In short, Jamaica and Jamaicans have been exposed to and nurtured in somewhat similar conditions to the slaveocratic societies of the South American countries, which have been and continue to be beset by endemic violence and socio-political and economic oppression of the havesnot by the haves.
And so is it a case of Whooi, Jamaica, what have become of you that you should sink so low, when, after 54 years of independence from Britain, your former slave and colonial master, you should have been standing tall and proud. You should be saying, look at me now, I am a nation which has been independent for half a century, and I am now a state with a government and people of whom I and you can be proud of the society we, who are 'out of many people, but have now been evolved into one', are building?
Instead, like its role model and mentor, the United States, Jamaica has, it would appear, become manifestly corrupt, with this corruption affecting the government, the police, the economy and the country's politics.
Probably the worst thing about this sad state of affairs, is that, despite the on-going attempts by the current government of Prime Minister Andrew Holness to improve the situation, it might not change to any great extent. And, even if it does so, it might not last. We have seen the battles between the People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party in the past, when the guns and ammunition came flooding in and the ganga and other drugs came flooding out, as Jamaica was co-opted to play its role in the 'triangular drug trade - South America-Jamaica-United States.
It did not happen then, so, why should anybody expect that it will happen now, when Jamaica's economy is probably in a less healthier state?
Probably not, but then, neither should that stop the government of Jamaica and Jamaicans of goodwill from continuing to prudently toil to make the country a better place for all its citizens to live in. And for 'their' police force to carry out their duties as the law intended them to do, and not for them to covertly try to use the law as cover for them to commit murderous and other criminal acts against the population.
Jamaica and Jamaicans deserve a better economic, political and social life model and reputation. They need better and less corrupt political and economic leadership, and an ethos where people are not treated because of the political party they support - willingly of by coercion - or their influence with the police and military. A society where hard work is rewarded and hustling does not have to become a survival strategy. It would also help if Jamaicans were not so attached to the American modus operandi of running their country and doing business. But evolve their own indigenous model which fits their local conditions.
This could take the nation the next 54years, but, for a nation, that would not be too great a time-scale; especially if Jamaicans are able to achieve it.
Jamaica and Jamaicans deserve a better economic, political and social life model and reputation. They need better and less corrupt political and economic leadership, and an ethos where people are not treated because of the political party they support - willingly of by coercion - or their influence with the police and military. A society where hard work is rewarded and hustling does not have to become a survival strategy. It would also help if Jamaicans were not so attached to the American modus operandi of running their country and doing business. But evolve their own indigenous model which fits their local conditions.
This could take the nation the next 54years, but, for a nation, that would not be too great a time-scale; especially if Jamaicans are able to achieve it.
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