Desmond Henry TREASURE BEACH:
WHETHER YOU'VE noticed it or not, we are fast becoming a country of vultures. And I don't mean the John-Crow variety, but the human type.
As a society, we are developing and nurturing a set of citizens whose only purpose, it seems, is to wait for any form of human highway mishap and then, like common vultures, descending on rotten carcasses, pounce for social reward.
It does not matter if it's a broken-down truck or van transporting food, supplies or hardware, or a disabled car being driven by a woman or anyone else who is non-threatening looking. Chances are that a group of citizens will soon surround them for either blood or reward. I've even heard of the seriously injured in accidents being robbed of cash and personal belongings and having their vehicles vandalised, even while they languish in pain awaiting medical treatment, or for an ambulance to arrive.
Last week's picture story of citizens pillaging spilled corn at the flour mills at Rockfort, east Kingston, is the latest in this vulgar practice of social conduct which is now standard behaviour throughout the country. And it does not matter whether the police are present or not; it falls fittingly into a growing pattern of conduct without consequence, or crime without punishment. Where will it take us? I'll tell you. Unchecked, unpunished and unabated, it will take us all as low as any society can physically go. Perhaps so low indeed, that one day we'll all have to climb up just to touch bottom.
How many of you can recall either press reports or the direct witnessing of vandals and thugs taking off with someone else's goods or materials following a simple road mishap or accident? And if the accident is greater than just being simple, look out, the vehicle itself (not just the goods) might even be vulnerable.
Edible grocery supplies are the preferred kind, but also are products like cement, lumber and hardware. In fact, no product is safe even if it is utility still has to be figured out. In the eyes of vandals, all these things are judged to be free, without owners and fit for stealing. First come, first served.
This inexcusable behaviour transformed into a kind common culture, now puts everyone - resident, visitor, transient - at serious risk. It threatens not only the free mobility of our people, their goods and services, but also the security of all visitors - tourists, friends and investors.
There is no question that perpetrators take their cue from our country's weak record of rebuttal against such conduct. All the way, perpetrators have been allowed to go unpunished. Like in so many other areas of criminal behaviour, we either have allowed those committing the crimes to get away or put another way, have invited others to do the same thing. It is the classic model of trying to stop crime without inflicting punishment. A clear case of authoritative weakness aiding and abetting a pervasive form of social rascality. It is going to cost us dearly.
'MISTER TEN PER CENT'
Dawn Ritch's reference to "Mr. Ten Per Cent" in last week Sunday's column, only helps to point to the continued lament of his absence at a time when this country is desperate for someone like him.
I remember at the beginning of the late Michael Manley's second term, I had pleaded with him to invite "Mr. Ten Per Cent" to serve as a kind of ambassador-at-large for Jamaica in the fields of trade and investment development. I made the point that he was at least one millennium ahead of anyone else in Jamaica in these fields, and that he could bring to bear his great talents in the various marketplaces, even while helping others to learn the secrets of international marketing. Also very importantly, it could have started a process of cross-over political collaboration.
I thought I had sold Mr. Manley on the idea, because he promised to take it to his inner circle. I suspect they must have nixed it, cause the idea was never put in practice. In light of today's NetServ bungling, I am now convinced that we missed a hugely maturing opportunity at that time.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
To get the right answer, it sometimes helps to ask the right question.
Desmond Henry is a marketing strategist based at Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth.
