Finga mus sey look yah...

Amina Blackwood Meeks, Contributor

THOSE WHO do not learn to regulate themselves are bound to be regulated by others, eventually. This seems to me to be the central lesson of the refusal of yet another Caribbean territory to allow a Jamaican singer to grace its stage.

Cayman has followed fast on the heels of Barbados to let it be known that certain Jamaican performers are simply not welcomed, with one important difference in the approach. The relevant authorities in Cayman asked for certain guarantees. The nature of the guarantees was a reflection of the fact that, in their view, some of our performers cannot be trusted to conduct themselves in a way which demonstrates that they have any understanding of the connection between a certain code of conduct and personal growth, especially in young people, and social cohesion.

What a shame that any artiste should have to be scrutinised for basic good conduct. What a shame that any of our own had to dance abroad in what my mother would describe as "de same dutty siddung" because those who watched him dance a yard failed to say "shame on you". What a way to learn that other people expect more of us than we expect of ourselves and that the size or speed of our local star is no guarantee that other galaxies will open to grant us passage.

What a way to be reminded that we need to arrive at an understanding of what is an acceptable standard in everything that we undertake. Further, we need to understand that such a standard has to be established and maintained with due regard to what others around us consider to be in the best interest of the continued positive development of the majority of persons in the communities in which we live and operate.

It was particularly disturbing to me to learn that the artiste in question could not guarantee that he could not be persuaded by members of the audience to pull certain items from his repertoire. I struggle to be fair. Maybe I should grant him something for standing his ground on that which he has created and apparently, holds dear. But I depart from him completely on whom should be held accountable for his inability to refrain from certain renditions. Not his failure for contemplating the implications of his own actions, but the audience who, standing in place of the devil, would have pushed him into the fire, so to speak.

The importance of self-regulation was central to the rally organised by Women Working for Transformation, under the theme "Jamaica, it's clean up time" and held in Mandela Park in Halfway Tree on May 13, 2000. The rally demonstrated that there is hardly a problem that this country has at this point in time which cannot be traced to a failure of each individual to take personal responsibility. It hardly matters whether the problem is discourtesy on the roads or failure to maintain the roads in good condition. It includes poor parenting as much as it includes poor student behaviour in the classroom. It includes the fact that many persons delight in hearing unedifying lyrics as well as the fact that some performers claim that they have to give the fans what they want.

What does it have to take for each of us to refuse to continue to dance to the tune of "someone else made me do it"? Which of us will refuse right now to be the next person caught tailgating the next ambulance with the siren blaring? Which of us will no longer be caught throwing garbage from the window of the vehicle in which we find ourselves? Which of us will be the next person to stop making excuses for the non-performance of people in public office because once upon a time they did us a favour? Who in public office will refuse to continue to grant favours on which the loyalty of others can be manipulated and simply live up to the responsibilities of their offices?

If it is time to clean up Jamaica, the time has to be everytime we find ourselves pointing a finger at somebody else for the actions and decisions which we take. The time has to be the next time we lament what Jamaica has become and wonder what it will take or us to get back to a place where no one ever has to quiz us about our understanding of good social conduct.

Amina Blackwood Meeks is a communications specialist.