THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH JAMAICA THAT CANNOT BE FIXED WITH WHAT IS RIGHT WITH JAMAICA

Jamaica is a small country surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. According to its geographic definition, it is located some 17 degrees north and 77 degrees west. It has a population of some 2.7 million mainly of African descent. Nevertheless East Indians, Chinese and Syrians make up a significant portion of the population as it is embodied in our motto, we are: “Out of Many, One People.” However, Jamaica has been plagued with a plethora of challenges. These include an escalating crime rate, worrying levels of teenage and unplanned pregnancies, migration, high levels of unemployment and high importation rate. Even so, I believe that “there is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed with what is right with Jamaica.”  It is with is in mind I come to the conclusion that our music, our churches, our land resources and above all the spirit of the Jamaica people can fix all the ills in our country.

Crime

Undoubtedly the biggest problem confronting Jamaica is crime. What is crime? Crime, as defined by distinguished Caribbean Sociologist Nasser Mustapha, is “any deviant act that breaks the law of the land.” Though successive governments promised and tried to combat or even tame this monster, official statistics shows that in 2005 Jamaica murder rate peaked to 58 per 100,000 persons –the highest in the region and by extension the world. Just last year Jamaica’s homicide rate edged well over a thousand.  The reality in the “land we [proclaim to] love” is that up to seven persons are murdered just about every day. Violence against homosexuals is also a call for concern. So too is organized crime and the citizens’ total disregard for the law men and the justice system illustrated in “jungle justice.”  The prevalence of crime and violence in some communities has significantly affected the social lives of citizens as many children cannot attend school while parents cannot go to work. Former Prime Minister and Attorney at Law, P.J. Patterson has described the crime situation in Jamaica as "a national challenge of unprecedented proportions."

Teenage and Unplanned Pregnancy

Another ‘wrong thing’ that faces the Jamaican society is teenage pregnancy and the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies. Racquel Reece, National Family Planning Board (NFPB) Communications Officer, was reported in the October 13, 2013 edition of The Gleaner saying that 47 percent of pregnancies in Jamaica are unplanned. Among that number, the National Family Planning Board survey has revealed that a significant 81 percent of births among teenage mothers are unplanned for. This rather disheartening revelation is further justified as in a recent survey conducted by the same organization shows that 58 percent of females aged 15 – 19 do not use a condom or any contraception during intercourse. From this one do not need an Einstein to conjure up the underlying problems that such adventurous affairs pose. Apart from the contraction of STDs, teenage and unplanned pregnancy have a tendency to perpetuate itself in the lives of its most unfortunate victims, hence, creating a cycle. Veteran journalist and well esteemed politician Lloyd B. Smith once shared the plight of a young woman in his constituency who came to him to render his assistance. As the story goes, this woman has sadly fallen prey to the generational cycle of teenage pregnancy and her cousin poverty. This young woman, only 26 years of age, was not only a mother but also a grandmother! Shocking is not it? However, one should exercise caution in thinking that this problem is unique to this family. They are many other cases of this nature that goes unmentioned and unreported across the island. According to UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) ‘The State of the World Population 2013’ “impoverished and rural girls are more likely to become pregnant than their wealthier, educated counterparts.”  Yes it is the poorest set of people from the most impoverished areas of Jamaica (especially rural) who perpetuate the cycle of teenage and unplanned pregnancies; the ones that has the least educational attainment and the least economical means to take care of the children they bring forth. These occurrences one may argue calls to one morality and values but it do affect the society. These are the same children who become beneficiaries of poverty alleviation programs such as the PATH among others and continue to be a burden to the public’s purse. Important, according to local sociologists there is also a correlation between poverty and crime caused by teenage pregnancies.

High Importation

In addition to crime, teenage and unplanned pregnancies, our high importation rate (especially as it relates to food) continue to be among the long list of ‘wrongs’ in Jamaica. In layman’s terms, we import just about everything from as small as a spoon to a car. Can you imagine Jamaica –the land of wood and water- imports bottled water? In fact, the 2012 estimates shows that imports valued an alarming JA $5.9 billion. Exports on the contrary amass only a meager JA $1.7 billion representing a trading deficit of some JA $4.2 billion. In economic terms we are therefore spending way more than we are actually earning –very similar to the many Jamaicans who continue to live above their means. Our trade deficit is also partly responsible for our depreciating Jamaican dollar.

Unemployment

Additionally, unemployment –high levels may I add – is a gruelling call for concern in Jamaica. According to STATIN just about 14.9 percent Jamaica’s labour force is unemployed. Unemployment among youths equates some 30% according to STATIN. In this island paradise many calls home comments like “nutten naah gwaan” or “nuh wuk nuh deh” are the common cries of the people especially among the youthful population. How often do you hear of businesses laying off workers as oppose to hiring fifty? If you are anywhere in Jamaica or even knowledgeable of the Jamaican reality the answer to such a question would be never. Unemployment like teenage pregnancy has linkages to crime and violence, as the old adage goes “the devil finds work for idle hands.” Unemployment in Jamaica has accounted for a worrying development as people are desperately seeking their way out of these unbearable situations. This “seeking their way out” oftentimes result in another trend –Emigration. Important, 70 percent of our university graduates seek greener pastures abroad.

Infrastructure Development 

When a popular artist went on television and quipped “we have the worst roads!” many Jamaicans went into panic questioning the artiste’s patriotism. She was politically incorrect however truthful. According to the National Works Agency (NWA) over 50% of Jamaican roads are in need of repairs. According to local pundits Jamaica’s roadways resembles craters on a moon. Playing a game of hopscotch while driving and planting banana trees in potholes attest to the deplorable conditions of our roads. Time and time again we see irate pedestrians and transport operators blocking roadways and armed with placards on television demanding “justis (or justice)”. We should note though that these unfortunate occurrences oftentimes disrupt school and business nearest to them in particular those in the resort areas. In the 2011 Visitar Opinion Survey conducted by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) many tourists cited our bad road conditions as one of the factors that spoilt their vacation. Important, tourism is one of our most rewarding investment contributing 5% to our GDP. However this figure run the risk of reduction if the road conditions are not addressed. Not to negate the existence of lack of water supply, proper sanitation facilities in schools and the poor healthcare facilities as they amount to the “wrongs” in Jamaica. Nonetheless, like all the wrong things with Jamaica crime, teenage pregnancy, high importation rate and unemployment, lack of infrastructural development can be solved. “How?” one may ask let see.

Contrary to how some would have wanted it to seem, the problems we face in Jamaica are neither unique to Jamaica nor uncorrectable. We may have problems in abundance but so do we have the solutions. What is right with our country far outweighs the wrongs that are continuous highlighted. We have several things that are aright with us.

Churches

Religion plays a pivotal role in the Jamaican society. Statistics shows that over 80 percent of the 2.7 million population are of a Christian faith. As a matter of fact, our very own National Anthem is a prayer to the Christian deity. One writer noted that in Jamaica “there is a church on every corner.” In fact, Jamaica holds the record for the most churches per square mile than any other country in the world. But how is this an asset? Furthermore, how can our churches be used to fix any of the problems we face? Thomas Robert Malthus, English economist and clergyman, gave a solution in his much acclaimed ‘An Essay on the Principle of Population’ or in Sociology the ‘Malthusian Theory.’ Malthus purported that people practice moral restraint as a means of population control growth. However we do not have a problem with population, do we? No but we can use these principles to effect teenage and unplanned pregnancies. The church as one of the pillars of society is designed to do just this. The church’s fight in the abolition of slavery is a testament that the church can effect great change in society. Our churches can achieve this primarily through their manifested evangelical function –reaching out to the vulnerable and “unsaved” and teach them to abstain. Abstaining here means withholding sex until marriage and postponing marriage until one is financially capable of support a family. Hence, limiting the chances of sexual activities among teens and young adults. Our churches can also aid in the fight against crime. Churches achieve much through indoctrination. So by teaching (and preaching) nonviolence among its members and to whom they come in contact with can and will do much.

Music

Similarly music is by far the most influential and effective tool created by man. This is especially true of reggae music. Our music was developed out of social oppression and reflects the cries of the poor people. Ian Boyne, highly acclaimed journalist and talk show host, noted in his Gleaner column that “Reggae could be claimed as a potent source of inspiration by Southern Africans struggling for liberation from apartheid…because reggae was a universal language understood by all.” Reggae in other words gave voice to the voiceless. Its rhythm and peculiar beats urge people to “lively up” themselves as “one good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” So reggae music with the significant impact it has on it listeners can effect social change in crime, teenage pregnancy and importation. If you negate consider the impact Vybz Kartel and his “Clarks” song had on the society.

Resources

There is much more to Jamaica than sand, sea and scenery. We have an abundance of arable and land minerals to redeem our country. Jamaica has the potential to produce much more than it has been doing agricultural. Our agriculture though many are involved has failed to meet its potential.   Noted agronomists have even cited that Jamaica agriculture can put an end to unemployment especially among the youthful population of Jamaica. As it relates to our bad roads, Jamaica produces over a hundred tons of gypsum every year. Recently there was a suggestion that the government should use cement to pave our roads. An excellent suggestion! By doing this we would not just fix our road but also lower our importation rate (since we would no longer use asphalt) and provide employment.

Spirit of the People

Without the shadow of a doubt our most significant and often overlooked asset is our people –Jack, Pinky Mary and Maas Joe. Yes the spirit of the Jamaican people is the most important and valued resource we possess. Just about every corners of the world there is a Jamaican achieving nothing short of spectacular. We produce the world’s top athletes and most influential artist. We are a resilient and triumphant set of people. Remembering well, we are the same people who fought our way out of slavery. Blessed with potent ability and ingenuity we achieved our independence from colonial rule and establish what was to be one the greatest nation on earth. As it relates to the wrongs in our country we have the power to overcome not just a few but all. Tessanne Chin’s The Voice victory was merely attributed to the artiste’s vocal abilities but rather a testament of what we can together achieve. Just imagine if we campaigned for the end of crime and importation of foreign products –taking to social media with #TeamNoWar or #BuyJamaicaBuildJamaica hashtags. Wouldn’t we see a reduction in our crime and importation rate? Similarly, teenage and unplanned pregnancies.

There are many things that is “wrong’ with our country. Nevertheless we have the resources, talents and attitudes to redeem our country and redeem ourselves. The church can be used to reduce teenage and unplanned pregnancy and crime. In the same breath our music can go a far way in the defeat of crime, teenage pregnancy and importation. Our natural resources can be used to and most importantly our people can join forces to improve our infrastructure, lower importation, unemployment, crime and teenage pregnancy. In conclusion, I reiterate my stance that “There is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed with what is right with Jamaica.”