KINGSTON, Jamaica�As businessman Robert Dabboud sat in a Hilton Hotel banquet room, he was struck by words spoken by the leader of the Nation of Islam March 21, during a dinner hosted by Imam Douglas Owen-Ali, ambassador for peace from the Universal Islamic Center of America.

"There�s a strength when he talks," said Mr. Dabboud, a former journalist. Min. Louis Farrakhan urging Jamaica to take responsibility for itself is good, he said. It is the same message against disenfranchisement and colonialism that Marcus Garvey brought, Mr. Dabboud said.

"There�s a different political scene now internationally. But poor countries, like Jamaica, have suffered from globalization and are searching to find their way," he added.

Ama, a member of the Jamaica Association of Female Artists, was inspired following a meeting with Min. Farrakhan, where Jamaican women expressed their concerns. "Being here with him really encouraged me to go out and do what I have to do for my people," said the dub poet, who performed at the National Arena before the Minister spoke.

Joy Dixon, affectionately known as Mama Joy and another member of the Jamaica Association of Female Artists, said the Minister empowered the women, who were particularly concerned about violence and advancement.

"The third day of the year, we had seven people killed and five of them were women," she recalled. "It has to hit us hard, as women, when we see we�re not being respected in that role anymore," said Ms. Dixon.

Min. Farrakhan represents strength and a unifying point for Black people, according to Damali Robertson, 29, who was preparing for a return to the United States. When he is around, people come together and listen to him, she observed.

"Anywhere he is in Jamaica, I would be there because he impacted my life and I think for each person here, he has done the same thing. He loves Black people," said Ms. Robertson.

The Minister always give us good and great messages, said Christopher Brown, who came to the National Arena March 24 for the public meeting. He became acquainted with Min. Farrakhan while incarcerated for eight years in America and credits Min. Farrakhan with changing his life. He is also glad that Min. Andrew Muhammad is working for the Nation of Islam in Kingston.

"The violence down here, the political tribalism, the corruption and stuff, we need to teach these brothers down here how to love themselves," he said. "A lot of the people down here, they don�t love themselves�that�s why we have so much killing and violence down here," said Mr. Brown, holding his son Christopher, Jr., close.

Min Farrakhan is a man of truth and asks you to accept the truth, without a demand for religious conversion, Mr. Brown said. The Nation of Islam also offers an attractive way of life, he added.

Forty-two-year-old Arthur Robinson attended the Minister�s 1996 speech at the National Arena.

As Mr. Robinson walked away with a free audiocassette of the Min. Farrakhan�s March 24 address, he talked about how the preaching gave him a higher way of thinking about himself. The preaching is more Afrocentric�love yourself, think for self, be yourself�it is an inspiring message, Mr. Robinson said.

"A lot of times people preach and they pinpoint, telling you that this religion is wrong and that person is not saying what he�s supposed to say," said Mina Ann Dodd. But Min. Farrakhan didn�t do that, she noted. His words were about dealing with ones self, not speaking out against someone else or sowing seeds of disunity, said the 35-year-old woman.

The message enables him to reach and attract a broad cross section of people, particularly young men, which Ms. Dodd believes is good. Min. Farrakhan was sharing how Jamaicans should grow, not playing one side against the other, she said.

"Our prime minister and the opposition, we have never seen them fighting in public. Yet we kill each other for them. We need to focus on loving ourselves. If we loved ourselves, we wouldn�t be destroying ourselves," she said.

Hyacinth Bennett, a leader of the National Democratic Movement, applauded Min. Farrakhan for bringing truth, promoting righteousness and not getting mired in politics. Min. Farrakhan made it clear on his arrival that he was not endorsing any single political party, squelching a rumor he had come to offer political support, said Ms. Bennett, who led a delegation that met with the beloved leader.

Min. Farrakhan did what the country must do, rise above politics for the good of the nation, she said.

Leroy Rodney had seen Min. Farrakhan on his last trip to Jamaica and agreed with his words on self-determination, development and true independence.

"With our background coming out of this slavery thing, we were not being nurtured properly coming into what they say was independence," Mr. Rodney argued. "Now today, we are in a serious problem. Our minds were not trained properly with the right things to help us develop ourselves, without looking outside to other people."

Fire Alfia, a Rasta, compared the broad appeal of the Minister�s message to nectar bees collect from different plants. Spiritual maturity allows you to see the different religions are like parts of a diamond split into pieces, he said. "We love the Minister. We love his works and nothing can divide me from him, and him from we," Mr. Alfia said.