Moving to Barbados?

I came across a post in the Barbados Free press blog in which the author says that he said a prayer that he was happy to be born in Barbados, after reading about a recent shooting in Jamaica in Torrington Bridge.

The response from his/her readers was full agreement, with someone throwing in the old wive's tale about the "best" slaves being kept in Barbados, while the "dregs" were sent to Jamaica. Of course, the Trini version of the same story is slightly different, with the best slaves being kept Trinidad, the subservient ones going to Barbados, etc.

Another implied that there are Jamaicans who are trying to find their way to live in Barbados.

I am fairly sure that the post won't elicit many comments from Jamaicans because, for better or worse, I have yet to meet a Jamaican who wanted to migrate to Barbados (including the few who live there) and also because we don't care too much about what Bajans think about us.

Given the advent of CSME, this is probably not a good thing for us on this side of the Caribbean sea. With our focus on North America, we know more about what is happening in Miami than we do in Bridgetown (with the exception of cricket.)

But, I think Bajans are safe from us! The gap between our cultures just seems to me to be w-i-d-e. There really is hardly a trace of Barbadian culture here in Jamaica (but our music, food and even accents are all over Barbados.)

It's a good place to visit for those who are thinking of Moving Back to Jamaica -- it is Caribbean, but missing many of the things that we love about Jamaica.

Recently, Barbadian policemen were searched before they could enter the cricket world cup grounds by volunteers working on "security." In the news, there were pictures of some big, big policemen being searched by "who knows who?"...

In Jamaica, "nutten coulda go so." (Nothing like that could happen.)

I remember when Trinidad had their coup in 1990, and being amazed -- it just could not happen here in Jamaica. The various limes and fetes that were held during the coup still have me amazed.

Once again, Jamaicans know that "nutten coulda go so" here in Jamaica.

A friend of mine this morning said: "You really learn to appreciate Jamaica when you travel away from it."

Being in Barbados, Trinidad and other Caribbean islands reminds me that our assertiveness, aggression and willingness to fight against injustice are just one of the many strengths that we take for granted. That it often leads to violence, confrontation and murders is true.

But it also has a much brighter side -- we are a people who care, and care deeply -- even when we act badly, and even when it costs us too much.