Quote Originally Posted by Jame View Post
My first reach to Jamaica I stayed with some friends in "Shanty Town" or as they and others in the area call it, Divers Village. I recognized it from the short cut in the picture going over to Seastar(on the village side of that alley is a little shop called spicys) This experience gave me a very different impression and experience in Jamaica then 95% of the people that will visit. I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people that live in the village and even a young girl that made it onto the show Magnum King and Queens of Dancehall. It was fun to watch her on TV when I returned to the states. Back to my point, it is a great village with amazing people that live very different lives then those that patron the One Love Pub Crawl and that culture difference can cause issues for a ton. My friend Laura lives in the village and teaches the kids in the village weekly to read, write, color, etc. She is another great source for donations as she can regulate who in the village they go to based off need and how much and so its not all at once to a select few people that "grab stuff out of hands". The last thing I want is the village to have a bad reputation or bad vibes. Keep the donations to a specific source instead of handing out yourself and continue to patron the businesses and this place can soon be a great addition of bars/restaurants/shops to the west end. My next reach is in October and I am again staying in the "Shanty Town" and encourage those to reach out to someone who knows the area and go and meet a couple people/families there and stop at a couple of the small shops/restaurants/bars. I am attaching a couple pictures for you to enjoy of the Village.

One Love and nothing but Respect for everyone!!
Thank you, well said. Respect.

I live in an area some of whose environs could sometimes be called a "Shanty Town" by a tourist; a term which I consider a derogatory. Those that have never actually been in Kingston's squatter towns might mistake struggle for despair. Even in the worst areas like "Back O Wall" (now Tivoli Gardens), people don't always go around begging things.

You pull up in a bus and unload a pack of tourists bearing gifts anywhere and you contribute to the problem of teaching people that it is easier to beg than work. Let the people who know the needs give the help.

Honestly, in a 3-6 month stretch, I only get begged a couple of dozen times and then mostly during infrequent stops in Negril or by some mentally ill beggars in Santa Cruz, Montego Bay or Kingston.

Take some time on future trips to go to places like "Diver's Village" not as a benefactor but friendly visitor.

Jamaica is so much bigger than Negril.

Peace and Guidance