SOME YEARS back, in a Foronto television studio, we
tried in vain to discuss the world of cruise ships. The
gushing hostess, who had just returned from Jamaica,
could not be derailed from the topic of her recent vaca-

tion.

When she learned | had been in
Jamaica many times over the
years, she asked: *‘Has Jamaica
changed?”

Humor got the best of me:
“Yes, yes...it has changed quite a
bit since everybody moved to
Toronto.”

An audible groan swept through
the studio. The floor director
blanched, and our hostess oubbled
on to the next guest.

As I stepped down, the dizector
came over and snapped: “That
wasn’t funny!’

Hf one thinks of human. cultural
development, Toronto should be
flattered by any comparison to
Jamaica.

It is one of the world’s most ex-
traordinary societies, coonomically
Thisd World, gloriously beautiful

‘and dynamically energctic. The
. atmosphere is usually both eclectic
and electric.

Two weeks ago we received a
surprise invitation from the
Jamaica Tourist Board and Air
Canada to participats in an event

. in Montego Bay. Fiv: days later
we were swimming in. the azure
Caribbean Sea. Home was the
Wyndham Rose Hal! Resort.

If you study the vacation
islands of the world, from the
South Pacific to the Aegean, and
from Hawaii and through the
Caribbean, you will view millions

- of palm trees, thousands of
beaches, and a fascinating mix of
people, but you will not find
much of substance.

In the Caribbezn, only Cuba,
the. troubled island of Hispaniola
(Haiti et. al,) Jamaica and
Trinidad can be described as true
countries and unique societies.

In Jamaica, the Trinidadian
calypso music was catapulted into
global prominence. Harry
Belafonte, singing about banana
boats and other things, educated
the world about his people.

Marcus Garvey founded the
Universal Negro Movement in
1914, and its spiritual leader was
Ras Tafari of Ethiopia (who took
the name Haile Selassie: Might of
the Trinity). Rastafarianism sur-
vives to this day.

Its most enormous impact on
world culture has come in the
uniquely Jamaican blend of Car-
ibbean, modern rock and African
tribal music, reggae, no longer the
exclusive product of the pot-
smoking Rastas, and the clones of
superstar Bob Marley. -

Reggae has influenced the entire
world of popular music, and it
has excited and stimulated the
maestros of great symphonies.

it is an island of rum, rhythm,
great mansions, wealth, poverty,
huge bauxite (aluminum) mines,
rain forests and windswept shores.

Hundreds of Jamaicans have

Bernhard Klein Ph.D.

Congratulations on your

graduation after years of
ard work!

From Mom, Dad and your
entire family.

Gary
Bannerman

OPEN LINES

excelled in international sports.
Many of Canada’s best have had
Jamaican roots, not just the
disgraced Ben Johnson, but rising
stars such as North Vancouver’s
Charmaine Crooks, who will
compete in several Olympic events
this summer, most notably the
800-metre race.

Crooks, whose family emigrated
to Canada when she was five, is a
talented singer.

Yet, there has always beer a
dark side to the Jamaican charac-
ter. We have visited this island
when the locals were angry, rest-
less and unpleasant to be with.

In the poorer villages and teem-
ing Kingston, on chese occasions,
as public morale sank, the visible
garbage piles would seem to grow.

Jamaicans have marched steadi-
ly from independence in 1962.
Only a visitor who returns every
few years can properly see the
progress. There is pride, now.

Evidence of education, self-
sufficiency and a healthy middle
class is steadily replacing the
still-too-evident poverty.

The Jamaican of 1968 was
throwing off the shackles of ser-
vitude. Catering to rich tourists
was demeaning. There were few
smiles from hotel staff, little
competence and frequent
rebelliousness.

The average Jamaican hospi-
tality worker is now the most
polished, poised and professional
in the hemisphere, south of the
United States.

In the better resorts, the young
staff march smartly in crisp, clean
uniforms with an erect posture.
Smiles abound.

The Heart Country Club at
Runaway Bay (between Ocho Rios
and Montego Bay) is the hotel

school, envied by every country in .

the Caribbean.
Cruise ships and Club Med have
substantially changed the way

masses of tourists approach travel.

The appeal of paying one hefty
bill up front for air, sea, hotel,
recreation, entertainment and
generous dining, has had a magic
effect on the public.

The sensation of Jamaican
tourism is the all-inclusive resort.
The resorts are so spectacular and
so all-encompassing, the Club
Med system would fail.

The Jamaican definition of all-
inclusive means unlimited free li-
quor, cigarettes, multiple choice
of dining locations, free instruc-
tion in dozens of sports and
games, including golf without
green fees, and separate private
beaches for nudists and non-
nudists.

There are two Jamaican com-
panies. Sandals has six resorts.
Super Clubs has five.

We golfed, swam and dined at
Super Club’s magnificent
Jamaica, Jamaica Resort at-
Runaway Bay.

We didn’t get to a club this
company calls Hedonism at
Negril, which, we understand, is
far more civilized than the name
implies.

A party we attended at Sandals
Royal Caribvean Resort was an
extravaganza.

We were transported 2 few
hundred yards from the beach to
the resort's private island.

Amid a colorful circus at-
mosphere, at least a dozen
barbecues and food bazaars were
set up: Italian, Polynesian,
breads, tenderloin of beef, pork,
seafood and other delights.

Near one beach, a folkloric
dance company enthratled a
crowd,

At another, a steel band per-
formed traditional numbers.

‘The Montego Bay Boys Band, a
brass and drum contingent outfit-
ted in starched white tunics, not
only marched...they displayed a
remarkable routine mixing a mili-
tary march with native dance.

Finally, at centre stage, reggae
took control.

Sandals is owned by Gordon
“Butch’’ Stewart, who could
teach this country’s corporate elite
a thing or two about patriotism.

The new Prime Minister, D.J.
Patterson, removed exchange con-
trots last year, hoping to attract
more outside investment in a
freer, more businesslike Jamaican
economy.

The initial reaction saw so much
Jamaican money leave the coun-
try that the Jamaican dollar,

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Sunday, June 14, 1992 ~ North Shore News - 9

The changing winds of Jamaica

worth nine to the US dollar in
early 1991, was trading at 30 to
the US dollar just a few months
ago.

Are you:

in Vancouver Call §

Butch Stewart and the Sandals
group took on the role handled by
the Bank of Canada in this coun-
try. He started exchanging US$1
million per week for Jamaican at
25. It became known as ‘‘The
Stewart Initiative.”’ * Rates subject to change without nobce. $50,000

Many others followed suit and rnimum °
gradually, the corner was turned. For more information please call
The trading rate is now 22, and it The North Shore's onty Full
is expected to go lower. Service Investment firm.
beating ia took a ferocious | °

ting in the early stages, but it
has workéd out as a blessing. ; pene AL
SERVICES INC.

This was just another example
of Jamaica’s unique sense of

Member of te Royal Rank Groep
925-3131

creativity. Another day. Another
201-250 15th Street, West Vancouver

— 60-75 years old

— paying too much tax

— looking for Guaranteed
Monthly Income?

story. One of many times in its
history that this creative little
country has spoken with the voice
of a giant.

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