Submitted by Austin
The events unfolding in Jamaica represent a truly sad day in Caribbean history. On the surface we are witnessing civil unrest on a level we usually see coming from other parts of the world, however below the surface are longstanding social, political and economic issues that have gone unanswered by Jamaican politicians.
It is no secret that the drug culture in Jamaica exist from the exit sign at Jamaica’s airports to the waters edge, and has been allowed to flourish as both police and politicians looked the other way. Now that matters have reached a boiling point here comes the cavalry and the political talking heads.
With all Jamaica has to offer to it’s vacationers, and by its entrepreneurial spirited people, there is still not enough jobs in Jamaica as a tourism oriented service economy. We in Barbados can learn from the Jamaica tourism industry model which at it’s peak is not enough to sustain the hopes and dreams of the masses.
Many Jamaicans view the drug trade as a necessary evil to survive. With that said it does not surprise me to see young men risking their lives in support of a man who has filled the social and economic opportunity gap created by government inaction. Inaction we are currently plagued with here in Barbados.
Jamaican has been plagued with the same political disregard for the average family, that we here in Barbados have been suffering from by both parties. Its only when lives are lost that politicians tend to grasp the magnitude of there failures to lead. Unfortunately Barbados is in the process of creating drug lords like those in Jamaica, if we fail to change our social and economic development course, which has been influenced and held hostage by elites with deep pockets.
Look… in societies there will always be poor people but when the balance between the “haves” and “have nots” gets out of control and stays that way year after year, election after election, a fertile ground for mass civil unrest of the likes we see in Jamaica will be created.
As I have blogged before, in Barbados we must recognize certain intentionally broken aspects of our system of government, and fix them. Second, recognize that we need to shift focus to the working family, after enough years of servicing elites. Third, lower our dependency on tourism. Fourth, end our dependence on academics for answers, because a person has a wall of degrees does not mean they can “execute” solutions needed.
We all know that politics is a dirty game, with the great attraction of power and status for those that play the game, however at some point the peoples “will” must be respected and honored. I urge all DLP and BLP politicians to take a moment of “pause” to review what service to the nation means, and ask themselves if they are living up to the meaning, with the masses in mind.
I urge all to let the sprite of reconciliation and reform replace partisanship and obstructionism in the halls of parliament…. Cause time is of the essence especially on these troubling times.
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