This is Jamaica, my Jamaica

Observer column published 12 August 2019

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

We are awash with patriotism after several weeks of Independence celebrations, topped by the sparkling performance of Team Jamaica at the Pan American Games. We now know the financial status of both our Prime Minister and our Leader of the Opposition, and we have vocal private sector and civic organisations. Our stock market continues on its growth track and we are in the top ten in the world for freedom of the press. Even as we mourn the passing of Doreen Clemetson, Elaine Perkins, Ken Chaplin, Tony Young and Prof Barrie Hanchard, the tributes recounting their accomplishments remind us of our own possibilities. 

We are watching the transformation of our waterfront into a bustling commercial district by day and a relaxing entertainment spot by night. We are transfixed by theatre offerings – the 57^th Season of our National Dance Theatre Company had someone commenting after the Kumina finale, “What a performance – Rex Nettleford is smiling down!”  

We checked out the AC Marriott on Lady Musgrave Road with a visiting friend. It was packed and happy, giving off a downtown New York vibe.

We were back in Negril last weekend and discovered a well-appointed new restaurant, Matthews in an upscale shopping centre, and again visited the down-home Public House.  We didn’t venture near the seven-mile beach because Dream Weekend was in session and the traffic was heavy.  All along the palm-tree lined Norman Manley Boulevard was a mix of top hotels, villas, restaurants and countless jerk vendors.

Our challenges

But here is the problem my sisters and brothers. On our way back to Kingston, we passed three road crashes in Hanover, Trelawny and St. Ann, each one worse than the other.  The crash on the St. Ann Highway involved three vehicles, two of which were crumpled beyond repair, and there was a man lying motionless on the ground. On several occasions, we had to move to the soft shoulder to avoid oncoming over-takers. Why does this madness continue? We hear stories about corruption, about a system unable to enforce the law so that notorious taxi drivers are still on the road, terrorizing the rest of us.

Of course, we had to stop at the SOE checkpoints, the youthful soldiers and police polite and patient in the sweltering heat and wondered at the cold-hearted violence which has brought our western parishes and part of St. Catherine to this sorry pass. My morning walks with my neighbours are no more since the incidents of hold-ups near our homes.

The excellent movie ‘Sprinter’, which last week won the Award for Favorite Narrative Feature at the 2019 BlackStar Film Fest in the US, explores the issue of ‘barrel children’ whose parents migrate to provide for their families.  Why were so many families torn apart leaving children without the ritual of family life so important to their formation?

 I remember the terror in a household worker’s eyes when someone suggested that she and her family may have to move to Kingston. She, the mother of three sons said there would be nowhere safe for them; she was fearful that they would become a part of those sad inner-city statistics. Our office attendant lives in an area where she cannot return home after dark. She recounts days when she has had to dodge bullets to get to work in the mornings.

To our leaders, grant true wisdom

We are heartened that Prime Minister Andrew Holness has appealed to all politicians to cut their association with thugs. We all know what has transpired in the past with both political parties: it is an open secret whispered in hushed tones. We know.  So, let us now watch to see which politicians are still surrounding themselves with those cold-eyed gangsters. It is time, leaders, to set your people in the garrisons free. It is time to stop telling your thugs to go burn down the houses of those of another political party.

The energy that has been used to meet with those thugs, to keep citizens under siege, to stir fear in the hearts of parents for their children, could have been used to meet with decent people in constituencies, to create community centres where all could enjoy sports and social events, where young people could be trained.

My past experiences with the Social Development Commission have not been great but I see encouraging postings from one of their top executives, Omar Frith.  Operation HOPE being led by the Jamaica Defence Force and HEART-NTA are giving us renewed faith. 

The challenge for those who step up to political leadership is to set the best example to their fellow Jamaicans and to work to lift up this Nation that they swore on the Bible to lead with integrity.  There were yesterdays of shame and pain and sorrow, but our leaders can transform themselves and their followers with tomorrows of courage and dignity and joy.  They can tap into the discipline of those performers at the Gala, those hard-working farmers at Denbigh, those culinary artists on show, those beautiful children dancing and reciting, those teachers who go the extra mile, and those elders who are nurturing and schooling their grandchildren in the absence of their parents. 

Have a heart politicians – they are the ones who are funding your vehicles, your security detail, your airconditioned offices and parliamentary meetings, your trips around the world. Every time they buy a phone card, they are funding your superior way of life.  You should be serving them gratefully, with every breath that you take.