JAGIRL

<i><font color="green">They value family, friends and God much more than material possessions.</font></i>

Is this an accurate description of the Jamaica that I currently live in?

I wish...but I definitely don't think so.

Mikeabc

I just go back from Sandybay Nigril. The diving is $70 for 2 dives, Padi cert or not you must pay $70 dollars. I ran over 7 miles one way and walked back looking and talking to everyone. The locals all want to go to USA and most are high on something. The airport was like the movie cheech and chonge pot everywhere. I love the place but I have the feeling it is only moments away from being a Cuba. The Corporations are not giving back enough to the people

Diana

&quot;They value family, friends and God much more than material possessions.

Is this an accurate description of the Jamaica that I currently live in?

I wish...but I definitely don't think so.&quot;

I guess I've been lucky with the Caribbeans I've met.

JAGIRL

mikeabc
What airport was that?

And hey...Cuba isn't that bad...at least their infrastructure actually works! Give me Cuba any day over this Jamaica.

tivertonhouse

JAGIRL: With all that travelling, you gotta sign on as the new PA for Portia's new Jr.Minister of Tourism. Getting things done in Jamaica is one thing. Infrastructure, aside from Highway 2000, someting else altogether.

JAGIRL

Tiverton,
I've tried so hard to not be negative about this island. But it's getting to me now. Plus I got another ridiculous light bill yesterday...

I'm sorry guys, I'm no good for promoting Jamaica right now. I need to stop reading the newspapers for a while, then I might get my positive spin back!

In the meantime, I'll go re-read caribtraveler's Jamaica Trip Report!

JAGIRL

BTW Tiv,
Did you notice the Couples Swept Away &amp; Jamaica Inn ratings in the August Travel &amp; Leisure magazine?

Cool, huh?

toppy

JAGirl I am confused. On another thread (why we return to Jamaica I think, or something like that....or any Caribbean Island )you wrote some wonderful things about thoughts you had upon returning to Jamaica after traveling elsewhere, and you perfectly and poetically described the water and other scenery....and said if I recall correctly, &quot;Do I live here?&quot;
and yet now you seem quite upset about parts of Jamaica.
But that aside, the reason for entering this post now is I meant to post to you particularly, much earlier to say I LOVED your descriptions and it so reminds me of the style of Jane Yolen in her childrens' book, among others, called Owl Moon. Thanks for the mental images JAGirl. (and you should publish a book.)

BadgerRedd

JAGIRL, and any other residents/experts of Jamaica, getting back to the original question, is there a &quot;better&quot; resort chain between Couples vs Sandals? Also just because I'm curious what do you mean by neither company giving back to the people? When we've stayed at our 3 Sandals properties the staff seemed very content with their &quot;work duties&quot;(I can't remember any of the staff not smiling and seeming to enjoy helping us vacationers enjoy our stay). Also we were told during our returning guest dinner that the Sandals Corp. provided onsite housing for the staff, is that true? Do you mean that the Corpoations don't pay their workers enough to make a better life? With all the resorts/hotels on Jamaica isn't there a need for more workers? As an outsider who doesn't know the situation on the island, it would seem that as more people travel there, and more resorts are built, the economy(and the people looking for work)should be getting better. From some of the earlier posts it doesn't seem to be the case.

tivertonhouse

Sandals is a Jamaican-owned chain, but mnny chain AIs in Jamaica are owned by
multi-national corporations or non-Jamaican companies in Portugal, Spain, Columbia. Most Jamaicans live a fair
distance from these megalith resorts so must be transported, there being no
public transport to speak of and the cost of transport being very expensive vis-a-vis paychecks. US$10-15/day is starting 'wage' for many jobs on island, somewhat higher at the chains.
AIs are finding they must 'give back'
and provide additional services for workers to take up the slack btw.
pay scales and the cost of living on island which with outrageous electric bills and taxation without representation, is not cheap, even if one lives on 'imported' money.

tivertonhouse

Though made a decade ago, the video/DVD
'Life &amp; Debt' at most Blockbusters and other US outlets still provides good insight into the Jamaican economy,politics and tourism.