US Ambassador N. Nick Perry is the first Jamaican-born person to hold the distinguished title of the United States Ambassador to Jamaica. Amb. Perry expresses his anguish at the devastation that crime and violence have brought to the Kingston neighborhoods which behold the essence of his origin from birth to adulthood.
After migrating to the United States in the year 1971 Perry went on to join the political realm. The 72-year-old diplomat served as a member of the New York State Assembly for the 58th district.
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At a recent youth awards event for Local Partner Development (LPD) in Montego Bay, Amb. Perry remarked, “I was born in Jamaica in Kingston. I grew up in Rose Town and Whitfield Town. Since I’ve been back I’ve driven through those neighborhoods and it hurts my heart. The house I used to live in… there are no houses there on that street anymore. And I learned that place was devastated by crime — criminal activity, fights between young people, shooting, killing each other over simple little disagreements that turn into death and violence.”
Perry reminded the roughly 90 recipients of prizes from the LPD juvenile crime and violence prevention program, which is financed by USAID, to abstain from crime and violence.
He told the youths within his address, “I look at you and I see myself in the audience in a lot of ways,” adding that any of them may succeed, just as he has, by embracing good over evil.
“No one would have believed if I told them when I was walking on Maxfield Avenue or Lamont Lane or Whitfield Avenue, that one day I would be the ambassador of the United States of America, sent back to Jamaica to represent the people of America and the president of the United States. Can you imagine yourself in a position like that as you grow older?” he asked rhetorically.
The Jamaica Perry grew up in, however, is significantly different from the Jamaica that exists now, as Perry himself has remarked.
Jamaican officials, like those in other nations, frequently cite the importation of illicit weapons from the US as a primary cause of the widespread crime and violence that plague their coasts.
Jamaica is one of the nations that recently joined Mexico in suing US gun makers for $10 billion for the damage their goods have caused. The matter was covered at the inaugural regional security conference, which is now taking place in Trinidad and Tobago and is being attended by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Perry has praised the “ambitious young men and women” who are succeeding despite the difficulties thus far. He also commended people who had taken part in different USAID and LPD programs during the previous two years.
The Ambassador went on to inform the audience of LPD by stating, “LPD, as many of you already know, is a US$16-million, a six-year activity designed to build partnerships with the private sector and Government to implement and sustain effective crime prevention initiatives here in Jamaica.”
He continued, “I am pleased to know that because of USAID’s investments and partnership over 650 youths, including all of you here today, are now more resilient in avoiding crime and violence than you were two years or so ago.”
Participants received training in a variety of trades, including customer service, food and beverage preparation, and electrical installation. Additionally, they got mentorship and psychosocial assistance.
“I’m told that up to 109 of you were placed in apprenticeships, internships, and jobs with local employers. And 140 of you received products and other support to start or improve your own micro-businesses,” he noted.
He remarked, “This is one example of how the United States Government, through USAID, is helping Jamaican youth to reach their true potential, your true potential. We are proud to support initiatives like the Local Partner Development activity that specifically targets youth — and we do so because yes, you are the future.”
The ambassador also thanked everyone who helped the young participants “on their journey.”
“Whether you provided services, mentorship, or jobs, your support has not gone unnoticed. Your support has not and will not be in vain. And it’s up to you to make sure of that. On behalf of the United States Government I would like to thank you all for coming out today to celebrate with these young Jamaican men and women and let us, together, continue to support them,” he concluded.
