee came up and dashed hot oil all over the student!
This is a truly ugly story. Its is the sort of thing that could easily happen to me or to you... this KFC employee takes the title of "the ugly" today. Trust me, all like him just required a gunshot. We need to exterminate vermin like that, IMHO! 
Posted by Mad Bull at March 13, 2005 08:52 AM
Comments
Ah wonder why that kinda behaviour becomin' so prevalent in JA--or maybe de journalism is improvin', so it's bein' covered more (??). Whatever--it sux, an' unfortunately it seems to be changin' de "face" ov JA in MANY other countries' eyes.
Posted by: Mel Da Piggy on March 13, 2005 02:04 PM
I think whenever you are a 'foreigner' in a country you get issues like that. Here in Canada its more like black people as opposed to just jamaicans as the scapegoats. In Barbados I think its Guyanese. Its just that locals cant believe that their own would do certain things and if you happen to get that one or two bad seeds in the 'foreigners'you are forever seen as bad.
As for the hot oil incdent, that employee is just wicked.really shameful display.
Posted by: jdid on March 13, 2005 11:13 PM
Lawlessness has become a way of life not just here in Jamaica but everywhere. We seem to take pride in what we can get away with. The media takes the issues and make a sensation out of them. I guess by focusing on things foreign provides a sense of comfort to those at home by saying it's coming from outside.
Posted by: scratchie on March 14, 2005 09:14 AM
Ga'dammit... let's keep hot oil where it belongs... in the bedroom...
Four great points guys...
Posted by: trouble on March 14, 2005 11:48 AM
I agree that this type of behavior is becoming more the norm in society all over the world.....take for instance the many occasions when there have been guns in schools!!! There has been a complete break down in the acceptible in society. Could this have something to do with more parents having to work longer and longer hours to survive financially, as well as the violence in the media including video games and movies? Could it also have something to do with the attitude Political correctness in allowing youth of all ages to "express themselves" without guidance or consequence? I think alot of factors contribute to the general indifference to respect of others in todays society. Are any of the people in power going to step up and do something about it? Probably not!!!!
Posted by: Ciya on March 15, 2005 11:12 AM
Like I have always said, there are Jamaicans, and there are Jamaicans. Just like there are Americans and there are Americans. Unfortunately, people the world over love to stereotype.
Re Cayman, if it were not for the many good Jamaicans contributing to the workforce there in a POSITIVE way, then, they would simply have to get people from other countries. Fact is, if there were enough native Caymanians to fill all the job vacancies there, then there would be no need to have people from other countries come to work there....would there? Or am I stupid or what?
Anyhow, the one who stole whatever it was should be punished.
Re the KFC employee....I hope he has been fired and will be taken to court and sentenced appropriately. In my Internship days at KPH I saw far too many cases of hot oil, acid burns etc. Trus me, if anybody dash acid or hot oil pon me I will be likely to end up in jail as well......no ends of reconstructive surgery will fix dat rahtid! I will be likely to retaliate with a 9mm!
Just heard from the compi Doc....I should be up and running again by the latest Thursday! Keeping all appendages crossed. Is a borrows offa Daddy laptop me holding.
Posted by: Dr. D on March 15, 2005 01:40 PM
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Ah wonder why that kinda behaviour becomin' so prevalent in JA--or maybe de journalism is improvin', so it's bein' covered more (??). Whatever--it sux, an' unfortunately it seems to be changin' de "face" ov JA in MANY other countries' eyes.
Posted by: Mel Da Piggy on March 13, 2005 02:04 PM