Children don’t want us to resettle in Jamaica

Dear Pastor,

I am a caregiver and I am getting tired of working abroad. My husband is retired and he wants to come back to Jamaica. We have been married for over 20 years.

We have saved as much as we can. We have a house in Jamaica. People tell us that we are crazy to return to Jamaica. But we are not crazy. Our children have put their roots down in America, but we love Jamaica. I would love to die there and to be buried close to my parents.

Our home in Jamaica needs some fixing up, but we can take our time and do so. Our home is in St James and I heard there are lots of problems there. We have been discussing that we probably could sell the house and move to somewhere else. What do you think of that idea? We love the countryside. We want a place that when our grandchildren come to visit us, they can run around. I will never give up Jamaica regardless of what people say. We don't want to spend our final years in America.

I read about the high cost of property in the newspapers but we can afford to buy a place if we have to. Pastor, give me your advice. Do you think we are doing the right thing?

T.H.

Dear T.H.,

It is the desire of your husband and yourself to return to Jamaica and so both of you should not allow anybody to discourage you from doing so. If your house in Jamaica is vacant, you need to have a good contractor go through it and give you an idea of what you can do to make it liveable. Or you may ask your husband to make a trip and have a good look at the house and decide what can be done before both of you pack everything and come home.

If you are thinking of selling the house because of the high rate of crime in the parish, you can discuss that with a real estate agent when you get to Jamaica. You want to come home; come home because 'Nuh weh nuh betta than yard.'

Pastor