By Vinette K. Pryce

Brooklyn, New York
Jamaica’s opposition leader Bruce Golding related an abysmally, dark portrait of conditions in Jamaica under the current administration while offering proposals he would implement if elected prime minister of the nation.
Addressing a small audience at the predominantly Black, Brooklyn-based, Medgar Evers College of City University of New York, Golding reported on the US$13.6 billion debt Jamaica owes commercial interests in the United States, health conditions, education, banking, road services, employment, housing and a myriad of topics.
Hosted by a Committee For A Better Jamaica, Golding’s state of the state address presented a lackluster coating to the bright shiny depictions formerly presented by former PM P.J. Patterson who regularly spoke at the same venue on visits to this city.
The leader of the Jamaica Labour Party said the debt to America could not be written off by government officials because the loans incurred were from banking institutions Chase, JP Morgan and others who used private funds to help the nation.
He said the monies are actually those of US citizens, not the government of the US.
The eloquent parliamentarian contrasted Jamaica’s endorsement of the 2007 World Cup Cricket which he said amounted to a whopping $9 billion compared to the investment on education he said amounted to a measly J$275 million.
Remittances added to the dialogue invited by the leader.
He said 35 percent of each dollar sent to the island accounted for the purchase of food. In providing such basic need, nationals also heard that 23 percent of their single dollars paid for utilities families need.
And 13.9 percent he said paid for education.
The rest are single digit figures which enables dependents to live comfortably without being homeless or hungry.
He reeled off statistics he said accurately reflected that 72 percent of students who take GSAT are only passing one single subject.
The shattering statistics caused consternation amongst the gathering. Some individuals gasped at the disclosure.
“Students are only attending classes a quarter of the time,” he said. “When parents are able to scrape together to pay for tuition, many just cannot find the money to pay for bus fare and lunch money.”
Golding reflected on 1974 when he said “Michael Manley announced free education, Edwin Allen crossed the floor to shake his hand.”
Reportedly, 18 years later, Patterson reintroduced tuition for high school students.
“Eighty percent of our graduates go abroad not because they are bad-minded. They don’t really like snow or bad weather either,” Golding said the exodus was tied to lack of opportunity.
“It’s not about weather either because we would all live in Florida,” a national countered, it is crime that drives us away too. But we had no opportunity down there and we are too rich to be poor.”
Another anxious national added that Jamaicans living in Canada, Britain and the USA should be able to vote.
“I am in sympathy with you in the diaspora, because I believe you should have a say.”
“Maybe this is a kind of consolation prize,” the prospective national leader said.
He offered optimism to residents promising if elected prime minister he would institute a seat that would enable a diasporan to represent the interest of Jamaicans living abroad. He added that the possibility of such an election proposals was all but impossible.
He said Jamaica’s current procedure is the legacy inherited from the British that requires current residency status to voters.
Questions were more forthcoming than time would allow. Despite the three-hour engagement Jamaicans seemed armed with written suggestions and hours of queries.
They were curious about garrison communities, health care services, and at least one individuals asked why one can of ackee now costs New Yorkers almost J$1000.
An advocate for Rastafari questioned the possibility of classification for his belief as one of the nation’s religions.
“I get intellectual advice on that,” Golding smiled, alluding to his son’s influence on effecting reforms favorable to the Rastafarian perspective. Apparently his son subscribes to the traditions and practices of Rastafari.
Golding’s explanation of a mandatory $500 registration in hospitals also shocked guests.
He explained a recent story explaining the tragic plight of a woman who died before getting needed services at a clinic because she could not pay ambulance fees.
He said the pattern is not to transport patients if clinic fees are not confirmed.
Once again, Golding shamed his nation by comparing medical provisions in Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and other Caribbean nations which allow free health care services and even free medications in some countries.
“Sometimes it is not the doctor’s diagnosis but it is the bill that is likely to kill you.”
The range of questions spanned every aspect of life.
“We want to create new horizons of hope. I am not starry-eyed but I know it can be done. No matter how forbidable we can do it.”
Often Jamaican politicians exploit the Bob Marley/Marcus Garvey triumphs in order to distract nationals to applaud the might of the nation instead of focus on the negative aspects which dominate the concerns of individuals.
Lately the addition has been the success of athlete Assafa Powell. 
Golding did not submit to those exceptions.
He addressed crime, the principal concern of all guests.
“We have to be tough on crime, but we also have to be tough on the cause of crime.”
“Job creation should be at the centerpiece of our plans.”
It would have been interesting to see and hear a gathering of a broader, non-partisan group.
There was hardly a dissenting voice.
One individual even admitted her paid-up JLP dues status.
MP Ed Bartlett who was introduced to be the point person who would tend to tourism and expatriates in a JLP government amplified everything Golding said adding that he would make the best prime minister ever.
On a question related to his portfolio Bartlett said if Cuba’s government changes, “we are ready to meet the demands by using critical mass. We can diversify products to our marketing which will be geared toward emerging markets with cultural stratification.”
An individual argued that tourism displaces people.
Golding interjected disagreeably, saying that planning should be the priority.
He said recently a 5,000 room hotel was built with no regard to the people who would work in the facility. He said workers had to be imported from the Dominican Republic in order to fulfill the duties. He said foresight should have ordered housing in the area for workers to accommodate new jobs.  
Encompassing the topic he presented his observation that Jamaican craft vendors sell “everything but Jamaican craft.”
“They go to Panama and buy products from China and USA and sell to tourists,” he said.
“We have to be like Haiti, we have to establish a Craft Training Center.”
Bartlett said: “We are partners in making this vision a reality. We must go from being a developing nation to a first world country. One, with a fixity of purpose.”
Golding enticed New Yorkers adding “you are the first contact. You are the best ambassadors of Jamaica. You are central to the bread-basket. You provide the largest single block of visitors to Jamaica.”
Although the message was bleak, the messenger seemed ready, willing and intellectually able to command change in Jamaica.
At the very least Golding offered a silver lining that impressed diasporans anxious to see change in Jamaica’s government.