Dear Editor,

The crisis that we are seeing and feeling in Jamaica should neither rest at the feet of the JLP nor the PNP, but with the endemic disease that is called “roast breadfruit psychosis”. When Professor Frederick Hickling attempted to explain this thesis, he was criticised, but the real problem is that many Jamaican people are being affected by a defective anthropology. Revd Ashley Smith, in his book, Real Root and potted plants, indicated that Caribbean people are suffering from the lack of a new self-definition: “The church must first recognise its own captivity, to this demonic mis-definition of man and then proceed to aid all the people of the region of freeing themselves of the misgivings, self-doubts and prejudices with which they have been encumbered for so long, so that all may be free to create a new community.” We seem not to love ourselves as we ought, and it is therefore impossible to love our neighbours as ourselves.

“It is impossible also to have a healthy human community or a genuine community of the Spirit” (Ashley Smith). I remember that on being appointed Rector of St Mary’s Church in 1972, I gave to the church a Christmas present of a famous painting (black Virgin Mary) by the late Osmond Watson, but some black women indicated that they are afraid of the work. This shows how deeply we are affected by the “roast breadfruit psychosis”.

Revd Canon Ernle Gordon

St Mary’s Rectory

Kingston 20

gordfm@yahoo.com