Why do jamaicans find it so easy to beg.

[Rob]

Consider that half the Jamaican population lives abraod and work and send FREE money back to someone on the island. It is customary to want something and look to someone (mostly) in the States for it. Kids, parents, and sibling often ask for things from those abroad.

Remittances is the term for what is being described above. In the developing world, when the unemployment is high and the average wage is low, remittances are a common occurrence. This happens world wide and is not exclusive to Jamaica. As we are all human and have many of the same wants and desires, when a family member is lucky enough to live in a first world country, there can be expectations on the part of those not so fortunate back home.

Sweet Dawta - after reading your remarks, it seems that you have strong feelings in this area where you are intimately involved. That is understandable. While this does have an impact on the society, this is not something that a tourist would have to encounter since there would not be any family/blood relationships in the first place.

The begging issue presented by the original poster includes the "buy me a beer" and "give me a dollar" kind of thing that one will encounter when on a vacation as well as the phone calls (when a home phone number is given out) asking for anything from money to a chain saw. This behavior is more prevalent in tourist areas with the obvious wealth disparities and number of people involved, but is not a major factor when viewing the island as a whole from a broader perspective.

Your living outside of Jamaica for so many years offers you a interesting perspective on the situation and as I have also lived outside the US for so long I have different perspective on America as do those who live there. As Bnewb stated, the sharing of each person's perspective gives a better understanding of the situation.

[Sweet_Dawta]

Remittances is the term for what is being described above. In the developing world, when the unemployment is high and the average wage is low, remittances are a common occurrence. This happens world wide and is not exclusive to Jamaica. .

"There are 2.7 million Jamaicans living at home and the official estimate is that, an equal number of Jamaicans also lives overseas. Last year, Jamaicans living abroad send home approximately US$2.6 billion. Just ahead of what the island earns from its major industry tourism, and ahead of what is brought in by the bauxite industry.
Another significant figure is the estimated US$40 billion purchasing power of Jamaicans living abroad. It should therefore come as no surprise that the Jamaican Government is actively pursuing this potentially rich source of investment capital and political influence."

This was from a report a few years ago. Jamaica is UNIQUE as in PEOPLE and CULTURE. Which OTHER contry gets more in FREE money that its leading industries.

[Rob]

"There are 2.7 million Jamaicans living at home and the official estimate is that, an equal number of Jamaicans also lives overseas. Last year, Jamaicans living abroad send home approximately US$2.6 billion. Just ahead of what the island earns from its major industry tourism, and ahead of what is brought in by the bauxite industry.
Another significant figure is the estimated US$40 billion purchasing power of Jamaicans living abroad. It should therefore come as no surprise that the Jamaican Government is actively pursuing this potentially rich source of investment capital and political influence."

This was from a report a few years ago. Jamaica is UNIQUE as in PEOPLE and CULTURE. Which OTHER contry gets more in FREE money that its leading industries.

Jamaica is far from unique regarding remittances and the impact on the economy. In fact, they arent even in the top 40 of all remittance receiving countries according to the WorldBank as of last year. There are over 40 countries that get more money than Jamaica does:

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPROSPECTS/Resources/334934-1199807908806/Top10.pdf

We do not want to confuse the facts regarding this matter. As you presented them above, if it is true that "just ahead of what the island earns from its major industry tourism, and ahead of what is brought in by the bauxite industry", then that would mean that if the major industry (nearly the same amount as remittances) and the bauxite industry (less than what the remittances bring in) are added together (as you defined by the term "industries"), then Jamaica is not even one of the countries that "gets more in FREE money that its leading industries".

Please note, none of your posts have been removed by any of the Negril.com moderators. Every post you made is still on the site.

[Sweet_Dawta]

"Sweet Dawta - after reading your remarks, it seems that you have strong feelings"

I have strong feeling and a bit more understanding of the culture. Many of us have been affected by it over the years. It's one of the reason many Jamaicans, some in my family chose NOT to return. I have seen the sheer beauty of the island (waterfallS, mountains, rain foresst, cliffs, resorts) but sadly know many will never return because of the expectaion to give. They show up at the door asking sometimes for effing IPHONES.
Mek dis a Sad Dawta.

IT'S AN ISLAND THANG!