In the wake of the recent outrage over the alleged finger-raping of a Jamaican woman at Barbados’ Grantley Adams Airport, Jamaicans are again vexed about derogatory remarks by Barbadian Professor Hilary Beckles associating cricketer Christopher Gayle with accused gun-runner and Tivoli don, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. Beckles claims his remarks were taken out of context. But Observer online readers, reacting to our Saturday editorial, had their say:

Rupert Robotham: There is a consistent quality about hooded men that is always predictably accurate: They are also slippery. Only slugs, eels and snakes are their true competitors, for only they carry the same bodily secretions that give them the escape ability to slither and reverse course undetected, except one takes into consideration Prof Osama Bin-Beckles and his ability to slither, coil, and wiggle on the run, like his remarks comparing Chris Gayle to ‘Dudus’ the Tivoli don. What double beak bird!

Chuck Emanuel: Heal thyself, Prof Beckles! You must be held accountable for your sound-bite assertions masquerading as facts.

Albert Grant: As a proud Jamaican, I want to know what have we done to the Barbadians? As of today they are my enemies. I don’t know about any other Jamaicans but as far as I am concerned, they have declared war on us. I know we are not a perfect people. I also know a lot of those Islands are jealous but Barbadians have gone too far now. Any intelligent person can see the blatant disrespect for our people not just the athletes, all of us. Living in New York with them I know I am done.

George Watson: Surely, we can’t be treated so because people automatically hate us. They must hate us for a reason. Probably it is because of perception; but they say that perception is reality and what have we as a people done to erase this “false (?)” impression they have of us? We probably need to step back and look at ourselves. We need to know also why we are fair game to every little two-bit country or official who takes salvos at us at will. We need to know too, why every now and again some so-called expert from Amnesty International can eschew our human rights records, presumably with some degree of accuracy.

Curtis Ward: I had anxiously awaited a Jamaican response to Mr Hilary Beckles and I am quite pleased with the Observer’s response. I understand the JCA has been busy with its election, but should not have been so busy as not to have stood up in defence of Chris Gayle. If the JCA has responded and I missed it, then I take that back. The Observer’s comments on the WICB are right on point. Who has the authority to effect change?

Brooklyn Jamaican: Mr Editor you have said it well. ‘Butch’ Stewart is an example of someone who runs businesses well, and takes care of workers and people want to work for him. Of course, he could exist on tax breaks and low salaries in the name of ‘jobs’. This, unlike the WICB that is based on the planter system where it’s the overseer (top worker), not the owner who is responsible for results. You may have also missed that he (Mr Beckles) was pandering to the dislike of Jamaicans prevalent through the islands.

In the Caribbean we keep hearing about these ‘scholars’, ‘academics’, these graduates of UWI, that university that seems to pride itself more in the accolades of its many principals and vice chancellors than developing courses that are relevant for development. It’s the bright against the dunce marking to fail instead of teaching to learn. Professors who are not there to instruct but to use the facilities as a platform for their own agenda. No wonder UWI and WIBC are in the doldrums.

Richard Kitson-Walters: Well said! Prof Beckles’ disdain for Gayle and Jamaica is so deep, he is obviously prepared to place his celebrated academic and intellectual reputation on the line. Barbadians have seemingly declared open war on Jamaica and Jamaicans. Pity!

Peter Moss: As 1st impulse usually reflects the truly intended, & not subjected to after thought nor editing for presentation purposes, it goes to show that the disregard and disdain shown to Jamaicans by Barbarians…er, I actually meant Barbadians, is quite pervasive! It permeates every sector or their society. If the Bajans ‘have it in’ for us so much, perhaps we should seriously consider leaving them alone. Also, baseball is a much more lucrative sport than cricket for our young ‘uns to consider.