Dear Editor,

It is good news, in fact refreshing news, that Jodi ‘Jinx’ Henriques, the wife of international dancehall sensation Sean Paul, has discovered that she has uttered the wrong words, words that may be seen as classist and perhaps even racist toward the country’s popular athletic icon Usain Bolt.

I have insisted, though, that people need peace of mind and tranquility in their communities, assuming that her complaint was legitimate.

Henriques went overboard in her rant on social media, but her rant in the nature of the comment is typical of this Jamaican society where race and class dominate. Her utterance is not uncommon, it is a part of the grossly divided society on race, class and colour that is Jamaica. Until we recognise that, outside Britain, Jamaica is the most classist society, then we never go anywhere near to “pacification”, to unity, or that motto Out of Many One People.

One just has to look at a typical St Andrew high school. There is a Portmore crew, a Norbrook and Cherry Gardens group, there is a Meadowbrook group, and a downtown posse. It is entrenched at even the preparatory school level because those who move up socially have contributed heavily to this social divide. Travelling since the 1980s and talking to many Jamaicans in Europe they convinced me from their experiences how Jamaicans, especially light-skinned ones, wear class on their lapels. When the behaviour is analysed it also borders on subtle racism, as the wealthiest are not blacks.

On a good note, we do have conscious people who know the hurt our masses have felt and the victimisation that are both part of their shared experiences. Recently, on a TVJ discussion, former Chief of Protocol Merrick Neeedham was clear in his apology for how his British countrymen treated Jamaican World War I soldiers, those who applied for officer training. Needham, succinct in his apology, hinted that England’s racism rejected the well-educated Jamaicans to be officers in the Royal Army as our men were not perceived as worthy or competent enough to lead white troops. Most applicants were sent to the back seat to do menial duty. Well, my grandfather, Joshua Christie, told me they were sent to do dirty work and canteen duty. At least Needham recognised the bigotry. This is the perfect template for classism, and even racism, that permeate post-colonial Jamaica.

Maurice Christie

Aboukir District, St Ann

christiemaurice@yahoo.com