The Secret Caribbean with Trevor McDonald
There are 7,000 islands which make up the Caribbean, stretching from the coast of Florida down to South America, and, in this brand new series for ITV1, Sir Trevor McDonald goes beyond the images of the region in the glossy travel brochures to discover why the rich mixture of people and cultures make it like no other place on earth.
Sir Trevor begins his journey by visiting three islands which typify the contrasts in the Caribbean. In the first part of The Secret Caribbean with Trevor McDonald:
He takes in the ‘faded romance’ of Cuba, the Caribbean’s biggest island, a country where almost everything is half a century old. He visits the oldest cigar making factory on the island, and learns about living under a communist regime where food is rationed and a television can cost more than a home.
Sir Richard Branson gives the roving reporter a personal tour around his own £200m paradise island in the stunning tax haven of the British Virgin Islands where guests pay £30,000 a night to enjoy the luxury surroundings, the tremendous views, the white sandy beaches and the crystal clear waters.
Trevor travels to his birthplace, Trinidad, for one of the highlights of the country’s calendar, a two-day long carnival. Trevor models a hand-crafted costume and soaks up the noisy, bright atmosphere as bands of up to 1000 people dance through the streets.
In Cuba, Trevor discovers a country where in large part time has stood still. When Fidel Castro overthrew the government 50 years ago America responded by imposing a trade embargo on the island – as a result many things there are more than 50 years old, including many of the cars.
With a local journalist as his guide, Juan, Trevor travels around the capital city, Havana, in a bright red classic Chevrolet.
Trevor says: “The entire city is enveloped by a sense of faded elegance. Buildings once grand and magnificent show signs of weary neglect.”
Juan explains to Trevor what life is like under a communist regime where everyone is paid equally, from doctors to taxi drivers, unemployment is less than two per cent and there are reminders everywhere that the state is in control – especially in the media.
The news presenter meets his Cuban counterpart, newsreader Mariuska Diaz to see how her daily life compares. They discuss News at Ten’s lighthearted ‘And finally…’ tales which take a different twist in Cuba – the story at the end of the bulletin that day is about a school being named after communist icon, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Trevor tours the news studio and chats to Mariuska about her fame but soon discovers that celebrity status is discouraged in the country and the newsreaders are jacks of all trades – even applying their own make-up before a bulletin. Trevor is also surprised to learn that the newsreader has a second job to supplement her wage – as an MC in a club.
Juan shows Trevor his two-bedroom apartment bought for the equivalent of $200 from the government – then he takes him to an electrical shop, with nearly bare shelves. As consumerism is discouraged in Cuba, the government taxes goods, resulting in a television costing more than Juan’s apartment and some things taken for granted in Britain, like toasters, being almost impossible to obtain.
Trevor’s shopping trip with Juan, as he picks up his monthly food rations, is a world apart from a supermarket run in the UK. Trevor watches in amazement as the Cuban reporter gets rice and grains and even cigarettes and matches at a subsidised rate – his whole monthly shop costs the equivalent of just $2.
At the cigar factory, Trevor follows workers as they collect the tobacco and roll the leaves, producing three million cigars a year by hand that sell for up to £30 each in the west – more than the workers earn in a single month.
The atmosphere in the factory is buzzing as the workers chat and smoke but Trevor is astonished to see them all stop and stand in silence as the national anthem is played before the daily newspaper is read out to them.
And Trevor faces a test to his resolve when he is offered a freshly made cigar – something he gave up smoking 25 years ago.
As he leaves Cuba, Trevor says: “I wonder whether the era of a new American president will bring meaningful change to Cuba. I felt the place evokes in the visitor a real feeling of old world romance. People I met are anxious to embrace change but it seemed to me only on their own terms.”
Trevor’s stops off at the British Virgin Islands, a paradise far removed from his Cuban experience: “They are a little bit of Britain in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. The Queen is still sovereign in these parts and it’s easy to see why Britain is keen to keep an influence. The natural beauty, combined with generous tax breaks, makes these islands a magnet for some of Britain’s richest people.”
Thirty years ago Richard Branson bought Necker Island for £60,000 when it was completely barren. He has now developed it into a luxury residence which employs 70 people.
Trevor takes a look around Necker and meets some of the guests who have splashed out and flown in from New York for a three night mini-break. And Richard invites him into the office where he runs his multi-billion pound empire – a hammock over-looking the ocean.
Richard tells the programme: “We’ve had an offer in excess of £200m, but it’s priceless, we’d never sell it, it’s one of those things which is absolutely priceless. It’s a nice position to be in, I’m lucky, I am spoilt, I accept that and I pinch myself every morning.”
Trevor also rolls up his trousers and wades to the shore for a sneak preview of Richard’s latest purchase, Mosquito Island, which he plans to transform into an eco-friendly retreat with its own water and power supplies.
Finally, Trevor goes back to his roots in Trinidad, where the memories come flooding back as he takes in the annual carnival. The island, one of the richest in the Caribbean after an oil boom, gained independence in 1962 but has always retained a robust sense of its own identity, which is particularly evident on carnival day.
The numerous bands which make up the carnival each have a historical or social theme and Trevor watches as they parade through the streets in their colourful costumes, playing music and singing all through the day and late into the night.
Carnival dancers can be on their feet for up to 15 hours at a time and Trevor meets some of troupe as they show him their elaborate feathered and shiny costumes, some of which cost up to £1000. He joins in with the spirit of things, donning one of the outlandish outfits.
Steel drums are synonymous with the rhythm of the annual celebrations. He meets the man who makes the carefully crafted instruments, sold all over the world, which Trevor refers to as the ‘heartbeat’ of the carnival.
Trevor says: “Watching the festival this year brought back for me a flood of warm memories. For two days Trinidadians put all their problems behind them and lose themselves with abandon in a riot of noise and colour.
“They know there will be a more sober tomorrow but that simply means 364 days till the next carnival.”
Sunday, 28 June 2009, 8:00PM – 9:00PM
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Well, Im just glad that big advert has gone from the top of
the page….I couldnt see what to click on it was so big!
Please everyone, this programme did every Island a disservice, do not rant against and pull each other down.
Basically , it portrayed racist stereotypes of the RICH WHITE MAN versus the HAPPY DANCING, POVERTY STRICKEN, VIOLENT BLACKS. (or even Negros)
Remember the term DIVIDE & RULE.
Who did the editing, filming, overall production. Not Trevor McD, he is just a face, he had not been to Trinidad in 20years, let alone the Caribbean.
Best course of action is to complain as previously mentioned, to
viewerservices@itv.com tell your friends and family, but please STOP, throwing words of hate and comparison, trying to bring each other down. Be sure to know your enemy.
I repeat, KNOW YOUR ENEMY, as the negatives effect all of us from the Diaspora. Some negatives are simply more subtle than others.
Peace.
Let me begin by saying to Trevor ‘what de a hell happen to you boy,you really sell out your own people,or may be I am being naive about who your people are’ I totally agree with all the negative and angry comments that have been expressed especially the ones concerning Jamaica.My problem with the programme is his lack of representation of Trinidad,my beloved country is blighted by an overtly racist government which does nothing about the kidnappings and murders of mainly Indians by other race groups in the country,this is no longer the peaceful carnival loving country that you presented it as. By the way Trevor, you look like a complete jackass in the carnival costume,but then again we know what kind of master you are still grovelling. Take your knighthood and s……………..
I just wrote to ITV and Ofcom. Thought I’d share:
I would like to complain about the Secret Caribbean series, in particular the totally unrepresentative portrayal of Jamaica. What I have seen so far are rich white people and poor, drug fuelled, crime committing, black people. It seems to me you are lazily perpetuating negative stereotypes that are bordering on racist.
Whilst in no way expecting a tourist information series, I was looking forward to some honest journalism. I have been to Jamaica several times and have seen the ’secret’ side to this vibrant, beautiful, friendly Island with my own eyes.
As a result I am boycotting all ITV programs and have also advised my friends and family to do so.
In addition I have contacted Ofcom to escalate this complaint.
How are you going to address the imbalance of your reporting?
I would appreciate a response with your intended actions.
We can all bombard them! Ofcom are the people to really action our complaints though. Here’s their link: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/progs/specific/?itemid=286480
Wow.. some very strong views. I am just catching up with the show on my Sky+ and I am on Episode one. I was hoping the show would not be biased, but from the comments on here, it seems as though YET again I am going to be disappointed.
I am a member on a website where they discuss issues like this. The owners of the forum are trying to break the negative stereotype and show the islands in a positive note. They encourage members to share their positive images and experiences of the islands and not just the ghettos. You guys should take a look, I think their forum is going to be big once word spreads! If like me you are fed up of the negative portrayal, get involved and help to spread the word. Check out the site at http://www.jamaicatravelforum.com
So anyway back to the show, how ironic that it opened with Richard Branson and the makings of his Caribbean Empire. What’s with all the exclusivity? And as for Cuba, why not show more about the island? We all know it’s famous for cigars, but what about the rest of the island. This was their opportunity to show us MORE than we already know, and they failed. What about the rich history and architecture? The lives of the everyday people?
Is this show not meant to be about the SECRET Caribbean? What have they shown us so far that is secret?
Allow me to respond to the points raised by Chris Gayle in the sequences of the issues debated:
- I think you would have fail miserably if you were given the same assessment coursework for the following reasons; The focus of the series is on the Caribbean, hence the subject of analysis. Jamaica nonetheless is a variable within that analysis as do Necka Island, Cuba, Trinidad the lot. At the onset, mentions were made of Jamaica’s wealth, but, Sir McDonald unambiguously stated that he will be focusing on the problems of Jamaica. Now, if you want a debate on whether he should have, or what matrix were used to warrant a focus on the problems, well, that certainly is a point of argument and investigation. As stated, a contrasting feature on Jamaica was not the objective of this documentary. Should ITV produce a documentary on each island of the Caribbean, that may be a 12 part series, in which both negatives and positives can be shown in contract, and then allow the viewer to make their own judgement. But given that the documentary was on the whole Caribbean, variables used in the analysis would have to be selective.
- Re: Trevor and I are mentally enslaved – I honestly believed that when one accept arguments without the emotional attachment to country of origin as you have, one can come to a more objective appraisal of the findings and facts. (somehow, I got the impression the local Jamaicans wanted to be known as the gangstars fo the Caribbean – it is evident in the songs – FACT). I am liberated from mental slavery, in fact, I work quite extensively with multinational companies in helping third world countries (Not just Africa) to get a slice of the global wealth pie. But to move from your point in slavery, you need to accept that it happened at a point in time, and the descendents of the slave masters are not our enemy, but rather friends, and we can move forward with greater levels of synergies, if we work together. This programme is not about being bias, but about representing the cold hard facts. Suggestions was made that such negative portrait of Jamaica will undermine tourism….I urge you and other to get a copy of the tourist figures for Kuwait and Iraq following the gulf war. There are varied types of tourist, the documentary may have just attracted some.
- CNN world survey – it is possible that the sample may be bias, I can identify a number of ambiguities: (a) What measurement of averages were used to measure happiness? Mean, Mode or Median? They will produce different measures.. (b) What is the proportion of the sample surveyed? Was it representative of the whole population? To what extend did the CNN.com survey had access to people in the ghetto. A convenient sample of 100 persons will not yield the same statistical measure as a stratified sample of the same 100 frame.
- Re: Highest achievers – I think you will find that based on the achievers to population ratio statistically, that will be Trinidad, together with the highest level of literacy (using the measurement of over 15’s being able to read and write to an acceptable standard) in the Caribbean.
- Re – Information age: The information presented was not misrepresented. If they were, please bring to the attention of ITV with exact details of information misrepresentation. This is not a Blue Peter episode wherein information are edited in or out to create a perception of what is not true.
I would welcome a documentary feature on Jamaica, providing contracting views on the country, but you have to appreciate this documentary for its objectives and what it has originally set out to do. And as an equitable individual, there could be arguments as to why Jamaica was chosen to be the country in which the negatives of the Caribbean was highlighted – (I don’t think ITV will be in the wrong, as the summary of the programme unequivocally states: to provide stark contract among Caribbean islands, hence an Island would have had to be used to show up some elements of negativity).
Bryan….like others have said…you say a lot but miss the point. Here’s a clue…
Hidden highlights of Europe:
France: vinyards, gastronomic delights, beautiful beaches
Spain: Moorish architecture, street carnivals, distinct regional languages/customs
Germany: Arty (ex-east) Berlin, hospitality of the south, classical music
England: Crack dens of Stockwell, Prison overcrowding, homeless sleeping rough, Gary Glitter, corned beef, ….etc, etc…
DO YOU GET IT NOW?
1) Mentions were made ‘in passing’ of Jamaica’s wealth
2) I agree that the descendants of slave masters are not our enemies, but then that depends, there are some which would love to see a more subtle modern day form of slavery continue.
3) There you go again with your stereotyping, not all Jamaicans smoke weed or profess the gangster lifestyle…. Songs produced are no evidence of this assertion…after all its not in the National Anthem
4)Correction the survey was not by CNN it was reported on, the methodology you can take up, as a matter of fact your questions support my assertion of the information age.
5) Highest achievements across the board, not just academically…fastest athletes etc..i dont like to compare Jamaica with other Caribbean islands but some in the small island Caribbean Community have acted in a prejudicial way towards Jamaica so they have to be called out on that. The tensions currently within CARICOM bear testament to that fact. Seriously you sound like you are travelled..i am sure you realise people worldwide are less aware of the other islands, no disrespect just a fact.
6)Your current response is a less ignorant, a lot more measured and more objective than your initial one
7)FINALLY I INVITE MEMBERS OF THIS FORUM TO COPY THIS LINK TO AN AL JAZEERA DOCUMENTARY ON JAMAICA AND ALTHOUGH THE FOCUS IS ON JAMAICAS FOOD, THE PRESENTER GOES INTO THE HEART OF THE GHETTO AND FOCUSES BLUNTLY ON THE ISLANDS GANGSTERISM, IN A VERY REALISTIC YET MEASURED MANNER.
WATCH PARTS 1 AND 2 AT LEAST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shNjyRble0o&feature=PlayList&p=3FE5D45DFC9BDCB8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
I found it difficult to find this page to make my comment. I have made my complaint…..I do not think ITV is going to do anything……. so people please make a complaint ofcom. Please.
Listen… Trevor( not Sir)is like a Bounty chocolate.
Jamaica is the thrid lrgest in the caribbean. He disrespect every island. Although, he spoke about the beauty of the other island, he never once mentioned the local people and their wealth. He braged about the rich and famous white people. I found it very offensive and rude for a person of his standard.
If he does ot like Jamaica, he shouldnt have gone there. Jamaica has been hated by many people, even the other caribbean but when comes to these issues we have to stand together.
The people in Barbados, should start protesting for your LAND…..if you notice those things can bot happen in Jamaica because the people are very very strong mind and out spoken.
I must say that I too was horrified by the depiction of Jamaica in the program. I have lived in Jamaica for nine year’s and seen it go through many changes. It’s not all crime and violence!.It is one of the most beautiful Islands of the Caribbean which offer’s much to it’s people and tourists.
Why couldn’t Sir Trevor and his team have shown the exclusive properties situated all over Jamaica ?. Instead they used the Island once again, to show poverty, crime and drugs.
I’m sure the programs producers could have more research and shown the Secret Jamaica that all true lovers of this island know about.
I’m very sad with Sir Trevor but hope that he will reply to the viewing public on why there was the slant on Jamaica.
Bryan people are upset because of the topic of Jamaica in this context. He spoke about things that are present in Jamaica that he didn’t mention in the other islands which isn’t fair because they exist there as well. In fact they exist everywhere. And even if he was going to discuss dualities of Jamaican society at least try to have a balanced portrayal. There is a lot more to Jamaica and he failed to show that. Some people are stupid and when they watch something like this it automatically translates that Jamaica is nothing but all the violence he mentioned. Personally, It would have been better if he didn’t mention Jamaica at all because as far as i’m concerned he failed to reveal any of her secrets.
Like most comments above, I was appalled with the programs depiction of Jamaican – also of Barbados. Jamaica has alot to offer…and the program makers totally missed this opportunity. For example The University of the West Indies is based in Kingston…Kingston has some the top school in Jamaica…Jamaica has one of the only natural coral reef in the Caribbean islands. We all know that jamaica has a problem with crime – to me this was not a secret.
A message to Bryan – i can see what you’re trying to do…which is to make an intelligent conversation about what the program had to offer. To some degree i agree with you – contrast between the socio-economic groups was the brief – so in some way we were an easy target if we use limited information…However, you have to ask yourself the question – who determined that brief. Why was that brief not assigned to all the Caribbean island? it would have meant for a much fairer and balanced piece of journalism. As a bristh person of Jamaican heritage i embrass all islanders as much as I can – because in Britain we are fast becoming the forgotten population (with the expansion of EU). We need to empowering our people sending the message that ‘Out of many one People’ means that we work together to get the best from each other. this to me could have been a much better brief – as a secret of the Caribbean.
What secrets has Trevor McDonald revealed in THE SECRET CARIBBEAN?
None so far,so please tell us something we dont know Trevor.With
Your budget and resources its not asking for the moon!Drop the
stereotypes of Cuba,Trinidad etc and serve up something really
special,its all there if you really look.
The first two shows in this series were a great disappointment to me. I am still awaiting the uncovering of secrets in the Caribbean, as promised in the show’s title. For all Trevor’s trumpeting of seeing the Caribbean like we’ve never seen it before in the show’s opening titles, what was served up was biased and lazy journalism: the regurgitation of information about Cuba and its cigars; Trinidad and its carnivals; Barbados and its swathes of British tourists; Jamaica and its crime problems; white millionaires buying land and building properties; and poor locals eking out a living.
Whilst I accept that time would not permit the show to cover every diverse aspect of the islands, and that the show isn’t meant to be a tourism advert, it was meant to be an investigative and enlightening portrayal of the Caribbean. Better coverage should have been made of the locals that make up the vast majority of these islands. After all, it’s these people that are the life and soul of the Caribbean (culture, music, cuisine, art etc). Coverage should also have been given to locals who are successful in business instead of the connotation that success in the Caribbean is the preserve of white people. What would also have made the show more intriguing, thus far, would have been to feature some of the Caribbean’s lesser known islands such as Anguilla, Martinique, and St Kitts and Nevis, for example. Not everyone is aware that there are so many other islands in the Caribbean apart from the ones usually featured in holiday programmes and brochures; although I believe Montserrat is featured in the next show. It will be interesting to see how many (if any) ‘secrets’ and diverse aspects are revealed about Montserrat and the other islands they’ll feature, or whether biased and lazy journalism will persist.
I found it amusing when Trevor ridiculed David Copperfield’s geography when he described how he came to buy islands in the Bahamas. Yet even though the Bahamas was featured in these shows about the Caribbean, Trevor didn’t mention that the Bahamas isn’t geographically in the Caribbean. Trevor’s style of presenting is very dull and lacking in warmth and personality. Maybe it’s down to his years as a newscaster that his delivery is monotone and without emotion, but I have found him to be an unsuitable presenter for this type of show.
I was actually looking forward to seeing this programme, as many like this usually fail to represent a balanced view, but I was extremely disappointed, once again by the lack of research and shoddy professionalism that presented such a poorly made programme.
They totally missed an excellent opportunity to highlight some of the ’secrets’ mentioned above from people who have visited these islands and have learned to appreciate them. It is difficult not to take this personally, as I am of Jamaican descent and this is something that has been defended and discussed for such a long time both in my generation and the previous one to no avail. I feel totally let down actually, by how such a well-respected and professional journalist like Trevor MacDonald could associate himself with the making of such an unbalanced and biased programme achieving nothing but, as some have said, colonial conditioning of divide and conquer.
Are the group of young people interviewed in Jamaica aware that they were helping to support highlighting the negative aspects of Jamaica? Why did they not involve any of the governmental ministers to confirm what assistance and support is being put in place to help some of the aspects mentioned? Why do they allow people like ITV to come into Jamaica and film such a negative and derogatory programme without consent? How do the local people of Barbados feel about not being able to afford to buy land in the country they live in because it is being bought out by the rich or is so heavily priced that it will never be possible? How many positive programmes have been made recently that depicts the Caribbean in a positive light? Caribbean Uncovered, Caribbean cops, Kingston ER and now this programme? In order to achieve the objective of the programme, most of the features mentioned about Jamaica should not have been filmed, it doesn’t make sense! Are we not aware that Jamaica is considered to be a drug in-fuelled island where everyone smokes weed, that it is extremely violent and the crime rate is high? Was that a ’secret’ that needed to be highlighted? The researchers of the programme would have found that ’secret’ in other Caribbean islands and in fact worldwide! In fact had they completed their research thoroughly without a completely biased, lazy and ignorant approach, they would have found a number of items that could have been used as a positive contradiction to what is usually reported about Jamaica.
I RECOMMEND PERSONS WATCH THIS VIDEO, I THINK TREVOR COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO ABOUT THIS KIND OF JOURNALISM FROM THIS AL JAZEERA PRESENTER……..IT IS A KIND OF SIMILAR THING TO WHAT TREVOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO DO….
ITS A FEATURE ON JAMAICAS FOOD… YET CAPTURED SO MUCH CONTRAST OF LIFE ON THE ISLAND INCLUDING CRIME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shNjyRble0o&feature=PlayList&p=3FE5D45DFC9BDCB8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
Disappointed
Published: Wednesday | July 8, 2009
The Editor, Sir:
Sir Trevor McDonald is one of those who is easily fooled and misled by fame. He perhaps sees himself as not from the Caribbean.
I am from Trinidad and we have a lot to give Jamaica thanks for. Jamaica was the place that gave us our standing in the world and many Caribbean islands look to Jamaica for leadership on many issues.
Sir Trevor is a let-down to us all.
I am, etc.,
Michael Musgrave
academiaplus@yahoo.com
How dare him!
Published: Wednesday | July 8, 2009
The Editor, Sir:
As a person of Jamaican heritage living in England, I am very, very angry, but more disappointed that a so-called celebrated journalist as Sir Trevor McDonald was allowed into Jamaica to give such a negative and unbalanced view of the country.
‘A haven for drug pushers and con artists’. How dare him! Is this why he visited a prison, to confirm drug-pushing in Jamaica? Or why else, when there was so much more of the island he could have shown. Visitors from all over the world appreciate Jamaica for what it is: its beautiful scenery, its architecture and, most important, its friendly, industrious, hard-working people. Sure, there are areas of deprivation and violence in Jamaica, as there is in most countries, including Britain!
Show me a country where there isn’t some deprivation and violence, but this is never the be-all and end-all of a country, nor is it of Jamaica.
Sir Trevor McDonald painted a rosy picture of all the other islands he visited, particularly Barbados (Little England). Perhaps this tells us something about Sir Trevor’s mindset. It will take more than Sir Trevor Mc Donald’s bird’s-eye view of Jamaica to mar the reputation of the beautiful island.
I am, etc.,
R. Taylor
rubyrt @hotmail.com
Edmonton, London
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Leave Sir Trevor alone. I am sure that he considers himself a honorary white man. He has to work to keep that by dishing out dirt on the people from whom he came. Just leane him to the British National Party
Although titled “secret” this show hosted by Sir Trevor is a let down to the Caribbean islands and people. More like advertising for David Copperfield’s island holidays for the rich. Cuba was anything but secret…cigars,music they are known, more on the education and health service would have been better.
Disappointing ITV.
I wonder why everybody is getting all het up about the Jamaican documentary. Is the stuff true or not? When the promotion videos show the sanitized resorts areas and neglect to mention the squatter population, do we ever shout “BIASED”? A third of Jamaicans live as squatters and the minimum wage is 50 American dollars per week on an island where most food items are imported. Many of these communities sometimes have neither proper sanitation nor constant running water, and with the dire poverty, illiteracy and neglect, resentment breeds and forments the kind of criminal activity we find has become a way of life. The residents have no means of venting their despair, so the first foreign journalist who comes into their neighborhood will find them willing to pour out their hearts and their pain.
Those who can afford to insulate themselves from the reality of the riff-raff fortify their residences with security and gadgets to keep themselves safe. What happens to those in the ghettos does not concern them. Only if the violence rears its head in their neighborhood will anyone hear a peep out of them.
Is the documentary representative of what Jamaica has become?
I think the programme on Jamaica did not reveal any “hidden secrets” about the island.Everyone knows Jamaica has problems, which they are dealing with.
There is so many positive things going on, why focus on negative things?
There is far more to Jamaica than Ghettos.
Jamaicans are innovative ang extremely talented people focus on that for a change.
When you hear negitive things you will start believing it!!!!!!!.Jamaican is not all about drugs and poverty. Be more open minded and positive.There is no jusification for dwelling on the worst things in life.Why did they not go and speak to the athlthes there that are from the Ghettos.They are turning their life around by using there talents, instead they visted prisons!!!!!!!!!!.Jamaica is glorious and unique.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME was TO REVEAL THE SECRETS OF THE CARIBBEAN. The social condition of Jamaica i.e., crime, poverty etc., are no secrets. For decades the BBC and other aspects of the British media have put the ills of Jamaica before the eyes of the world. Mr Mcdonald proposed to reveal the secrets of the Islands but as far as Jamaica is concerned the Journalist FAILED TO MEET THE programme’s OBJECTIVE: NO SECRETS WERE REVEALLED. Or did he say Jamaica will be an exception, because that was certainly the case. He revealed unknown wonders and beauty about all the islands including the Island of his birth Trinidad. I am all for this positive portrayal of the caribbean. I adore all the Islands and I love my fellow caribbeans but jamaica is not all bad the Island has ENORMOUS BEAUTY and mysteries which are not all dark. If there is a secret about Trinidad, the Island of Mr McDonald birth, which he did not reveal, is the growing crime rate on the Island, especially the level of kidnapping. One section of the population is suffering from this appalling crime, it could be called racial hatred but no such word as crime was mentioned when the Journalist touched down in Trinidad. He mentioned the wealth of the island and he gave the impression that it was a racial melting pot. On the other hand, he used negative term such as ‘dark side’ to describe this beautiful and most interesting land of the region and he claimed that gangs control the market which is totally untrue. THAT IS WHY THE PROGRAMME CAN BE DESCRIBED AS BIASED, UNFAIR & UNPROFESSIONAL.
Blue Mountain coffee has been known around the world before I was born but even this one tiny bit of positive knowledge (no secret) Sir Trevor managed to portray in a negative light.
AGAIN I RECOMMEND EVERYBODY WATCH THIS VIDEO IT IS A GOOD PIECE OF JOURNALISM…TREVORS PROGRAMME SHOULD HAVE HAD A SIMILAR SLANT FOR ALL THE ISLANDS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shNjyRble0o&feature=PlayList&p=3FE5D45DFC9BDCB8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
I appalled and disgusted with the way Trevor McDonald portray Jamaica in such a negative light. Our athletes performed brellantly at the last Olympic games, but no mention of that,our music and beautiful resorts, only negatives. Jamaica relys on its tourism for servival yet he did was to highlight the gettho areas of Down Town Kingston . How dear this man do this to us Jamaicans. I have work colleagues who have never been to Jamaica come up and ask me about this and say that they would never go there.This man has forgotten where he comes from.
This show was not adequately researched and shows deep seated and unjust bias against the Jamaican people. It certainly tried to entrench a negative and uneducated stereotype of Jamaica, that foreigners like McDonald hold about the islands people. Like, any other country, Jamaica has its fair share of problems. Sensationalist views like those expressed by McDonald continue to set the country back and make the job of the many hardworking nation builders more ghastly. I am disappointed that McDonald has joined the army of Journalists who will write any garbage just for a dollar (Jamaican dollar at that). The documentary was pure trash.
Can anyone who has been or lived in J.A please show me, email me, some how let me know what a gunman looks like, because I’ve been visting Jamaica now for over 25 years and still have not seen any. Please! please! contact me and let me know what they look like, when you see one.
Hey bryan shut the the @#*…. up man!
Trevor what the @#*…. are you taking man!
It shows how little these people know about Jamaica and the Jamaican people.
They are fixated with NEGATIVITY.
Negativity will lead you nowhere.Jamaican are very progressive people.
No need “trashing” Jamaicans because Jamaicans always “SHINE” and amaze the world with their various talents.
Trevor has rubbished or beautiful Caribbean Islands. Trevor has his own interests and preoccupation at the expense of his own ethnicity. If he knew he could not have respected the Caribbean he should have left us well alone or called his programme ‘find all the white having the best in our Islands’ We have spoken to so many people both born here and in the Caribbean He disgust us all of us. Complete Sell Out as white as his hair. He is a very sad mad
What a big big let down. I was waiting to see this series but was soo soo disappointed. All I seem to see in this programme was Trevor talking to the rich white people who migrated there and not the local Caribbean people. You can go anywhere in the world and talk to rich white people but where else can you go to talk to rich/ caribbean people but the caribbean???? This programme has totally missed the point. What was the secret in the programme? I am still waiting to find out. I cant believe Trevor was born in the Caribbean.
Trevor you should be ashamed of yourself. Jamaica is one of the most beautiful places on this planet. It is a country that is very blessed by the many christians that live there and the wonderful jobs they are doing to build their comunities. Jamaica has the most churches per square mile in the world. Why did you not visit some of the natural beauties such as the caves, mineral bath, lover’s leap etc. Jamaica was the onlyountry which was showed to have a negative influence. The Indians who live in Jamaica are not segregated from the Blacks but in your own country Trinidad there is a distinct segregation which causes alot of conflicts. Why did you not speak about this. You are a disgrace to your own race.
Well, after watching this appalling show for the 3rd week, I am now so offended by its content that I have felt the need to air my view.
The SECRET of the caribbean _ Thanks Trev… What have I learned so far?? The real secret seems to be that Caucasian Descendents are actually the OWNERS/PROPRIETORS of the Caribbean. The indigenous folk of the Caribbean are actually the UNDERDOGS/UNDERCLASS and by the looks of things both groups are seemingly extremely happy about this arrangement. I tune in weekly to find out the actual secrets and Im still waiting, away from stating the obvious _ Cuba-cigars, Trinidad-carnival, Monserrat- volcano, Jamaica- violence, there seems to be no other information. This show has FAILED to unviel any information that is not readily available to the masses, in fact the only thing I have learned is that the Caribbean and clearly some of its lost decendants(Trevor)are still heavily affected by their Colonial past.
This programme has basically led myself and quite a few others to look at the REAL man that is Mr Trevor Mcdonald and realise that he is sooo far removed from his own caribbean roots/heritage, the poor soul has lost his basic identity(if he ever had one), Im left feeling quite sad for him, he comes from one of the beautiful islands in the Caribbean and doesnt even have the memories to prove it… Sorry Trev your secret is out now!!
Thanks Trevor for a non-touristic programme. It had the ring of truth
In Jamaica they’ve got bauxite mines. Alleged problems with pollution from these. That would have been more interesting than coffee producers.
I can’t believe Trevor can watch this programe and feel proud about it. I honestly thinks he’s been stitched up my the editors.
Maybe the editors:
Cut the good bits about Jamaica
Accidentally forget to put in the black people interviews, especialy in Barbados where not ONE black person was sighted
The question is who the hell would go out and buy the DVD? Surely not one black person would expect Bryan
firstly i am a zimbabwean. Let me stress i am not a supporter of mugabe. I have sadly not yet visited the wonderous caribbean. Up until this documentary. I was of the mistaken impression that african people had created a home for themselves on these islands established a place where they could be free to be themselves, in spite of how they got there. Alas! The secret revealed is that the caribbean is in many ways still like south africa. Barbados= western cape = rich white people living a life of luxury playing polo, rich colonial capitalists like branson buying up entire islands and boasting about how its making him richer. Sad? Yes but true. Jamaica, according to sir macdonald is akin to one big hillbrow, the vice and hard crime district of joburg south africa. Nothing nice to say about a predominantly civil and christian society, except the fact that there is a bliss point up in the hills where a white man courageously cultivates rare coffee, for export of course. I was most ashamed and offended by the treatment and demeanor of the character presented as hitler. I had absolutly no idea black people are still patronised in this depracating manner in that part of the world in this century. All hail sir t. Thank you for only interviewing rich white people and letting people like me see who really runs tings over der. Maybe you should hue called this the pirates of the caribbean!
Come join the forum and share your views on this appalling piece of TV. I am at a loss for words. All the islands were shown in a negative stereotypical way, and I can’t believe “Trev” (he’s no sir to me!)actually put his name to this tripe.
He made the remark that security were patrolling the streets with guns. They were Police Trev, not security. I take it you have not stepped out of Gatwick Airport in the last two years eh? Did your private car whisk you away via some special exit so you could not see all the police at Gatwick with even bigger guns?
http://www.jamaicatravelforum.com/forum/the-secret-caribbean-with-trevor-mcdonald-t863.html
@JC – Yes the Bauxite mining has devastated parts of the country. They could have used this opportunity to show the world the appalling effects this has had on the country, and hopefully get some environmentalists on the case. If they wanted to show contrasting “Secrets” they could have shown that, as well as some of the very successful businesses run by black people.
This show made it look as though the only people running and reaping the benefits of the islands were rich white folk from overseas. They showed nothing of the modern bustling city of Kingston, where educated professionals got to work. Instead they chose to focus on a market that is “allegedly” controlled by gangs.
And where were all the Black people in Barbados? Do they not have any there? I don’t recall even seeing one in the background!!!!!!!!
I am disgusted.
http://www.jamaicatravelforum.com/forum/the-secret-caribbean-with-trevor-mcdonald-t863.html
Drop the race card you guys its soooo booring. I don’t see you moaning and groaning when all the millionaires are blinged up at the MOBO awards and MTV parties… half these stars have massive mansions next to white, chinese, african and europeans all over the world. If you want to get rich, start working at it. If you can interview better than Trevor get on and do it… just give everyone a break and stop creating more race topics thus stirring up more trouble. Its time for the world to move on….. and get on.
To “Chill Out”, you have totally missed the point. The programme failed to deliver any secrets and failed to give airtime to some of the vast majority of islanders. What’s the connection between the MOBO’s and Secrets of the Caribbean? You’ve used bizarre analogy and reasoning in your argument. You seem to think the criticism about this show is due to jealousy – how wrong can a person be? You simplified your argument so you could understand it. Also, we live in a democracy and are free to criticise whatever and whomsoever we choose, just as you have chosen to criticise in your posting. Chris Gayle provided a YouTube link showing how an unbiased and much more balanced piece of journalism on a Caribbean island can be done. Trevor and the Secret Caribbean programme makers could learn a lot from it. Maybe the world would get on if we didn’t have biased unbalanced journalism. Exposing it whenever it rears its head can only be a good thing.
Please, lets not squabble amongst each other about islands, we are all children of those who were born in the West Indies. United we stand, divided we fall ….
Our defence should be directed at Trevor Mc Donald and the producers of the programme.
• There appears to be a common pattern of promoting the businesses and life style of the ‘whites’ none of whom where born on the islands.
• The section on Richard Branson was almost like a commercial for ‘HIS islands’.
• The one black man that was presented as having what was a thriving business was show with what was left of it buried under ash!
• White Plantation owner, american chocolate maker, English aristocrat . . . all living on islands where the indigenous population seem to be secondary to Trevor McDonald.
I, was not impressed!
Are you telling me it was not possible to find educated, articulate, wealthy, sucessful, LOCAL PEOPLE with worthwhile “SECRETS”?????
I’m not sure what the purpose of this programme is, as all it has served to do thus far for those who do not know these islands is send out negative, dated stereotypes.
I suggest you use really people to visit these island for your next venture, for unlike Trevor McDonald we would not be beholden to anyone to give a positive representation of the GOOD THAT IS!!!
I have sent them my views!
PS. To Chris Gale – I found the updated take on the ‘coconut/bounty” funny!!
Trevor,
I believe even you must agree, the above commentaries have said it all!
I trust you will not be returning to the caribbean sometime soon, since you obviously possess no love or natural affinity for the region you left behind all those years ago. What’s certain is – we were left in no doubt, nothing new has been learnt in all that time – And the only secret that was revealed was this – how rootless and rudderless you’ve allowed yourself to become.
Leisa & Miss Smithson thank you for details of ITV’s complaints procedure. Here is my complaint.
I would like to make a formal complaint about your programme; the secret caribbean. Firstly the misleading title. What is so secret about the profound colonial legacy which allows the levels of exploitation and obscene wealth to continue in the caribbean as depicted by Trevor’s Secret Caribbean. The programme reinforced negative stereotypes of black people which unfortunately still in England and create the racial tensions which are prevalent in our society today. Black people were portrayed only as happy dancing people, dependent on working for white people, living in the ghettos or criminals. The white people on the other hand; rich, happy, positive, self employed and successful amassing huge amounts of wealth. Where was the balanced reporting? This offensive biased negative reporting has in my opinion set race relations in England back years. The programme was negative to all caribbean islands shown but especially offensive, negative and biased against Jamaica.
I would appreciate you confirmation of receipt of my complaint and details of your complaints procedure.
Note to people in this forum
I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised at Trevor’s role in this offensive reporting of our beautiful caribbean islands and negative portrayal of black people. He was more than happy to accept his OBE, (Order of the British Empire) in 1992. Poet Benjamin Zephaniah will always be my hero for publicly regecting his OBE saying reminded him of “thousands of years of brutality” and “how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised”.
BRYAN – It is clear that you ar an academic you have no common sense, nor the ability to rationally compare statistics to real life situations. This is the problem academics have they live in a bubble adn struggle in the real world. Your not no born and bred West Indian, granted you may hae been born there but you lost you mind and culture in transition in becoming a citizen of whichevr counrty you moved to. You come cross to me as someone with mild knowledge trying to make himself sound like a big highly educated individual in this forum. Understand this Bryan no one cares about your opinon or what you have to say, now leave this forum for everyones sake.
CHILL OUT – You are another clueless human being with no depth or general regard about anything it is easy to see that you are the kind of person that lacks passion in their life and merely live as a mr average throughout your life.
OFCOM is a great place to start as they regulate the TV shows and Keep the comlpints up guys and girls!
Hi Guys… I do not think ITV is doing anything to ressolve the issue. Do You?
After watch ing yesterday programme I must say that Trevor and producer depicts, the caribbean to be Run BY White.
Please send your complaints to OFCOM and if you are on facebook please join this group to stop Trevor.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=780318592&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=101145732105&ref=ts
Trevor McDonald should be ashamed of himself. As many people said there was nothing secret he mentioned about Jamaica. We all know the problems there and so he should have mentioned that the Jamaican government was tackling it and showed the majority or Jamaica which is truely splendid. He needs to look in his own backgarden first. I would feel 10 times safer walking in Kingston than i would in Trinidad because at least i know what to expect. Trinidan is already an extremely violent place, I hear of rape, kidnapping, robbery and so on, on a very large scale but he forgot to mention this secret about Trinidad.
As for Barbados, the people need to claim back their land from the white people and the Bajan government should stop being greedy and look out for their own.
I think Sir Trevs next series should be called The Secret Britain.
It should feature 5 non-British footballers who own large homes in prime areas, Morris Dancers, poor white folks living in Council Estates and caravans, inmates of Liverpool prison, and various victims of racial violence across the British isles.
I wish to express my disappointment at this series. Not a single black entrepreneur was shown throughout the series. Not a single black person was inteviewed during his trip to Barbados and the way Jamaica was portrayed was absolutely shocking and stereotypical. Having travelled throughout the Caribbean and having a passion for the region I was deeply disappointed. If Mr McDonald felt the need to show the most negative aspects of Caribbean life he needed to look no further than his native Trinidad & Tobago. I dont know how long ago the programme was filmed but based on the No. of murders committed in TNT so far this year that country’s per capita murder rate has surpassed that of Jamaica. Sadly, St Kitts & Nevis also has a per capita murder rate which is higher than Jamaica’s. TnT is also the kidnapping capital of the Caribbean! Lets not forget that Jamaica remains by far the most visited Island in the English speaking Caribbean All the islands of the Caribbean are beautiful and have a lot of positives and some negatives. Lets have a more balanced programme in future and shame on Mr McDonald for not looking beyond the stereotypes.
Mark where were you a couple of weeks ago? Well you know the saying
‘better late than never.’
As you can see from the responses to Secret of the Caribbean,
Mr Sir Trevor McDonald may have had the biggest backLASHING of his career.
The Jamaican descendants and quite a number of their conscious cousins
from various islands and visitors… let Sir Trevor and the programme
makers know how very verrry little they thought of their Secret Caribbean.
Only a tiny few trrried to defend the show. Last week the show was blasted
in the Voice & The Gleaner by the Jamaican High Commisioner and the Head of other organisations.
Lyndsey Weathrall at ITN claim that the program was fair and balance.
See Chris Gayle’s recommendation.
I have just received a response to my complaint to OFCOM about the bias, negative stereotyping of black people and the particularly offensive portrayal of Jamaica in the Secret Caribbean. They did not uphold my complaint as they state that the control over the choice of people used or interviewed lies with ITV and in that sense they have not breached the requirements of the Broadcasting Code. They also state that the programme was a ‘personal view by Trevor McDonald. Notwithstanding they did acknowledge the points I made about; ‘the harmful misleading nature of this programme and that the ‘programme showed a lack of balance relating to Jamaica and the people of the Caribbean generally’. Not the response I would have liked but like the majority of conscious well informed people who have aired their views on this website I shall continue to challenge unfair and harmful misrepresentations of black people by the media.