Ambassador-Designate to China Calls on Minister McNeill

(HM Ambassador to China) – KINGSTON, JAMAICA – December 17, 2015: Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill (right), shares a light moment with Jamaica’s Ambassador-Designate to the People’s Republic of China, Fay Pickersgill. The occasion was a courtesy call on Minister McNeill by the Ambassador-Designate at the Ministry‘s New Kingston offices on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Among the issues discussed was Jamaica’s interest in attracting more Chinese visitors to the island. In 2014 the Jamaican Government approved the conditional waiving of visa requirements for Chinese nationals travelling to Jamaica for tourism purposes for periods of 30 days or less. Mrs. Pickersgill has the distinction of being Jamaica’s longest-serving Director of Tourism, having served in that post from 1994 to 2003.

Perspective

Jamaica has been cementing deeper and stronger ties with the Chinese for sometime now. Critics call it the “colonization of Jamaica by the Chinese”. It has been for a long time a favourite destination for Chinese Nationals seeking investment opportunities. The Jamaican economy has benefited from this influx of investment and trade.

There was a wave of chines to Jamaica more than half a century ago …. .as migration goes this wave slowed.

Like what happened to Canada under Pierre Tradeau. Will this happen again under his son.? We will wait and see.

They are very present in the shopping districts in many our major towns. The Chinese virtually control the distributive trade.

Highway Construction

They continue to build highways and as reported in Vision, will build the new Eastern Coastal Highway. There is even a Chinese Cemetery. They also have a church building where they worship in New Kingston, a busy shopping and business district. Chinese restaurants are plenty here.

Many Hong Kong Chinese migrated to Jamaica when China assumed control of Hong Kong. Either fleeing their new masters or preferring a more democratic form of government. Many have learnt our language and are fully integrated in the Jamaican society. There is intermarriage and they have children here. Jamaica continues to be multi ethnic and multicultural. Our motto “Out of many one people” is truly playing itself out.

Picture supplied shows Ambassador-Designate to China Fay Pickersgill making courtesy call on Tourism Minister Dr. W. McNEIL.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie, SIC., filed this perspective for Vision Newspaper Canada.