I am not making a blanket statement for everyone as each person sees things differently. In my case, people from Jamaica don't email me or call me looking for me to buy them things period.
If I feel like bringing them a "gift", I do that but most of the time it is for work shoes, work pants etc. (I think you get the picture). Bling and fun and games are not on my gift list. I would not even send anyone money to buy themselves any thing but items that would further their education or enhance their ability to make a living.
I have brought soccer related equipment but as a donation to a town or school mostly through "Bounce Across Jamaica"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bounc...a/269592098856
I used to look at things differently but I now like to help my friends help themselves. I believe that part of the problem is that foreigners want to look like Santa Claus and Jamaicans want to be given gifts and our generous behavior only makes things less valuable to Jamaicans because they don't have to work for them and spend their hard-earned money for them.
I love my friends in Jamaica but I also believe in the value gained by working for something.
This is just my opinion and, I am sure, not shared by the majority of those who will read this.
Peace and Guidance
