THE naming of Jamaica among 22 major drug-producing, transit countries by United States President Barack Obama has been greeted with cynicism by Jamaica Observer online readers. Reacting to yesterday’s front-page story, the readers described the US’ action as hypocritical. Here are some edited comments:

CHUCK EMANUEL the original

@G.W.G: Well, having regurgitated all of that rhetoric for feel-good effects, we still will have to comply with all US and other international convention requirements on money laundering, narco-terrorism, gun-running, corruption, fraud, attempted fraud, cyber fraud, and terrorist financing, whether we like it, or not.

The fact is that all of your arguments were advanced as some petty nationalist diatribe during the Dudus extradition saga, to no avail.

Tellditruth

@G.W.G: It is the other way around. It is the drug trade that is fuelling the gun running and killings. I hope the president will send some help for us to fight these monsters!

LZR @G.W.G:

They need to stop demonising marijuana for their own benefit. The war on drugs has been one of America’s biggest earners for their economy. In short, it’s expedient for them to keep it illegal to continue this trend.

PupaJeesas

Is it just me or does anyone else notice the geographical locations of most of the countries cited? Oh, if only Jamaica could be attached to a tug boat and pulled further east!

noshel

It’s time for all these countries that are on this list to speak with one voice and give the US the middle finger! The United States is so much tied up in world domination that it’s blind to its own drugs production. Colorado has just made over US$300 million from its drug production within six months of [ganja] being legalised. But the same US government wants poorer countries to keep suffering while their country to prospers.

This is BS. It’s time we [stand] up to Uncle Sam and and let them know their proxies. Wars they continue around the world are hurting small countries like Jamaica in terms of oil and other imports. So, if the US economy must be helped by the same drug production, why shouldn’t that of Jamaican and other countries named in this self-serving report?

fieldgar

Minister Bunting did not appear overly worried as he said Jamaica was on that list for some time. I guess he’s saying why fix it, if it’s not broken. With this type of mindset it’s no wonder we can’t progress as a nation.

L G (1)

“JAMAICA has been listed as one of 22 major drug-producing and transit countries by US President Barack Obama….” Is there a list of major drug-consuming countries and, who would head that list I wonder? Or are we not supposed to talk about that aspect of the drug trade.

Elijah

Did the list really say Burma? I thought the official name was Myanmar. Guess Mr President can call it whatever he wants. Anyways, where is our official list for the major gun-producing transit countries? Text back the answer, minister.

Bombay Mango

I’m not a drug dealer nor a consumer, but one thing is clear, if there is no demand for a product then there will be no suppliers. It would not be a profitable venture.

Andryia

Wow! The part that reads, “Jamaica’s inadequate police and judicial systems serve as the primary shortcomings in addressing both corruption and crime; they lack the capacity to timely investigate and adjudicate crime,” is so embarrassing! We need to get it right as a country. On the international stage, we look like clowns!

Shirley Holness

The only news here is the position in the ranking. As we have all known this through our lives. So we are at #22. Question is, should we feel elated or embarrassed, or disappointed with the position? Bearing in mind that “drug” seem to be the backbone of the economy of some developed countries. Thank you, Uncle Sam, for letting us know where we are!

rider

America is on Jamaica’s guns list.

genewoode

Then we will add USA as a major supplier of weapons to Jamaica. They have been on that list every year also.

Gudeyah

At least we’re first in something. It doesn’t matter what we do the USA/UN label us with something that reflects native on our Island. Look at the big picture that report is just to stop economic progress from international investors that’s all it’s designed to do. We Jamaicans DO NOT manufacture guns.

hachet

I thought ganja was now a free commodity.

Tellditruth

Thank you, Mr President, for pointing it out to these people. Now they must go and get the drug lords, and the guns, and the killings will stop.

DavidSeeker

The USA should be number one on that list.

Travellingman

The US is being hypocritical on this issue; if their people would stop using drugs then none would be produced for or shipped to the US. It is also a fact that the U.S. produces more ganja than Jamaica can ever dream of producing and is very likely the #1 producer in the world.

tyroneosborne

Here is another opportunity to hide our heads in the sand like the ostrich and say ‘it is not so’. Truth is a dirty word and look how some will say ‘we don’t understand what is being said’. But, alas, most intelligent Jamaicans can see that we could do a bit more. Not that the police and Government are not trying, just that we must do a little more.

disqus_pKYzqp4w6t

What about our list? USA is number 1 on our ‘guns used to commit crimes in Jamaica and where they are manufactured’. USA loves to call out other countries, and tell about the problem they (USA) are having because of issues related to other countries, while most of the world smile and nod like all is well.