Civil society groups braved the heat of the sun to lead scores of Jamaicans in chants of protest in Cross Roads, St Andrew, Tuesday, to get the message across to Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness that they have grave concerns about a number of recent issues. Chief among them was the proposed third-country nationals (TCN) agreement with the United States (US).

Protester Tanisha Francis juxtaposed the TCN issue with a decision, earlier this year, to, as she saw it, “send home” Cuban doctors and nurses who were making a significant contribution to the country’s public health system.

“Andrew Holness sent home the doctors and wants to bring in people who could be thieves. We already are fighting to keep down the crime rate. Enough poverty is here and we have enough homeless people. When you bring so many immigrants here what do you expect will happen?

“We don’t know anything about them. What about their country where they came from? Why they can’t go back to their country if they are not criminals? We already have our issues. We have our deportees who we have to deal with. Look how many people down in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth are still homeless and need help,” Francis bemoaned.

The Government has repeatedly said TCNs who will be allowed into Jamaica have no criminal history.

For protester Tameca Smikle, the big question was how Jamaica will benefit from the agreement with the US.

A protester holds up a placard denouncing Jamaica’s proposed third-country nationals agreement with the United States. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

“You send away the doctors who used to help the country, eye doctor, everybody, you sent them home. Now, you are planning to bring in some people who are of no value to the country. That makes no sense. Andrew Holness must go!” she insisted.

One woman who gave her name as Lorna, expressed concern about the number of fatal police shootings seen recently.

“They are killing out our men and are bringing in other people. I am afraid,” she said.

One elderly man, his hands and head shaking from Parkinson’s disease, walked slowly through the crowd. He told the Observer that he was determined to be among those protesting, despite his medical condition.

“I don’t like how they are running the country,” he said of the Government.

Phrases on placards being waved throughout the protest included “No to TCN”, “Jamaica deserves better” and “I stand against political bullyism, corruption and lack of accountability”.

Other messages read “Wheatley must go”, a reference to Cabinet Member Dr Andrew Wheatley, whom the Integrity Commission (IC) recently recommended be charged with illicit enrichment. Wheatley is minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects.

Placard-waving protesters in Cross Roads on Tuesday. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Tuesday’s protest, which took place in very humid weather, was dubbed, “Urgent Stand for Jamaica” and lasted from 7:00 am until 9:30 am.

Organisers insisted that it was not politically motivated even though Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding and People’s National Party Members of Parliament Nekeisha Burchell, Julian Robinson and Anthony Hylton were amongst the protesters.

Representatives of Stand Up For Jamaica rallied the crowd.

“Don’t go by colour lines. Go by good governance. Make sure you stand up for Jamaica. We are one Jamaica, one people. We want you to understanding that we are not representing any political party. We are representing the people of Jamaica. Don’t be fooled!” said one man who got his message out via a microphone and loud speaker.

Burchell, the MP for St James Southern, said she had to join her fellow Jamaicans who have decided that enough is enough.

“Jamaicans have decided that it is not enough to sit at home and just complain. I have joined them right here in Cross Roads to send a signal to the government that accountability will no longer be what they will push aside and the people should just accept it. People have been saying how upset they are about the TCN issue and the importees,” she said.