Mr. Ray Chen,

Professor Rex Nettleford,

H.E. Ambassador-designate Wayne McCook,

H.E. Canadian High Commissioner,

Leaders of the Chinese Community,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me, first of all, extend warm congratulations to Mr. Ray Chen and Periwinkle Publishers on the successful launching of the valuable book THE SHOPKEEPERS. Ray has compiled and edited this book in memory of Chinese forefathers, who went through untold hardships to come to Jamaica in 1854. The launching of this book is actually part of the commemorations of 150th anniversary of their arrival on this "land of wood and water" carried out by the Jamaican Chinese Community.

Last July, Ray asked me if I could write a forward in both Chinese and English languages for his book. And I accepted his invitation readily, for I knew it was not only trust from an individual friend, but also an honor from the Jamaican Chinese Community.

Anyone, who has the slightest knowledge about the history of the Chinese in this country, will immediately understand why Ray has named this book THE SHOPKEEPERS. In those early days, most Jamaican Chinese made a living by running grocery stores in the villages. Sir Howard Cooke, the Governor General, who is old enough to have personally witnessed Chinese shopkeepers, has told me many stories about those Chinese shops.

These shops mainly sold daily necessities and farming tools. Later, by introducing more flexible sales modes like account sale, they expanded their business, which grew in strength and gradually became the pillar of the early commerce in Jamaica. "Chinese shops" became the synonym for "credibility and convenience". The honesty and friendliness of Chinese shopkeepers is a telling evidence of the Chinese virtue of diligence, sincerity, integrity and professionalism.

Such virtue of our forefathers has guided the Chinese in Jamaica all through their path of entrepreneurship. Today we see among them the many outstanding talents in Jamaica's business, political and cultural community. The traditional virtue they have passed on serves as an enlightenment for the younger generation, which, I believe, reveals the real intention of naming the book THE SHOPKEEPERS.

Browsing such a book, whether to interested common readers or to scholars working on history of overseas Chinese, will always be a beneficial experience. I believe readers of the book can, through the many touching stories, feel the powerful pulse beating in a person, a family or even a nation. And this would be the best reward for the industrious and meaningful work of Mr. Ray Chen and his Periwinkle Publishers.

Thank you.

Prologue

The year 2004 marks the 150th anniversary of the first arrival of Chinese people in Jamaica. As an eyewitness of this historical event, I have the honour to write a few words on the publication of The Shopkeepers. As I picked up my pen, endless thoughts are surging through my mind, turning into page after page of stories of the life of the Chinese people in Jamaica.

One hundred and fifty years ago, having completed their back-breaking labour on railroad construction in Panama, our forefathers moved northeward and, after encountering tremendous difficulties, finally set foot on the land of Jamaica. Cherishing ardent hope for a better life, they worked hard and flourished on this "Land of Wood and Water" and lived in harmony with all other ethnic groups on this beautiful island. In the early days, most Jamaican Chinese made a living by running grocery stores in the village. These shops mainly sold daily necessities and farming tools. Later, by introducing more flexible sales modes like account sale, they expanded their businesses which grew in strength and gradually became the pillar of the early commerce in Jamaica. "Chinese shops" became the synonym for "credibility and convenience". The honesty and friendliness of Chinese shopkeepers is a telling evidence of the Chinese virtue of diligence, sincerity, integrity and professionalism.

Such spirit of our forefathers has guided the Chinese in Jamaica all through their entrepreneurial path. Today, we see not only the tremendous wealth they have created for this country, but also among them the many outstanding talents in Jamaica's business, political and cultural community. The traditional virtue they have passed on serves as an enlightenment for the younger generation, which, I believe, reveals the real intention of naming the book The Shopkeepers.

The same 150 years also record the history of the Chinese nation evolving from weak to strong, in which the Chinese on the motherland and over 30 million Chinese living overseas around the world both play the leading role. Therefore, when we read those soul-stirring chapters of the main stream history in the textbook, we should not forget the equally great history that the overseas Chinese created on foreign lands. The Shopkeepers is just one such useful attempt to record this part of history. Rather than being overwhelmed with strict historical verification and complex paper work, the book seeks to "reconstruct" the development history of Jamaican Chinese by telling different family stories of the individuals. Browsing such a "live" history, whether to interested common readers or to scholars working on the history of overseas Chinese, will always be beneficial experience.

As one of the first readers of this book, I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Ray Chen and the publisher, Periwinkle Publishers. Mr. Ray Chen is a Chinese photographer well known in Jamaica and in the Caribbean region. It is from his photo work that many people, including myself, gained their first impressions of this beautiful country. I believe readers of the book can, through the many touching stories, feel the powerful pulse beating in a person, a family or even a nation. And this, if so, would be the best reward for the industrious and meaningful work of Mr. Ray Chen and his Periwinkle Publishers.

Thank you!