In addition to the foregoing, arising out of all these "oral verbiage" on Jamaicans abroad who maintain contact and "lend" pecuniary and other support to our country, there lies a perception that we have been unpatriotic not to be living in Jamaica today. Such an argument is at best, quite unfair.

Our apparent critics - politicians and others, including a pocket of journalists - do not know the circumstances under which the particular member of the Diaspora who writes letters to Jamaica either leaves Jamaica, whether he/she had in fact emigrated or whether the member was born overseas of Jamaican parents or worse, "forced" beyond his/her wishes to emigrate with one's guardians or parents as children.

It is being assumed that a member of the Diaspora, by means of living abroad, has reneged on his/her
Jamaican citizenship.

There are many Jamaicans who, for one reason or the other, live abroad but are wholly Jamaican citizens (not dual) and cannot and will not partake in the political and other aspects of their alien home. But moreso, the point must be made that such a Jamaican and all Jamaicans abroad, by the instrument of the Jamaican Constitution, have a right, just like our local Jamaican brothers and sisters, to publish our views equally as anyone else in Jamaica.

Many Jamaicans, like myself, have siblings and offspring who still reside in Jamaica and therefore have as much interest in the affairs of Jamaica as its local residents and sometimes even more so than local residents. In writing our letters to the various Jamaica media and calling in to local talkshows, why should we have to declare the frequency of travel to Jamaica and our private activities when effecting our contributions as seems to be Mr Burke's requirement?

Do we know when these journalists and other critics are travelling abroad and when they are engaged in their numerous activities?!

In addition, I find it quite impertinent when the esteemed Mr Wignall speaks to the length of Mr Whittaker's contribution and ideas to the local media houses and the less than amicable reference to the media not awaiting his verbiage (my words). As far as I know, Mr Whittaker is offering his ideas as a proud, patriotic Jamaican who happens to live in the USA.

He offers his intellectual prowess and professional expertise to Jamaica for free. The journalists and columnists are paid, as far as I know, and the 20 per cent of the Jamaican population who read their articles must put up with their mostly "creative, entertaining, yet superficial fictions" on a regular basis, if not day to day!

The important fact that seems to have arisen out of this discussion involving Mr Burke and Mr Wignall, but particularly with respect to the latter, is that if these two are to be believed and embraced as a greater yardstick to measure the realities, then the powers-that-be and local leaders in Jamaica are really not interested in changing the status quo or moving for any meaningful amelioration of Jamaica's current dilemma!

If what is emanating from Mr Wignall and Mr Burke is the general trend among our local Jamaicans and politicians, it must be concluded that our Jamaican residents are shrouded in a cloak of great hypocrisy! When our dear Miss Lou emigrated to Canada and resided there for many years, I can't recall anyone publicly saying that she was unpatriotic! As a matter of fact, her body was received by all the great dignitaries of the land, then given an official funeral in Jamaica, if my memory serves me correctly.

The day the Diaspora should begin to listen to your calls to stay away is the day Jamaica will certainly be lost, and then the question will be, "Are you happy now?"

Joshua Spencer
Toronto, Canada