Is It True That In Jamaica “…Only White People Can Access Certain Beaches and Places…?”

In #Jamaica “…only #whitepeople can access certain beaches and places #ochorios…” that’s what Lennie Linton is suggesting in his posted video via #Facebook. In his video, which is no longer available, he showed and argued that at one vacation location in Ocho Rios Jamaica there is a practice of not allowing Local Jamaicans on the property, only white people from abroad. He showed a panoramic view with his phone of the property where bunched of Jamaicans were barred outside while white visitors were being allowed in by the security forces which are in and juxtaposed to the property and suggest. Unfortunately, the phone video he provided didn’t suggest much except that he was frustrated that he couldn’t get admitted inside the beach while one or two other persons who happened to be white were inside. Nevertheless we will not take his assertions about discrimination and racism lightly as he felt as though and went as far as to provide a video record of a practise he believes is discriminatory. 


I completed research and published a book: Neoliberalism Globalization Income Inequality Poverty and Resistance where I talk about these and other issues. Are we truly free? Are we truly independent? 


However there are those who may agree with this practise. I engaged a younger and budding academic colleague in a dialogue using reason to explore how anyone could agree with such a policy.


The dialogue:


John: I agree with the policy if it's true and if it's meant to protect the tourism industry. Simply, tourism represents over half of the economic output for Jamaica and the second leading industry is mining. Until that dynamic changes,  I don't see why the government should not apply such policies. By the way, the world bank ranks Jamaica as an upper-middle income country which is a laughable statistic to even report. Uncle Renaldo spoke about this in his book but that's clearly an agenda by the World Bank. That stat is so loaded.


Renaldo: Jamaica is a dependent capitalist country with an economy based on servitude; that has ostracized the locals from experiencing the real benefits of the so-called paradise. If you watch the film "life and debt" it tells a story of how Jamaica is created to take care of the global north while the locals work to prop up the leisure that black and global south people are unable to do. It is not fair that locals are barred from appreciating their local beauty only to let others come and enjoy it on the basis of security. Security is there to protect not just foreigners but all the people who want to enjoy the beauty of the island. It is a discriminatory practise at best for locals to Barr all Jamaicans as if all Jamaicans are criminals. That's racial profiling. So I disagree with Sheldon profusely.


John: what you're talking about is moral right or wrong which is a valid point. However, my point is that until the structure of the Jamaican economy is revolutionized then I find it difficult to disagree with those kind of policies. Unless, those local Jamaicans can contribute to the ROI on the same magnitude as the people who are displacing them. 


Renaldo: The same policy that discriminates and make the structure what it is. That is circular reasoning … Sheldon, The same policy that discriminates and make the structure what it is. That is circular reasoning.


John: I said revolutionized because it would truly take a sudden and radical shift to "break" the proverbial wheel. I would've said an evolution but history has shown that Jamaicans have never been patient enough and the sociopolitical climate has been too naive to allow the gradual development or change through an evolutionary process. 


Renaldo: The revolution that is needed is derailed with brain drains and the people who have experienced development in their thinking are overseas I guess. But the policy that creates such a scenario where locals are divorced from their land after getting independence is based in ideological strategy that favors certain people. The life of privilege is at issue here based in platonic and greek thought is the part of the problem. 


John: So what exactly is the fix, here? Because based on your premise, Jamaicans have been bystanders within their own sovereignty and governance. The brain drain had been a valid point until the year 2000. Which one can argue, by that time, the socioeconomic and geopolitical damages had already been done. Since then, we have been witnessing 22 years of redundant leadership from the government. Moreover, it wouldn't be ridiculous to suggest that the current government is in fact not only redundant, but also illegitimate as it pertains to the sovereignty of a nation. If the government doesn't work for the people then abolish it. 


Renaldo: Jamaica cannot be a middle

Income country whose people can't even get into certain places reserved for the global northern people. The problem is that we are a dependent capitalist country. We lack resources at the local levels and have been positioned to be dependent. It's international economic strategy that Barbados has dogged with their no nonsense approach outwitting “Uncle Sam.” And making opportunities available to Barbadians. Providing social welfare and local programs. They do not close their beaches to locals. They provide opportunities and open it up so their people can spend. Further what message are we sending if we follow your position. It can't change so we live in the mock? We must bring awareness to these issues constantly and inspire those before us and work to make it better for those coming up. 


Renaldo: Every generation must work to move the pendulum closer to the ideal. But what has been the progress. In fact, Jamaica has become poorer and more dependent as a country.


Renaldo: Further, most Jamaicans are stuck in religious values that have us loose the economic competition in this very competitive world. That is a strategy to make us so Christian that we can't break certain rules developed for Jamaica and global south countries to follow but not for the post industrial white Anglo Saxon countries.


Renaldo: This is the kind of podcast discussion I wanna have with you and Jamaicans that challenge and cut deep.


John: I agree with you. Jamaica is not an upper middle class country. The World Bank is absurd with that determination. My position is that if the people have a problem then replace and change the system. It seems simply to me. 


John: I'm too disconnected from Jamaica to even begin or want to engage such topics. But, truly I am cheering for the country 


Renaldo: Finally why are the #Jews among the wealthiest peoples in the world today? Because they understand the concept of "KOINONIA." You rarely find a broke or pauperized Jew. “It's 1 in 10,000.” Why is that so? Hitler didn't care to find out he just wanted to get rid of them and take their wealth.  But Jews are close knit and they have a different ideological principle based on the Hebrew bible. They  understand what it means by "no man is an island" they understand that if one sheep is missing they must go out and find that one and care for that one. They understand the meaning of family and camaraderie. Jeff Bezos became the wealthiest man because his family loan him some money to start a bookstore in a basement to deliver which was unheard of. The Jews don't compete with each other they share and strengthen and support and sacrifice and as they do that they are all blessed. But as black people we are among the most backward not just because of political strategies but the strategies are successful in that they work against us because we are like "crab in a barrel" looking to prop up self and we say everybody is about their own business. It is this selfishness and this inability to understand and encourage and support that has dogged us. 


John: Those are some strong opinions. I wouldn't say that Jewish people don't compete against each other more or less than blacks because I don't believe there is any evidence to prove that. Also, there's no logical reason for black people to collaborate and works as you've suggest other than the color of our skin which in itself is so inconsequential is not even worth being laughable. The point is that you can't compare Jews to Black people. Being Jewish, from the outside looking in, seems to come with certain acceptable predisposed cultural, religious, and secular practices that are shared by a group of people. By the way, are Jews a race or ethnicity or religion? Anyhow, being Black is not unilateral or a singular experience. Black isn't even an ethnicity. You just spent paragraphs telling me how Jamaicans have been basically victimized but then turnover and tried to compare Blacks and Jews as if there there is one defined understanding of what it means to be and live Black. Anyhow, the only thing Black people have in common with each other is the color of our skin and whatever else that comes with that color. There is simply not reason for blacks to truly unite other than our skin tone. We don't even share a historical religion and look at our "home" there's more division per square miles than countries. I'm actually laughing. Okay man I'm going back to my homework that my Jewish professor gave me.


Renaldo: Aren’t we always on the outside looking in? For if Descartes is right that we can only be aware of self then is there no comparison from without with that is within that can speak to best practice, fairness, equity, justice and prosperity? 


To be continued…Notes: the accuracy of some stated facts would need to be be supported by evidence not provided in this article. It is at best anecdotal and has some reasonable basis in studies conducted by other primary sources and the writer in this article who is completing doctoral research on the subject and has completed a thesis and a book on some of the subject matters discussed. 

We will continue to develop and work on this paper/article. Tune in to The NeoLiberal Round Podcast for audio recordings of the podcast on this subject. And for copies of my book you can get signed copies directly from me at Renaldo McKenzie

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