Oh, my parents would blush to hear that.😊
the problems of the island as a legacy of exploitation
You are right! On so many different levels, so many avenues. It's a dire case.
Even the reefs. I do not scuba dive, but I've been told that there's nothing to see there. Everything has been over-exploited.
Jamaica is one of the countries where foreigners can buy and own a property outright. It's a good hub for the frequency and connection of flights. It has good private hospitals and dental care (albeit super pricy).
The roads are deplorable, and fatalities on the roads - I haven't even mentioned that. It's a lawless society, and you will observe that in driving more than anything else. During just the 3 months, the number of people from my neighbourhood who died in motor vehicle accidents was appalling.
When you live there, you become immune to many things, but I also find that strangely, one can become addicted to a certain kind of sadness. When I speak to people from there, it's like a long list of death announcements. People live in fear.
For me, I just wanted to wake up and see the colourful butterflies, the hummingbirds with the long beeps, and the birds singing in a distinct rhythm as if they were delivering messages and I wanted to understand. That made me smile.
I saw little appreciation for nature and simple things.
Another thing is that there's a limited number of public beaches that people have access to. Jamaica went the route of large inclusive hotels, that prohibit access to the beach.
I wish I had the answer to help implement change.