Debunking the civic 'fix it' effort

THE EDITOR, Sir:

OVER THE past few years the nation has witnessed the birth of several civic organisations which are aimed at providing critical and independent assessment, opinion and where possible offering solutions to the various social ills meted out to the vulnerable in society. Correctly so.

However, it becomes imperative that unnecessary talk does not become the defining characteristic of such groups. My concern stems from the fact that our middle class seemed to have either ostracised themselves from the nation's social problems or have decided to be oblivious to the heart-rending concerns and stresses of grassroot citizens of this country.

I voice this opinion based on the Private Sector of Jamaica's (PSOJ) decision to tour the community of Tivoli Gardens and members of the New Dawn organisation to tour inner-city communities.

I am surprised to hear business leaders state that they were unaware of the deplorable conditions in which the citizens of these communities reside. Many middle class Jamaicans, who through social mobility and the possibilities of the 1970's have attained influence, actually once lived in such communities. Many did not live in such communities but went to schools such as St. George's College and Kingston College which displayed a rigid Eurocentric/middle class cultural hegemony amidst the poverty of neighbouring communities.

I fail to understand the comment in light that the resumes of high school and tertiary graduates of those communities are filed away because of the downtown address. For many, the reality is that they remain unemployed for long periods of time and fall further along their already marginalised position in society.

The question I ask is, if such young minds are not given an opportunity to earn and expand their intellectual and skill capacity do you sincerely expect both themselves and families not to be in such deplorable condition? Unless, you expect that the drug trade will provide lucrative opportunities!

Then TVJ's news at 10 gave me another insight when members of the New Dawn organisation visited a depressed community. The obviously middle class women and the air-conditioned buses were surprises. Let me be cautious in my explanations and this is in no way a personal attack on the persons involved. But the reality is many middle class families do employ the services of domestic workers from many of these same communities. Many of these household helpers receive the bare minimum wage. Some of these persons, I am sure, are able to afford more than the minimum wage but refuse to pay. Do you realistically believe that a family can possibly live on this income, in addition to the gross embarrassment meted out to them by employers and sometimes children?

Poverty has been an age-old epidemic in Jamaica's rural and urban life. I think that the recent increased levels of concerns are being generated because for many, the repercussion of wanton social neglect evidenced by the barbaric crimes committed, are now disturbing our tranquil middle-class existence.

I am etc.,

GRACE-ANN CORNWALL

delfco@cybervale.com

Portmore

Via Go-Jamaica

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