|
Jamaica: Domestic Help:
Hi, domestic help - or a 'helper' as they are locally called, will live in or out depending on your requirements, needs and space. If you choose to have a live-in, be very sure that you get checkable references first...but you should do that with anyone who works for you...rates are around $3-4 JDS per day...
Jamaica: To Rent or to Own - Montego Bay:
Hi there, I'm sure that others have advised this, but I would suggest that you rent a place initially until you've spent a year or two in JA and you're sure that you want to settle there permanently. I really wouldn't put all your eggs in one basket, and I would definitely not commit to moving all your hard earned monies to JA. I don't know much about Mobay as I lived in Kingston, but reports that I've read and heard about MoBay aren't good, though I'm sure that it depends on location etc...but I would, as I say, try renting for a while until you're more familiar with the place and you're sure that you want to commit to living there long-term.
Healthwise, I am also a diabetic, but I found healthcare in general in JA to be below par, and so I tend to see my GP for my 6 monthly reviews whenever I return to the UK and I also stock up on the free meds that I need. I also ensure when in the UK that I get general health MOTs. This is just my perspective and others may offer theirs. Whatever you decide, the very best of luck...
Jamaica: Searching and searching online:
Gardis and RickBlaine,
I'm bigly impressed with your restraint in answering this email, all the while giving whatever answers you're able to.
I'm just wondering why the 'boyfriend' isn't doing his own research towards getting his girlfriend a permit or job in JA. Not my business, I guess.
Good luck to the OP though.
Jamaica: Retirement on Jamaica:
Its the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency and it's on Constant Spring Road in Kingston.
Jamaica: Kingston Adventure:
You were in Liguinea, Kingston, I see...I love Liguinea, so much going on there, and as you say, the Marley Museum is near by, as is Devon House (great ice cream, but not as good as years past)..lots of restaurants , and the food court at Sovereign Centre offers lots of choices...and the vibe is generally cool...glad you found Kingston taxi drivers to be civilised - I generally fear them as they are manic, so they must have been on a go slow or something when you visited ...Agree that the Highway is A+ - travelled it on the Knutsford Express - clean, airconditioned, (free water) ,comfortable, safe and fast way to get around from A-B and pretty inexpensive too...hope you have many more adventures in Kingston!
Jamaica: Hairdresser needed:
In Kingston, you could try Diva Saloon in Sovereign centre...
Jamaica: Disgusted with JCF Response:
RickBlaine, sorry for everyone involved, but this is the reality that most Jamaicans live with - poor public services, including from those who are meant to serve and protect...it's not just a JA thing...a few years ago, husband and myself were on a deserted beach in Bdos when we were approached by a guy with serious mental health issues who clearly wanted to off my husband and rape or do worse with me...luckily for us, another man appeared and helped my husband to beat him off...we went to the local police station to report it, and ...they just shrugged their shoulders...didn't even bother to take a report...while I have never had - as yet - any concerns about my safety here in JA, I am not at all convinced that I could rely on the JCF to respond in a crisis - i live here alone, though in a gated (but not entirely secure) community, and so i do have moments when I worry about security and safety and what would happen if I got into a bad situation but on the whole, I try not to think about it...there was a situation last year when my neighbours were having some really bad domestic issues and on one occasion it got so bad that i had to call the police..fortunately, they did respond (I live in UWI housing on a UWI staff compound) fairly quickly and did intervene even though the couple concerned had calmed down by the time they arrived and presented a united front denying that anything had happened...however, the police were aware of the history of violence and came back to see me later to fill me in, and also to warn me that one of the males involved had a long record of violence, and that I should be careful in case they got pissed with me for reporting them, and they actually gave me the personal mobile number of a police officer to contact...one of the senior officers also came to see me to check that I was OK...now, the caveat...as I said, I live on a UWI compound and it was UWI Campus police who responded..also they were aware that I work in a particular institute that had actually trained police and security on handling domestic and gender violence...and of course - and this is a bit weird, they were somewhat enthralled by my Brit accent (I get that a lot here)...
Anyway, I think what I really want to say is that when we make a choice to live here, we have to accept that certain things are not going to be the way that we are used to...the po-lice aren't going to coming with sirens blazing to a domestic or indeed to many other violent situations...
This doesn't mean that we have to accept it..what we CAN do is to support those civil society organisations that are striving for change, striving to make the necessary changes...there are several organisations that work with victims of domestic violence, for instance, and they work with the po-lice and other public services to try to change attitudes, policies and practices...
I know you're angry but the gung-ho Marine mentality can potentially create more problems for you..you should know that the gunmen are ruthless, and yes, they will shoot you down in the blink of an eye - prise your weapon from your dead fingers, and likely use it against your family...
I get that your'e angry, but as I say, your experience is an everyday one for a lot of Jamaicans and when we come to live here, we throw in our lot with ordinary Jamaicans in the knowledge that we won't receive special treatment...
If you're going to tool up, then best keep quiet about it, because as another poster said, you could just make yourself a target...and think of the repercussions for your family...
Jamaica: Renting:
Hi there, I moved to Kingston from london, UK, in November 2014 to take up a job offer. I'm always happy to give advice - check my previous posts - but I will always give negatives as well as positives and both have many pros and cons. First, I cannot tell you how much I love living in Kingston...as you say it is so incredibly vibrant and diverse and it would be hard not to fall in love with the city. That said, there are downsides; the cost of living is high. very high, especially for people who are used to buying grossly subsidised cheap food and other everyday items from large supermarkets. I can't comment on the cost of rental accommodation as I am fortunate enough to have employer provided housing in an upscale part of Kingston. But overall, this is not an inexpensive place to live and if you want to live comfortably, it is possible to do so and more cheaply than the USA or Canada, but you do have to pay for comfort and safety. I'm not one for scaremongering about the particular security 'challenges' of living in Kingston, but I do think you would be wise to listen to what others are saying and to rent in a gated secure complex until you have a better sense of things. I am a single Black British/African-Caribbean female, in my mid-50s and I go about my business quite happily and have never had any problems but that's partly because I make sure that I stick to the golden rule. Take the same precautions as you would anywhere else - people come here and for some reason forget all their street sense. Don't walk around with flashy jewellery, cameras, phones, clothing; keep out of people's business and don't let people get into yours either. Most of all, please just treat others with courtesy and as you would expect to be treated yourself. Ask trusted people for recommendations for taxi drivers/companies etc. I can recommend trusted taxi drivers if you need to. Keep out of places that you have no business being in. Portmore is fine, but relatively quiet so if you want dancehalls, high life etc, it's not the place for you. Be aware that the town has numerous infrastructural challenges - it was built to provide homes for about 25,000 people but it is currently home to about 200,000 people so there are many challenges. Try to talk to people who live there...there may be some on this forum. You might not like what Gardis says but s/he is straight up and won't bulls...t you but will give you advice gained from many years experience of living here in Jamaica. I would strongly suggest that you not put all your eggs in one basket, that you come here and spend a few months before committing to the BIG move. Keep on doing as you're doing...research as much as you can, and then research some more....and appreciate advice from people who live here and have experience of negotiating and navigating their way around Jamaica...this place can be heaven on earth but it can be hellish too...
Jamaica: Volunteer in your Organization:
Hi there, There are so many local NGOs and civic organisations that are in need of help and support and I am sure would greatly appreciate offers from volunteers or interns. It very much depends on your interests. I work in the area of gender and development - which also encompasses children's and youth rights. Why not do a search for voluntary organisations and NGOs and check them out? I'm pretty sure that you will find many of these organisations are desperate for support, especially with the range of skills and knowledges that you have!
Jamaica: Cessj:
Hi, does anyone know of a good shipping agent/freight carrier that serves the region? I need to ship some household items (furniture, large appliances, boxes and barrels) from Kingston, JA to Barbados. I've searched online but the companies don't provide much information. Thanks in advance.
| |
Login to Contact Cessj
About Cessj
