There has been much brouhaha surrounding the Outameni Experience in the wake of the Easton Douglas-led National Housing Trust’s (NHT) decision to purchase the property on which it is located for an alleged $180 million. This so-called scandal has become the main topic of discussion and controversy among citizens from all walks of life, with many concerned citizens believing that the NHT has acted outside of its primary mandate, which is to provide affordable housing solutions for working-class Jamaicans on a continuing basis.

According to an online blurb, “Outameni Experience is a moving cultural experience that celebrates Jamaica’s rich culture depicted in small architecturally designed villages showing Taino, Spanish, African, English, Italian, Chinese, and Jamaica today.

“An interactive cultural journey…Outameni Experience is a unique blend of music, art, dance, film and drama. Visitors will have a holistic cultural ‘experience’ evolving over a 90-minute journey set on five acres of land. Outameni Experience will tantalise all your senses in this interactive journey with a colourful mosaic enriched by the vibrant spirit and culture of the Jamaican people.

“Outameni Experience is the brainchild of film producer, Lennie Little-White, and owned by Orange Valley Holdings Ltd, a Jamaican company that focuses on the development of tourism and the tourism product in Jamaica.

“Our mission…We endeavour to promote Jamaica’s rich and cultural history through an interactive journey that tells the story of the Jamaican people in a unique, entertaining experience that contributes to the preservation of our heritage.”

Having absorbed all of the above, I am most distressed that an outstanding Jamaican visionary and cultural icon should be so embroiled in this so-called scandal which may ultimately overshadow his many groundbreaking achievements as a producer, director and editor of indigenous Jamaican films and television series. This is the same Lennie Little-White who produced the popular series telecast on CVM-TV, Royal Palm Estate, films Glory to Gloriana, Children of Babylon, and The Golden Nugget and Traxx series. Indeed, a pioneer film-maker, he has dared to chart a course that has helped to lay the foundation for others to follow and be inspired by his perseverance and creative genius as well as technical skills in multimedia.

That such a Jamaican should now be crucified, vilified and even derided is testament to the fact that we are still victims of the Willie Lynch syndrome and are caught in a time warp whereby black entrepreneurs have it twice as hard to succeed in this land that claims as its national motto, “Out of Many, One People.”

No wonder Mr Little-White has cried out in anger and frustration and, perhaps in the process, went over the top as he compared his circumstances to others who were more fortunate and better treated because of the pigmentation of their skin and their bona fides. He who feels it, knows it!

Against this background of continuing marginalisation and subtle classism, there have emerged historically men of the calibre and fierce Afro-centricity such as Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Bob Marley, and Rex Nettleford to name a few. How many discerning Jamaicans have observed that Glen Christian, founder and Chairman of Cari-Med is the first fully black Jamaican entrepreneur to have made it to the Private Sector of Jamaica’s Hall of Fame since Independence?

Now, do not get me wrong. I am not using the NHT’s current “bangarang” to in any way deify Lennie Little-White, but I do believe that, after the dust has settled on this vexing issue, one of the debates we should embark on is how can we as a fledgling nation with an anaemic economy truly set about, in a proactive way, to make the best of the highly touted — but for the most part ignored — Jamaica Brand? Whither our creative industries which are said to have a value in the billions if properly exploited by us?

To date, we have failed to capitalise on the legendary prowess of our athletes (the Bolt factor), we continue to pussyfoot on the use of ganja as a legitimate economic tool, we have fallen short in terms of maximising the reggae and dancehall genres (not to mention ska and mento), we pay mere lip service to our art and craft sector, we have failed to develop a fully sustainable spice industry when we have the best ginger and pimento, we have squandered our hold on the world-renowned Blue Mountain coffee, and I could go on.

Frankly, all we do is talk, talk, talk. And, while we expatiate in well-modulated tones in Parliament and in various fora locally and internationally, the Jamaica Brand remains an elusive dream. Forget the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, not to mention culture. What we need is a ministry fully dedicated to the creative industries because that is Jamaica’s gold mine. To date, bauxite, sugar, banana and other traditional crops have not guaranteed us economic independence. In this vein, our tourism product could be doing far much better in terms of the trickling down effect if our creative industries were more of an integral part of that sector. I make no apology for saying this because I am angry at the fact that we prefer to pursue pipe dreams, such as the search for gold and oil, while Jah Kingdom goes to waste.

We are a special people with many talents, we are one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, yet we have so many of our people wallowing in persistent poverty and the country’s natural beauty is one of the victims of this scenario with the ensuing environmental degradation.

In many conversations I have had with young men and women in the fine arts and performing arts fields, their constant cry is that they are being ignored and are not getting enough attention. Yes, they are good for photo ops and occasions put on by officialdom when, like the traditional jonkanoo dancers, they perform for the modern-day plantocracy, providing a mere diversion, after which they fade into the background.

This really is the Lennie Little-White story. After all, it is well known that most persons in the artistic field tend not to be good business persons. While they develop and use up their creative energies, they tend not to pay enough attention to the business side of their pursuits and are not inclined to. This is, therefore, one area in which both Government and the private sector should come in and provide assistance in management and the enhancing of entrepreneurial and marketing skills.

To put it bluntly, the Outameni Experience, in itself, was and is a fantastic idea which, if effectively developed and marketed, could have become a jewel in Jamaica’s tourism crown. Jamaica needs a Disney World or Disneyland and Lennie Little-White, like Walt Disney, dreamed big, a dream that has now become a nightmare. Clearly, the NHT ought not to be the entity to run it, but while we revel in political one-upmanship, the ever-present Jamaican drama is once more on centre stage, whereby we analyse and agonise our way into paralysis without arriving at a synthesis. Hang in there, Lennie, history will absolve you!

Lloyd B Smith is a member of parliament and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the People’s National Party or the Government of Jamaica.

lloydbsmith@hotmail.com

PULL QUOTE

Jamaica needs a Disney World or Disneyland and Lennie Little-White, like Walt Disney, dreamed big, a dream that has now become a nightmare.

PIC:

SUNDAY, nov 23, 2014