Rev Bennett pleads for unity in the diaspora

J’cans living abroad hold demonstrations outside New York Consulate

A PLEA for unity in the diaspora to allow Jamaicans at home and abroad to prosper has been made by Jamaican pastor, Reverend Andrew Bennett.

Rev Bennett, who is pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene in Flushing, Queens, said that there are so many voices trying to pull down the diaspora and urged instead that there be collaboration, unity, peace and goodwill.

“Be careful of voices that seek to distract us. Let us work together to allow Jamaicans in the diaspora to prosper for when we prosper, Jamaica prospers,” he said.

He was speaking yesterday at a ‘Meditation and Blessing’ of the new Jamaican Consulate offices in Manhattan, New York.

His plea came against the backdrop of competing demonstrations on the street outside the building that houses the Consulate offices.

One demonstration, organised by the Jamaica Diaspora Intervention and Prevention Task Force, and the other, organised by Dr Clovis Nelson, faced off with contending messages about what is going on in Jamaica.

Speaker after speaker at the demonstration organised by the Crime Task Force, headed by Dr Rupert Francis and former FBI special agent, Wilfred Rattigan, highlighted what they say was the failure of the Government to stem the rising tide of crime, root out corruption, and answer several other burning issues such as water woes, a failing healthcare system and failure to listen to members of the diaspora in a meaningful way.

The demonstrators, waving placards, the Jamaican flag and decked out in T-shirts highlighting various issues, grew in numbers as the day wore on.

The New York Police Department personnel, who kept a watchful eye on the demonstrations, estimate that at its peak more than 250 people were taking part in the demonstration.

The organisers, on the other hand, said that there were around 350 people who took part.

The demonstrators sang various Jamaican reggae songs and called out what they saw as the failure of the Jamaican Government,

COUNTER-PROTESTERS

The counter-protesters, who numbered around a dozen, stood across the street from the main demonstration, also carrying placards, waving the Jamaican flag and shouting down the other protesters as they defended the performance of the Jamaican Government.

They pointed to measures that the Government has taken to combat crime and corruption, as well as putting in place policies that will benefit the Jamaican people.

The demonstrations were peaceful as the police kept the demonstrators apart.

As the demonstrations played out on the street in front of the Consulate offices, upstairs in the Consulate the meditation and office blessings were taking place.

Speaking at this event, Rev Bennett noted that the function of the Consulate is to see to the interests of Jamaicans in the United States.

He said that the Consulate must be a place of “peace and collaboration”.

Noting that the Consulate represents a little piece of Jamaica, Rev Bennett encouraged members of the diaspora to support the Consulate and its work.

“What pulls us down is not healthy,” he pointed out.

He suggested that members of the diaspora should see themselves as a family and work for the best interest of that family.

He called on Jamaicans in the diaspora to serve God so that they will be blessed by Him.

Consul General Alsion Wilson praised the staff of the Consulate for the work that they do on behalf of Jamaicans in the diaspora.

She noted that between April last year and March this year, the Consulate staff handled more than two million calls from Jamaicans.

“I am extremely grateful to the staff for all that they do to make the Consulate function smoothly,” she said.

She said that the Consulate has a long history of rising to meet challenges.

According to the consul general, the blessing of the offices comes at a time when there is a need for upliftment.