Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01585 · Session 4

Scottish Jamaican Relations

Closed Submitted 8 Oct 2015 EU & International Affairs
Signatures
200
191 online signatures with a country
Comments
20
Considered
2 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to create a formal bilateral partnership with Jamaica and make it a Priority Country for trade and international development as a means of acknowledging that trade with Jamaica has contributed significantly to the foundations of economic growth and prosperity in Scotland and recognising that Scotland should now seek to advance the prosperity of Jamaica.

What the petitioner did first

A new initiative called Flag Up Scotland Jamaica was launched at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce during the Commonwealth Games on 1 August 2014. The project is building on previous initiatives, such as the Memorandum of Understanding between Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in March 2013. The initiative is seeking innovative ways to develop a closer partnership between Scotland and Jamaica, which will benefit both nations.
The project has received widespread support, including endorsement from the historian Sir Tom Devine, Hon Mrs Aloun Assamba, Jamaica’s High Commissioner in UK, Sir Geoff Palmer of Heriot Watt University and Anne McLaughlin MP. The project has encouraged schools partnerships and through a Big Lottery Grant was able to bring two Jamaican artists, Yasus Afari and Claudius England to take part in the Glasgow MELA Festival and to visit schools, churches and prisons.
We have sought and gained the support of numerous MSPs. On 18 August 2014, Margaret Mitchell lodged Motion S4M-10824 to support the launch of this campaign and raise awareness of its aims. We have worked with William McGhie's son in forming our campaign. As such, on 21 November 2014, John Mason MSP lodged Motion S4M-11652 to commemorate the centenary of William McGhie's contribution as an example of the important links between Jamaica and Scotland and to acknowledge our work in promoting this. On 31 July 2015, Kenneth Gibson MSP lodged Motion S4M-13867 to recognise the achievements of this campaign and to show cross-party support for it in the Parliament.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 15 Dec 2015
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 23 Feb 2016
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

191 online signatures
  1. Scotland108 56.5%
  2. United Kingdom30 15.7%
  3. Jamaica23 12%
  4. England12 6.3%
  5. United States11 5.8%
  6. Panama1 0.5%
  7. Germany1 0.5%
  8. Canada1 0.5%
  9. Wales1 0.5%
  10. Cambodia1 0.5%
  11. 2 other countries2 1%

Comments

20 comments, oldest first
  1. John McGhie 10 Oct 2015
    I fully support this petition. There is a long and very close relationship between the two countries which should be fostered. I lived, for a few years, just outside Kingston in an area by the name of Stirling Castle. Amazing!
  2. William McLean 10 Oct 2015
    Great idea
  3. Sharah Handy 11 Oct 2015
    I'm a Jamaican and living in Scotland and I believe this should happen. Build a positive relationship between the two countries as we go forward and try to make a positive change.
  4. Angela Doherty 11 Oct 2015
    Pay up for the sick way you treated these human beings
  5. Debbie Jack 12 Oct 2015
    I just find it unbelievable that this history is so untold in Scotland. As a teacher I feel this history should be taught in schools . It is a shameful history that we should understand and own in order to learn from it and now be proud to be a country which would fight against such a world. Many school children learn so much from the Malawa experience in school. Imagine how much they would understand the world by having such positive links with Jamaica.
  6. Morag Watt 12 Oct 2015
    I am the daughter of the Rev. William McGhie who designed the Jamaican flag with the Saltire. I loved my childhood on the island and am so proud of my dad's contributions to Jamaica.
  7. R Lewis 13 Oct 2015
    Having grown up in Scotland with a Jamaican parent, I learnt informally about the deep historical links between the two countries. It is time that this history should be told. Scotland has benefitted so much from Jamaican blood and soil. We must uphold the nations values of justice and compassion and strengthen these links for positive development and change.
  8. annita charlton 13 Oct 2015
    neighbour of John McGhie in kingston jamaica
  9. Dorothy Dwyer 14 Oct 2015
    The historical evidence is overwhelming. This union is a must.
  10. Kieran C Murray 14 Oct 2015
    This is a very serious matter, Scottish Government, u urge you to do the right thing and give back and help empower the people of Jamaica to overcome the serious hardships they are now facing. Scotland is a very wealthy nation, and can well afford to assist in whatsoever way can help. One love.
  11. Margaret Butler 16 Oct 2015
    I thank God for this initiative. It is long overdue. I pray it will have outstanding success.
  12. Roland Cole 16 Oct 2015
    Great idea and worthy of support. Will benefit both peoples. Maybe a documentary in support and outline case?
  13. Hazel Herd 18 Oct 2015
    This idea will benefit both the people of both countries.
  14. Paul Keeble 19 Oct 2015
    A small step toward addressing a huge injustice, rather than recommending "moving on".
  15. Catherine Shearer 20 Oct 2015
    I believe that the nation if Scotland has closer links to Jamaica than any of nations that we have already
    established as Priority countries.History is
    conclusive in supporting this claim. I believe that Scotland would have much to gain if this partnership was established. As has previously been said,our school children would benefit from projects with Jamaica such as those already established in Malawi. These projects are of great moral value for the young people involved. These young people are the future of our nation.
  16. John Duncan 26 Oct 2015
    Jamaica has a lot to offer that simply does not grow in Scotland. Scotland can provide education, renewable energy expertise and a gateway to Europe.
  17. Will Leschen 28 Oct 2015
    Whilst I think what you are doing is a good thing speaking honestly Im not sure if it will have that much impact on the Scottish parliament and associated civil servants
    - since Scotland historically has v strong link with Malawi as its main developing country which it wishes to support
    - originally through Stirlings Jack McConnel
    - I think they are unlikely to dilute the aid and support programme they send to Malawi for other countries
    - With respect I would suggest its far better to effectively use your time and resources in building more specific and focussed beneficial linkages between the two countries
    - also to look to build stronger more effective and beneficial networks with and between 1st 2nd 3rd generation Jamaicans living in Scotland
    - also with their fellow countrymen and women back in Jamaica.
  18. Graham Campbell 1 Nov 2015
    I am supporting this effort as Chair of Flag Up Scotland Jamaica because Scotland and Jamaica are already sister and brother nations. The blood sweat, toil and tears shed by Jamaicans in chattel slavery bondage over 300 years created the the commodities (tobacco, sugar and cotton) that made Glasgow and Scotland rich. This is about recognition that Scotland owes Jamaica a huge debt of gratitude that it can make amends for by helping to develop Jamaica's economy and society now. For example better, health, transport, educational, cultural and trade links, will begin to redress the economic imbalance. We could also be recognising Jamaicans as a more central Scottish diaspora nation. This petition starts that process rolling.towards a day when the efforts of enslaved Africans and oppressed Caribbean colonial subjects are fully and transparently acknowledged.
  19. John Pinto 2 Nov 2015
    We need a formal International body, which includes former slave-owning nations in Europe and North America, to address the damage caused to the Caribbean and Americas to formalise long-overdue reparations to countries concerned. I lived for 4 years in Jamaica and saw the legacy of Slavery's effect on the present day there, and in Haiti and Cuba. The Scottish Government should push for creation on an International body to right this civilisational wrong.
  20. George Morton 17 Nov 2015
    Scotland has a history with Jasmacia