The image of Jamaica as a land where the Caribbean laps gently against gleaming white beaches and the locals indulge in their passion and immense talent for cricket, has never been even remotely close to the truth. The events of recent days have painted a darker picture of poverty, crime, political polarisation and violence which has left more than 20 people dead.
The recent United Nations Human Development report which placed Ireland among the top 20 countries in the world in which to live, with a GDP per capita of $25,918, ranked Jamaica in 78th place with per capita GDP of $3,561 behind Colombia, Libya and Macedonia and on a par with Azerbaijan.
In the past there was a clear line between the tourist regions on the one hand and the poverty, squalor and violence of parts of Kingston and other heavily populated areas on the other. On this occasion, however, the violence has hit places close to the fashionable tourist resorts of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay thus further threatening the brittle economy.
Two of the countries that provide large numbers of holidaymakers for Jamaica's $1 billion tourist industry have already sounded warning notes. Britain announced it was reviewing its travel advisory for Jamaica and the State Department has advised Americans to avoid certain parts of the country. Roadblocks and demonstrations have also begun to damage commercial activity.
The Prime Minister, Mr P.J. Patterson, has put the violence down in its entirety to criminal elements. He has deployed the army in aid of the civil power and has hinted strongly that he will call on security forces from an un-named country "elsewhere, with greater expertise" in order to bring the situation under control. There is, however, an undoubted political element to the conflict. The main centre of the violence, the Kingston suburb of Tivoli Gardens, is a stronghold of Mr Edward Seaga, the leader of the opposition Labour Party.
The two main parties must shoulder a great deal of the blame for the current strife. In dangerous and anti-democratic moves they set up armed groups in Kingston's impoverished areas in the 1970s in order to intimidate voters at elections. In 1980, up to 700 people were killed in election-related violence. It is strongly to be hoped that a casualty level of such magnitude will be avoided on this occasion.