As I watched Air Jamaica staff crying over the loss of the national airline I wondered about this concept of Caribbean integration and why we were even bothering with the concept. My thoughts raced even more as I listened to the West Indies being pounded into the ground by Sri Lanka on Friday in their 20/20 super eight match. Added to this I remembered reading about Jamaican artistes being barred from performing in certain Islands due to their vulgar messages, which is valid of course.


The truth be told, Jamaica has added to a lot of woes that some Islands now bear. For example, the criminal network in Jamaica has swiftly spread to other territories, which has made Jamaica hated among many. While the majority of Jamaicans are not bad, it takes one rotten egg to spoil the rest.


However, Jamaica has strongly placed the Caribbean on the map. In fact, without little Jamaica many would not even know about the Caribbean. While many Islands bash this great nation, it should be considered that Jamaica has had to be there for a lot of these nations. It is easy for some to forget the help that Jamaicans have given in their nation building. But in life when you help people, often times as soon as they are on their feet they become ungrateful and are quick to forget.


When you look at the contribution of Jamaica, you have to marvel and say to yourself, what a blessed country she is. Jamaica has embodied the true meaning of a melting pot of races. Countries like Canada and the US can only dream of such concepts. With our motto firmly built on integration of races, others have over time learned what it truly means to be "out of many one people". In some of our Caribbean countries for instance, blacks are still treated as second class citizens, but not so in Jamaica. We may have class ism, but no racism, at least not on a ridiculous level. I remember when Jamaica qualified for the 1998 World Cup, I was in the stadium just watching the many faces of race, and I said to myself, this is one of the greatest nations of earth.


I can recall reading about Marcus Garvey and his influence in the United States and I marveled again. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X laud Garvey as a mentor and someone that led them to believe that blacks can be more. Garvey's message pushed the civil rights movement to another level. The freedoms we take for granted so often were borne upon the backs of people like Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican who paved the way for other Caribbean folks. 


In the area of music, where would the Caribbean have been had there not been a Bob Marley or a Jimmy Cliff and so many others. They paved the way for our music to be recognized. They may speak of Soca or Calypso, but these music carry no real message of liberation or freedom.  In fact, they speak of Vybz Kartel and others, but when Carnival comes around they are ready to gyrate and 'carry on bad', but no one is quick to ban these things. If we are to be fair then all music that preaches violence, profanity or lasciviousness should be condemned. As the Jamaican proverb goes, 'donkey say di worl no level'.


When you examine the contribution of our scholars to Caribbean development, no country stands out like Jamaica. Take the number of Rhode Scholars that have been Jamaican and you will realize our brilliance. We have world famous scientists and doctors who have had to help our neighbors. People forget too quick our worth.


In the area of sport there is no comparison. Our athletes have helped to place the Caribbean in the top echelon of excellence in the world. Where would the Caribbean be without our athletic performance at all levels. Starting with Herb McKenley and Arthur Wint, then Donald Quarrie, Merlene Ottey, Shelly Ann Fraser and the phenomenal Usain Bolt and so many others. And that is just track and field. We have had sports men at all levels who have raised the Caribbean flag to new heights, yet we are now looked down upon.


When you look at the infrastructural development of Jamaica, there is none like it in the Caribbean. Jamaica may be poor, but the infrastructure that is being laid can be compared to a lot of first world nations. 
There are a lot more areas that could be examined, but it is clear that Jamaica ranks at the top of the Caribbean in so many areas. Yes we all recognize that crime has been a major problem in Jamaica, and the number of murders per day is just absolutely crazy, but if there was any real integration between Caribbean nations then we could all solve the problems we face. Crime is everyone's problem now, but some nations are turning their back on Jamaica.


It seems high time that Jamaica seek to re-examine whether Caribbean integration makes sense or even exists.It seems to me that Jamaica stands to give up more then they will gain from integration. It may be better for Jamaica to rely on building its nation with other nations that will seek to help instead of tear down.