In his first official visit to Atlanta, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Professor Gordon Shirley showed that he was an effective time manager by juggling his dual role in a historic visit to the city too busy to hate. His marathon weekend started at the grand opening of a new Golden Krustfranchise in d owntown Atlanta’s Peachtree Center Mall and culminated with three other store openings around the city.

The power packed visit included an important component to many Jamaicans, an Ambassador humble and caring enough to take time off his overloaded schedule to dialogue with them in a townhall setting. The arrangement was deliberate to allow Jamaican residents in Metro Atlanta an opportunity to lay down their heavy burdens at the feet of their official government representative. As for, Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Atlanta, Vin Martin, when the boss is in town, his shoulders shrinks just a little. The daily drumbeat of complaints that knock non-stop at his ear is passed on to a higher power. So it was at the townhall meeting.

By nature, townhall meetings are forums open to all: the good, the bad the confused and those aching to pass blame for decades of missed opportunities. They came to hear, perhaps to learn, listen and to do lots of talking. It is clichéd "participation of the masses." Jamaica’s Honorary Consul, Vin Martin whose role changes based on the hat he wears at the time, served as the night’s master of ceremonies. After welcoming the Ambassador to Atlanta and expressing his thanks for his visit Mr. Martin called on Mr. Allan Alberga, President of the Atlanta Jamaica Association.

Mr. Alberga acknowledged that Ambassador Gordon, by virtue of his office, carries a large constituency, which he dubbed "enormous." He said that he was "thankful and delighted" that the ambassador was gracious enough to spare some of his time, noting that due to his workload, "We can’t ask him to come to Atlanta every week."

Next on the program was Mr. Marlon A. Hill, Esq, Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board Member, Southern United States, who brought the audience up to speed with government’s efforts to link Jamaicans at home and abroad to the Motherland. Mr. Hill said that Jamaicans living abroad through the Diaspora initiative and government’s commitment in that direction have been afforded an "historic opportunity to get our act together." Jamaican living overseas can now have an organized voice to share their concern and participate in their country’s overall economic, social and perhaps even political development.

The night was still very young for the evening’s big draw, Ambassador Gordon. Understanding his role as an impartial voice of reasoning, the Ambassador explained in layman’s terms the purpose and mission of the embassy.

With recent press reports that the Jamaican economy enjoys a growth rate of twenty-five percent, he could easily have used the occasion to gloat. Instead the Ambassador, with cautious calculation, gave a historical account of Jamaica’s political, social and economic standing. Answering his own question: "How is Jamaica doing?" Mr. Gordon said that forty-four years after political independence is relatively young in the life of a struggling and developing country. Delving deep into Jamaica’s history of slavery, the Ambassador saw it as a serious impediment to the country’s social, economic and political development. He said, "When you consider slavery as the most inhumane existence with its widespread division and destruction of the family unit, the business of putting liberated slaves back into families and communities is not a trivial matter." Irrespective of the history, Ambassador Gordon said that Jamaicans across the world had demonstrated a determination of strength and will to triumph in many areas. He highlighted music and sports as two of the major categories to which Jamaica had left their indelible mark on the international stage.

The economy he said has shown signs of one of the most prolonged periods of economic growth since its restructuring in the 1990s when the world economic environment changed. However, Ambassador Gordon lamented that a debt to GDP ratio of "about 140% was a difficult situation but that tight monetary and fiscal policies had started paying dividends, resulting in economic growth." Dishing out more good news, the Ambassador reported that growth in the tourism sector was responsible for a 40% increase in the construction of hotel rooms and the construction of major highways. In addition he said that both airports were being "expanded substantially," and the island has the "highest penetration of cellular phones. The audience laughed when Ambassador Gordon revealed, "many Jamaicans walk around with two or more cell phones." By his optimistic account, the country was doing such brisk business with call centers that they have run out of space.

Despite the progress, Ambassador Gordon, said that "pockets of poverty" still exist and must be addressed with haste. If not he warned, "It will undermine all progress." With an estimated 2 1/2 million Jamaicans living abroad, the Ambassador turned his attention to the question of how his audience could help the Motherland. He called on his audience to support their alma mater and to donate to charitable causes. More than just dollars, the Ambassador wants overseas Jamaicans to give of their time, expertise and talent in the development of their country. According to Dr. Gordon, Jamaica pays high interest rates in stocks while real estate is at an all time boom and Jamaicans should seriously consider investing as a "viable and profitable" endeavor.

As soon as the floor was opened for questioning, a self-professed grandson of Paul Bogle, one of Jamaica’s national heroes, sprang to his feet. With burdens too heavy to bear, the gentleman wanted to know why more was not being done to pay tribute tothe legacy of those massacred during the Morant Bay slave rebellion. He claimed that his ancestors, included in that lot, have not been not paid due homage for their sacrifices. In fact, he felt betrayed that this generation had not done enough and may even have ignored their historic contribution. Without calling any names, he hinted that efforts to meet with Honorary Consul Vin Martin have been futile. His longwinded question and speech did not go down very well with Ms. Connie Witter who stood up and asked him to take his seat. It provoked a fiery and irate response from the gentleman.

Ambassador Gordon listened intently and patiently, then calmly and reassuringly told the venting gentleman that the contribution of his ancestors would not be ignored. In a classic act of diplomacy, Dr. Gordon rose above the fray, dissected the gentleman’s protest and gently gave him the reassurance that his cause was just. With tact and humility, the Ambassador quickly diffused a potentially disruptive encounter. Later, Vin Martin, to whom the gentleman had pointed an accusing finger, reminded the audience that as Honorary Consul, his services to country is voluntary. However in order to effectively serve the community, individuals wishing to consult with him on any matter should make the" necessary and appropriate appointments." Surely, even the Honorary Consul has bills and must effectively budget and manage his time between his pro-bono office, in the interest of country and his survival as an attorney. Case closed!

The next question came from Dr. Chris Parker. A comedian per excellence, Dr. Parker wondered aloud about the word "diaspora" and the difficulty ordinary folks may have in its pronunciation as compared to something simple such as "diapers." It was an effective easing of tension from the previous speaker and the audience erupted in thunderous burst of laughter. Jokes aside, Dr. Parker wanted to know if overseas Jamaicans as part of the Diaspora program will be given some level of political representation. The answer came from Mr. Hill who said that everything was on the table for discussion. More importantly, Jamaicans overseas through the Diaspora initiative will have a voice in shaping the debate and discussion.

A female questioner needed to know what was being done for the many displaced poor people who could not afford the cost of home building as a result of the construction boom in the country. Ambassador Gordon assured the lady that government was conscious of that fact and had initiated land and home building policies and programs to deal with the dislocation. Other questions surrounded Bush Stewart’s debt to the government and multi-national corporations profiting from investing in Jamaica without any benefits to the country.

Finally, Ambassador Gordon said the level of crime in the country was down and that "Operation King Fish," a police offensive against criminal activities, had resulted in the arrest and dislocation of several well-known drug king pins.

Following the Ambassador was Golden Krust’s CEO, Mr. Lowell Hawthorne, who admonished Jamaicans to "shoot for the sky." Proudly proclaiming Golden Krust as a success story, which now boasts of 107 locations across the United States. Mr. Hawthorne said, "Try to establish you own business, for the world is as big as your dream." He said that Golden Krust has a conscious policy of providing scholarships, for the company recognizes that "only the educated are truly liberated." Mr. Hawthorne said that one of the goals of his company is to make the franchise business part of the school curriculum. "We have to make a difference and Golden Krust is willing to make that difference. Let’s be creative, innovative and think outside the box," urged the CEO.

The Ambassador’s entourage included: Janet Madeon, Community Relations Attaché and his newly appointed Information Attaché Derrick Scott, who was on his first official visit in his new role.

Mr. Scott had been plucked from Atlanta a week before the Ambassador’s trip. Coincidental? Perhaps!