A tale of two countries
Published: Sunday | December 6, 2009
Esther Tyson, Contributor
Jamaica, famous for its music and sports achievement, for Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey, for Merlene Ottey and Usain Bolt, blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, its rolling hills and verdant valleys; Jamaica, the "byword among the nations, peoples shake their heads at us," (Psalm 44:14) as we are being scorned by more and more nations because of our culture of violence and corruption.
I was speaking to a Jamaican who had visited Istanbul and she showed me a newspaper from that city, which in one day, featured two Jamaicans. On one page it showed that in one city, a statue of Bob Marley was being erected, while on another page, Usain Bolt's achievements were being praised. We were justly proud that one "lille, bitty nation like we" could have such an impact on the world, that in a city far removed from us, in a culture unlike ours, our name was being lauded.
Compare that report to what is being published daily in our newspapers: our constant downgrading on the international level because of our corruption and economic situation. Look at the fact that Costa Rica has now been added to the growing list of nations that do not welcome us with open arms any longer, but must screen and investigate us before they will allow us to enter their countries because of the violence and mayhem that Jamaicans are importing into their societies.
Not only is our propensity for lawlessness, corruption and violence affecting us here, we now are blushing with increasing shame because of our reputation abroad. When is it going to stop? When are we going to realise that we need to take drastic and draconian steps to halt this rapid slide? I had great hopes for our prime minister that he would have displayed the political will and moral fortitude necessary to implement laws and strategies necessary to clean up this country. It is not happening, however.
Why can't it happen here?
Instead, we are seeing dons running this nation. As the proverb says, " If you lie dung with dawg, yu gwine catch flea." We have heard that there were leaders in New York who took measures to bring the crime rate in that city under control. It happened there. Why can't it happen here? In Colombia, where cocaine ruled and caused mayhem, drastic steps were taken to clean up that country. Why can't it happen here?
I wish to remind us of the prime minister's commitment to clean up corruption in his inaugural speech:
"Corruption in Jamaica is much too easy, too risk-free. We are going to make it more difficult, more hazardous, with stiff penalties for violations.
We intend to:
The high level of crime must be tackled, not just at the back end where it hurts, but at the front end where it originates."
In spite of these commitments, our nation appears to be more corrupt now than two years ago, and violence increases. There is an increasing sense of hopelessness that is threatening to overtake our nation. In The Gleaner of Wednesday, December 2, I read, "Transparency International, a global anti-corruption watchdog, says Jamaica is facing the clear and present danger of succumbing to what it calls, 'state capture'." I asked myself, "What is that?"
Corruption
The article continued to explain that the term describes "a situation where powerful individuals, institutions, companies or groups within or outside a state use corruption to shape a nation's policies, legal environment and economy to benefit their own private interests". This seems to describe what has been happening in our nation. We need to realise that we can no longer expect that we can operate however we please, whenever we please, and expect the rest of the world to use our reputation gained through Marley and Bolt, among others, to cover our corruption and violence. We are suffering and we will continue to suffer for it.
As people, we need to decide which Jamaica we are going to allow to grow and develop. We are now at risk of becoming a rogue state among the nations of the world. The Government and Opposition need to come together, as the prime minister had promised in his inaugural speech, and combine their forces and influence to redeem the situation. The tribalistic approach to life that is generated in every facet of this nation needs to change in order for us to survive as a nation. This approach needs to begin at the top. The Vale Royal Talks need to continue and become even further, The Vale Royal Actions.
Businesspersons need to combine forces to undo the control of the dons who demand protection money and thereby are the ones who are calling the shots. In Jamaica, there are more churches per square mile than any other country. The Church has the position to help to effect change and stop seeing itself as having no responsibility for our present situation. We all have contributed, including the Church, either by active involvement in the corruption, or by silent acquiescence because of fear.
We need Davids in this nation to save us from the Goliath of crime, violence, lawlessness and corruption.
Mr Prime Minister, you promised us that you would have the political will to effect change. Display that political will and fortitude now for your nation's sake! Be David! Slay Goliath!
Esther Tyson is principal of Ardenne High School, St Andrew. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.
