Ja: U.S. embassy not wanted, it's a class thing

RESIDENTS of Liguanea yesterday stepped up their protest against the planned construction of the American Embassy in the community with a silent demonstration outside the proposed site of the building on Bamboo Avenue, an upscale community in the island's capital - Kingston.

The embassy had faced similar opposition from residents when it bought the former Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manor Park, also an upscale area, and announced plans to relocate its embassy there. That planned was subsequently shelved.

Yesterday the placard-bearing residents, obviously dressed for work, stood in front of 4 Bamboo Avenue between 7:00 am and to 8:00 am, in a protest organised by the Liguanea Area Coalition of Citizens' Association.

But while the Liguanea residents were demonstrating against the planned construction of the US Embassy in their community, residents of "Stand Pipe", an inner-city community located nearby, staged a protest to support the planned construction of the US mission. They said that they would be provided with jobs on the site.

It's all perspectival.