Kallejhay Terrelonge
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has made a passionate enchantment to Jamaicans overseas to return to their roots and be a part of a daring new future.
“Come again house,” Holness stated in an open invitation to these struggling in overseas lands.
The prime minister was talking throughout a Nationwide Safety Council seminar in Kingston on Thursday.
“Come again and allow us to construct your homeland with the intention to rise up with delight with the residents of the world about your nation, that you do not have to be financial refugees,” he stated.
“In the event you’re discovering it tough the place you’re, come again right here, ackee and saltfish was all the time good, it is on the tree, you will get it. Don’t remain there and endure, come again house.”
Nonetheless, his message wasn’t nearly an open-door return. It got here with a stern warning.
“Do not come again right here to destroy your homeland and what we’ve been working very laborious to create so that you just would not have needed to go away within the first place,” the prime minister stated.
Holness took direct goal on the notion that crime is the one approach out of poverty, warning in opposition to those that would return solely to gasoline gang violence.
“Disabuse your self of this notion you can solely make it by crime and due to this fact you will be a part of a gang and grow to be part of the issue,” he stated.
Holness’ tackle to Jamaicans within the diaspora comes at a important time, with the Donald Trump administration’s sweeping deportation insurance policies forcing 1000’s of immigrants out of the US of America (USA). Acknowledging the USA’s proper to implement its legal guidelines, Holness reminded deported Jamaicans that their homeland awaits them–not as outcasts, however as integral gamers in nation-building.
“Jamaica is your homeland, you are not homeless or stateless. What we try to construct here’s a place the place each Jamaican can really feel proud and comfy to return again house,” Holness stated.
Holness took a tough stance in opposition to crime, shattering the misunderstanding that unlawful actions are the one escape from poverty.
“Come again and allow us to construct your homeland with the intention to rise up with delight with the residents of the world about your nation, that you do not have to be financial refugees. That is what it’s about,” he stated.
Holness issued a robust name to motion, urging Jamaicans with abroad expertise to make use of their data and publicity to assist remodel the island right into a beacon of success.
“I enchantment to all of you’ve gotten been uncovered to abroad and see what prosperity is like, come again house and allow us to work collectively to construct the affluent nation that Jamaica is destined to be, do not come again right here with weapons,” he careworn.
