NEW YORK, USA — The Jamaican Government appears to be holding its nerve three days ahead of a planned protest in New York by a dissident Diaspora group.

The demonstration is planned for outside the offices of the Jamaican Consulate at 300 East 42nd Street in Manhattan, to press home demands for greater engagement of the Government with the Diaspora on issues such as crime, corruption, poor health-care services, participation in elections, and the like.

Spokesman for the Jamaican Consulate in New York Christopher Benjamin said any significant media attention attracted by the event is not expected to affect the operations of the consulate.

Benjamin, the community relations officer of what is possibly Jamaica’s busiest consulate, said neither was the planned demonstration expected to worsen a situation caused by the recent travel advisory by the US State Department.

“Recent statements from our Minister of Tourism [Edmund Batlett] indicate that the advisory has not deterred tourists from visiting Jamaica,” he said in response to queries from the
Jamaica Observer.

Bartlett reported to Parliament last Tuesday that Jamaica’s tourism sector continued to chalk up record performances during the just-concluded fiscal year 2023/24 with gross earnings projected to reach US$4.38 billion — an increase of 9.6 per cent when compared with the previous year.

Stopover arrivals are estimated at 2.96 million, a 9.4 per cent increase, with cruise arrivals projected to reach 1.34 million, up by nine per cent from the previous period in 2022/23.

Jamaica’s principal airports in Kingston and Montego Bay also saw impressive revenue of US$200.28 million or $30 billion from a record-breaking 6.96 million passengers.

Benjamin was careful to note that the Jamaican Government acknowledges the right to protest, “a principle that is deeply embedded in democratic societies”. But he disclosed that Consul General Alsion Wilson had not yet received any request for a meeting with the protesting group calling itself the Jamaica Diaspora Crime Intervention and Prevention Task Force, and the newly registered Global Jamaica Diaspora Council.

“Consul General Wilson maintains a welcoming approach and is always willing to discuss issues that affect our community,” said Benjamin.”

He added: “The Government remains committed to open dialogue, and continues to extend an invitation to all parties interested in constructive engagement.”

But apparently ignoring the Government’s quiet diplomacy, organisers of the protest were feverishly pressing ahead with plans for Friday’s event, saying they had already secured permits from the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Dr Rupert Francis, who heads the Diaspora Crime Intervention and Prevention Task Force, argued that “we are where we are at this point because of a lack of any meaningful Government response to our concerns in the past… However, we are willing to engage in all meaningful dialogue, but the protest on the 10th, and others, will go forward”.

The May 10 protest will follow one held in Miami on January 9 this year. Other protest demonstrations have been announced for Washington, DC; Canada; and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, at least two organisations here have provided contrasting responses to the planned protest.

Patrick Callum, president of the New York chapter of G2K, an affiliate of the governing Jamaica Labour Party, questioned whether or not the actions of the protest organisers are politically motivated.

He said that while there are legitimate concerns over some of the issues raised by the group — such as the crime situation — there are enough positive issues like the state of the economy that they could address, and he would have preferred if they had taken a “more consultative and collaborative approach”.

Sadie Campbell, the long-standing president of the People’s National Party-affiliated Jamaica Progressive League, said while she would not take part in the protest, “the organisers have a right to do so over the stated issues, which are of real concern”.