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82% decrease in number of Jamaicans refused entry to Trinidad and Tobago

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82% decrease in number of Jamaicans refused entry to Trinidad and Tobago

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                                                            SELF-EVALUATION 

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                                                            SELF-EVALUATION 

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At the beginning of this course i was a bit skeptical and had a negative attitude towards it, due to the fact that it was an online course and reflects about Caribbean history. The first two weeks I was mostly confused since it was my first experience doing an online course. It took me a while to get familiar with the procedure.

The most difficult part throughout this experience was the complications i faced with regards to internet failure and logging into the weekly sessions on time. Additionally, due to internet failure i was unable to attended the full plenary sessions i would have liked. As the semester progress i was able to overcome most of these challenges and grasp what was being taught. The sessions were very interesting and informative, there were a lot of things i did not know that i am now aware of.

The information that was not understood during these online session was explained clearly during our tutorial sessions. I was amazed by the amount of information that was there about the Caribbean. The topic that most stood out to me was slavery. I had the opportunity to learn about the way in which slavery came about and what led to it's abolishment and mainly what my ancestors had to endure during that entire ordeal. This made me appreciate the things that i have now as compared to those who were rubbed from their freedom.

All in all, this course taught me a lot about slavery, the introduction of education, religion etc. It was an enjoyable course and if ever a students going into this course wants my opinion, I would definitely recommend that they go with an open mind and encourage them to learn as much as possible. Indeed this course has been the best course thus far this semester.

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Austin,  R, M. "The Importance of Cricket to the West Indian People"
http://www.theintegrationistcaribbean.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/THE-IMPORTANCE-OF-CRICKET-TO-THE-WEST-INDIAN-PEOPLE-2.pdf

"Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs speaks to Jamaican Nationals" 18 April 2016
https://foreign.gov.tt/resources/news/minister-foreign-and-caricom-affairs-speaks-

The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)

http://caricom.org/our-work/the-caricom-single-market-and-economy-csme/jamaican-nationals/

Johnson Smith reports 82% decrease in number of J'cans refused entry to T&T
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Johnson-Smith-reports-82--decrease-in-number-of-J-cans-refused-entry-to-T-T

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Refusal of Jamaican Nationals into Trinidad

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Refusal of Jamaican Nationals into Trinidad

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On March 21st 2016, a number of Jamaican nationals were denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago. This issue created some level of uneasiness among both countries. However there were several reasons as to why they were denied entry. According to Minister Moses, who stated that, " The bases upon which refusal would have been meted out, involved, in large measure, incoherence in the information they provided, the evidence of ability of the person to sustain themselves, corroboration of the information they would have provided. My opinion in relation to this situation, is that immigration acted in accordance to the immigration act, whereby a person can be denied entry into the country in accordance with the immigration  Act Chapter 18:01 of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Although Jamaica is part of the C.S.M.E, which creates free movement of people, regional services and goods, due to this questions were raised with respect to whether or not our immigration officers acted in their right. However, they being denied entry was solely on the  information that they provided to immigration officers which would have been false or not enough evidence to support. However, just like any other country there are rules to follow by their immigration department and proper documentation must be presented.Trinidad is not the only country that denied Jamaican nationals. Statistics over the years show that the following Caribbean countries also denied Jamaican nationals entry into their country for various reasons . They have been denied entry into Barbados, Curaçao, St Martin, Antigua and the Bahamas. There is no doubt that this issue created tension between both countries. However,  they are working together to ensure, that the issue does not lead to barrier to trade and is dealt with in a particular manner.
In an article published by the Jamaica Observer news paper on April 20th, 2017. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith of Jamaica, reported a year-on-year reduction in the number of instances involving Jamaicans being refused entry into Trinidad and Tobago.
In fact, Ms. Smith  noted that the ministry recorded an 82 per cent reduction in the number of cases, between March 2017 and March 2017. This in itself shows that Jamaican nationals are complying with immigration regulations, to help in reducing the number of Jamaicans being denied entry.

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Importance of Cricket in the West Indies

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Importance of Cricket in the West Indies

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Cricket is a well known sport to English countries, which has become so important to the Caribbean people that their psychological condition depended on whether the regional team has gained success or it has suffered defeat can be a barometer of their mood and condition. Losing a game or the exclusion of a favourite player from a match, can cause agony and sadness among die hard supporters. CLR James in his book "Beyond Boundaries" related the following story, Telemaque a Trinidadian player was left out of the national team. The news was so devastating to his wife that she sat on a chair on the pavement, crying uncontrollably because her husband wasn’t going to Barbados with the Trinidad team. The majority of the neighbours gathered around consoling her and cried as well.

In 1923 the West Indies suffered a major defeat at the hands of England, supporters both  home and abroad were disheartened and ashamed. They poured their concerns into articles, letters and writings of West Indian cricket as it fell from its pinnacle of a cricketing nation to the point where, the team was finding it difficult to even win a series overseas. It is clear to see why cricket is so important to the Caribbean. The life of the average West Indian is closely related to political, economic and social events of the society in which he or she lives. As a result, the West Indies has come to understand, that cricket is an instrument for a particular purpose. Cricket has allowed the West Indians to measure him or himself in terms of ability, competence and skill against other nations of the world. Cricket has liberated many West Indian from shackles of poverty, social backwardness and has elevated many players to the stature of heroes and icons. It also strengthens the relationship and unites us as Caribbean people, especially when the West Indies are playing against others countries.

"video of me playing cricket" 14/04/17
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1fmO4i242poMFAwdXFLMzZuWmM/view?usp=drivesdk

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Trade

Demerara sugar originated in the country of Demerara, British Guiana, known today as Guyana. Since the early 19th century this special sugar was established as a high quality product of unique character.

The Caribbean Single Market Economy (C.S.M.E) is designed to represent a single economic space with which people, goods, services and capital can move freely. This will require the harmonisation and coordination of social, economic and trade policies among the participating member states. The C.S.M.E is intended to benefit the people of the region by providing more and better opportunities to produce and sell our goods and services and to attract investments. The main objectives of CSME are: full use of labour (full employment) and full exploitation of the other factors of production (natural resources and capital). Competitive production leading to greater variety and quality of products and services to trade with other countries. It is expected that these objectives will in turn provide improved standard of living, work and sustained economic development.

Picture of me holding a pack of Demerara Sugar in the grocery 14/04/17