Your Letters page of July 8 was remarkable for the fact that almost all, if not all, the contributors writing to defend Jamaica's name in response to a television programme by a benighted United Kingdom-based Trinidad-born journalist were Jamaicans in the diaspora. Even though this could have been the result of editorial selection, it is still quite worthy of attention.

When the Jamaica Diaspora meets again on June 16, 2010, it will be six years since the first conference which began recognising the potential of Jamaicans in the diaspora. The thing is that up to now Jamaicans in the diaspora have still not grasped the potency of that potential, and have not realised that the way to power for Jamaica is through making an impact in the centres of power of their adopted countries, that is, in London, Ottawa and Washington.

Yet to understand

They are yet to understand and apply the lessons from the impact in the United States of the anti-Castro Cubans in Miami, or the even more profound impact of the diasporic Jews all over the US.

Without making any comments on the journalistic merits or demerits of the Trevor McDonald programme, I must say your letter writers of two days ago have lit a candle. As one of the inaugural participants of the Jamaica Diaspora Conference, I can only hope that this candle will grow into the raging flame that is needed.

I am, etc.,

EWART WALTERS

spectrum@storm.ca

Ottawa, Canada