Stacey-Ann's Blog

It's been tense in Jamaica over the past few months because the Jamaican government has been in a stand-off with the US government over the extradition of a suspected "drug lord" known as Dudus. 

Last week the Jamaican Prime Minister announced that he was signing the order to allow this man to be extradited to the US to face murder charges.  Since then the capital city has been in a state of unrest. 

Dudus is from a very rough part of Kingston, Tivoli Gardens, known for it's drug crimes and extreme violence.  The people of Tivoli are rallying around Dudus and are refusing to allow entry into the community.  Today, a state of emergency has been declared for the Kingston area as the violence continues to escalate and at least one police station has been burned. 

The US & British governments have issued travel warnings to Kingston, Jamaica (the tourist areas are thankfully not affected).

Jamaica has long been a port for the drug trade between Columbia and the United States.  With the drug trade, political corruption, and a lack of jobs, crime and violence have increasingly become a way of life. It is very hard to watch from far away as the country I love is destroyed by a few criminal elements.  The vast majority of Jamaicans are wonderful, hard working people with a resilient, fun-loving spirit. 

The culture of the country is electric and infectious.  The size of the country has not stopped it's ability to influence the international circuit with the likes of reggae music & Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, jerk chicken, Red Stripe beer, and the Electric Slide.  I only hope that the country can weather this latest crisis and find it's way back again to the sense of hope and purpose that it enjoyed while I was growing up there.

The vast majority of my family, including my parents and my two brothers, reside in the Kingston area of Jamaica.  It is very hard to not feel real concern for their safety.  Please pray with me that my family and friends will all be safe during these turbulent times and that the criminal element will be brought under control quickly so that the decent people of Jamaica can once again feel safe in their homeland.