Letter of the Day | Dreams of a better life need to be rooted in Jamaica

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The United States Department of State’s announcement of an indefinite halt to the processing of certain immigrant visas is effectively killing the dream of many Jamaicans to migrate to the United States.

This policy has legitimised a troubling perception that Jamaicans and citizens from 74 other mostly developing countries are more likely to become a burden to the state, drawing on welfare intended for US-born citizens and, worse, becoming entangled in criminality.

It is not without reason that Jamaicans actively seek to migrate. The uncomfortable truth is that many are frustrated by how challenging it is to achieve prosperity and live with even a modest sense of security.

Why is it that the hope of owning a decent house still feels unattainable to so many hardworking Jamaican professionals? And despite the robust effort of the police to curb crime, safety still feels elusive. With over 650 murders last year, we maintain one of the highest murder rates per capita in the world! Crumbling hospitals and patchy, pothole riddled roads are a constant reminder of the failure of the state to fulfil its basic responsibilities to its citizens.

This is a sobering moment. Jamaicans can no longer peg their hopes for a better life on the willingness of other countries to welcome them. The Jamaican dream must now be firmly rooted in Jamaica.

CONCERNED CITIZEN