Jamaica in My Heart
Jamaica is more than a place on a map. It’s a feeling. A rhythm. A heartbeat that stretches beyond the island itself and into the diaspora scattered across the globe. For me, Jamaica has always been home. It is where I learned freedom as a barefoot child, running through the bush in St. Catherine. It’s where my imagination was formed, shaped not by video games or gadgets, but by chasing lizards with sticks, floating on a car tyre in Hellshire, and catching “peniwhilies” to bottle beside my bed at night.
When I think of childhood, I think of fried fish and festival, bag juice on a sweltering day, and sneaking a sip of my father’s Red Stripe. I think of Sundays filled with church, Anancy stories, and community—the kind of community where your neighbors knew you, and you knew them. That was Jamaica. That is Jamaica.
The Past: Roots That Run Deep
Jamaica’s story, like my own, begins with roots—roots that are strong, tangled, and enduring. We come from a history both painful and powerful: the Maroons who resisted, the ancestors who endured slavery, the farmers who tilled the land, and the communities who built life from soil and sweat.
When I travelled to St. Mary country as a boy, eating bananas and sugar cane straight from the stalk, I was tasting the same fruits that generations before me had depended on. Traveling to Maroon Town, I felt the legacy of resilience and kinship. Even as a child, I knew that Jamaica was not ordinary—it was a place where strength was bred into us, where survival was culture, and where joy came in the form of simple things: music, food, family, and folklore.
But the past was not without hardship. I remember hearing gunshots during elections, my mother warning me about the colors I wore. Nepotism, politics, and power struggles were part of the landscape. Stories of rolling calf were told by elders to keep us indoors. Even then, I realized Jamaica was a place of contradictions—hardship mixed with beauty, struggles laced with joy.
The Present: A Nation at the Crossroads
Today, Jamaica stands at a crossroads. On one hand, the vibrancy of our culture has spread globally. From reggae to athletics, our influence far outweighs the size of our island. Jamaica is bigger than the people in it—it lives in the hearts of millions worldwide.
But we also face challenges. Infrastructure strains under pressure, nepotism still lingers, and too often, systems are slow to change. Many Jamaicans abroad want to return home, to invest, to contribute—but the path is not always clear.
We are now in the age of technology. The world is digital, connected, and borderless. Jamaica cannot afford to lag behind. We need to welcome our diaspora back home, not just emotionally but practically—through systems that make it easy to invest, work, and build. Because Jamaica is not just an island—it is an idea, a nation with boundless potential if only we can harness it.
The Future: Reawakening Jamaica
The future of Jamaica, I believe, depends on three things: reconnection, strategy, and vision.
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Reconnection: We must bridge the gap between home and abroad, welcoming Jamaicans who want to contribute. The diaspora holds not just money, but knowledge, skills, and networks that can transform industries.
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Strategy: We need comprehensive planning—policies that go beyond quick fixes, and that tackle housing, education, technology, and economic opportunity with seriousness.
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Vision: Jamaica’s future must be bigger than the present. We need to dream as boldly as our ancestors fought. From renewable energy to digital infrastructure, from agricultural innovation to smart cities, the possibilities are endless if we dare to believe in more.
For me, the future is also personal. I want my children—and their children—to know the freedom I knew: running barefoot, eating fresh sugar cane, floating in the sea at Hellshire. I want them to inherit a Jamaica that is not just surviving, but thriving.
What Makes Someone a Jamaican?
This question has always fascinated me. In the United States, if you work hard, contribute, and gain citizenship, you are considered American. That has been their strength. In Jamaica, our sense of belonging runs deep—it is in the way we talk, the way we laugh, the way we turn hardship into jokes, and the way we carry our culture wherever we go.
Being Jamaican is not just about birthplace—it’s about identity, resilience, and spirit. You can leave Jamaica, but Jamaica never leaves you. That is why our diaspora—scattered in London, New York, Toronto, Miami—still calls themselves Jamaican proudly, decades after leaving. The bond is unbreakable.
Memory Lane: Lessons From Childhood
Looking back, I realize my childhood was an education no classroom could provide.
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Community: I learned that life is better when shared. From church gatherings to neighbors looking out for one another, community shaped me.
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Creativity: With nothing but sticks, bottles, and lizards, we created worlds of play. That spirit of innovation lives in me still.
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Resilience: Killing chickens at ten years old and preparing them for market was not easy. But it taught me responsibility, resourcefulness, and respect for hard work.
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Freedom: Walking barefoot, chasing fireflies, eating festival at the beach—these simple freedoms built my sense of independence and joy.
All of these lessons prepared me for adulthood, for business, and for my profession today.
Real Estate: Building Jamaica’s Future
As a real estate professional, I see Jamaica through another lens—the built environment. Real estate is not just about land and buildings; it’s about identity, opportunity, and legacy.
Every development we create is a chance to shape the Jamaica of tomorrow. Housing is more than shelter—it is community. When I walk through Kingston and Montego Bay, I see both challenges and potential. The demand for homes is growing. Diaspora members want to invest. Young professionals want independence. Families want security. The question is: how do we build smart, sustainably, and inclusively?
The real estate sector has a vital role to play in Jamaica’s future:
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Affordable Housing: Ensuring ordinary Jamaicans have access to quality homes.
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Diaspora Investment: Creating pathways for overseas Jamaicans to own, rent, and invest.
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Sustainable Development: Building with respect for the environment, using technology, and embracing renewable energy.
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Community Design: Not just houses, but neighborhoods—with schools, parks, and spaces that build connection.
For me, this is more than business. It is personal. I want to see Jamaica flourish, and I believe real estate—done right—can be one of the drivers of that prosperity.
Closing Thoughts
When I think of Jamaica, I don’t just see the past. I feel it in my bones. I don’t just imagine the present. I live it in my work. And I don’t just dream about the future. I build toward it every day.
From barefoot childhood in St. Catherine to real estate development today, Jamaica has been my teacher, my muse, and my mission. My story is one of many—but together, our stories form the tapestry of this island we love.
Jamaica is more than an island. It is an identity. A legacy. A future waiting to be written.
And through real estate, through community, through vision, I hope to play my part in building that future—brick by brick, home by home, dream by dream.