Negril is almost a complete paradise for tourists. But there is one aspect of a visit there to which few look forward. That aspect is the approach of the hustlers. Granted that most of them are poor and just trying to scratch out a living and some of them are very interesting characters but those who press in on the tourists relentlessly make it bad for them all. One fellow was so intrusive and unrelenting with me that he made me threaten to seek out a policeman to get rid of him because he just was not taking no for an answer.
And then there's the gigolos who can be even more bothersome to the ladies. When rejected they are rude and surly and even sometimes threatening. Surely there must be something that tourists could use to signal these con-men nicely that they are just not interested in whatever these bad-boys are trying to peddle?
So I decided to design some beach wear items that can be used by tourists to very nicely but firmly deflect this onslaught of unwanted pests by trying to shoo them off using their own patois language. Some of my readers might be interested in purchasing these goodies to help them with this task.
When we were last down to Negril in May my Jamaican wife wore the t-shirt that I sell here that states in patois that she does not want a man because she already has one and everywhere she went all of the local women would notice it and laugh and comment about it. So it also became for her a great 'how to open a conversation' piece! And by the way, no man dared to approach her!
I wore the money dun mon ball cap at the airport as we embarked on the plane back to Chicago and a number of people liked it and asked me where I got it. Well, Zazzle's the place to find it and some other cute goodies to use as shields to deal with these pushy folks.
14 years ago
