MORE THAN three years ago, in September 1998, sport achieved an historic milestone in uniting the warring communities of Tivoli Gardens and Arnett Gardens. The occasion was the opening of the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex in South St. Andrew with a combined football team from both communities playing the Reggae Boyz.
Political stalwarts, headed by both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, hailed the occasion with appropriate salutation as sweetness and light prevailed.
Last week Wednesday the teams from both communities played a crucial game in the National Premier League. This time the game was played at Up Park Camp - and without spectators. Peace had vanished, victim of the times and a precaution against spectator indiscipline.
The plague of social indiscipline has affected sport in other ways. An unusual example may have influenced last week's Olivier Shield final, or so one coach claimed. Offering an explanation as to why his Bridgeport team lost to Cornwall College, Coach Anthony Patrick blamed indiscipline. He disclosed that some players withdrew from the team because they were not given new football boots!
More serious instances of indiscipline can have negative impact on important facets of public life. The Ministry of Labour reported last week that some hotel workers have been barred from participation in the overseas employment programme because of bad behaviour.
Some of the workers at a hotel in Tennessee were stupid enough to have commented that the United States deserved what happened in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Other workers were sent home for disorderly behaviour including prostitution.
Indiscipline continues to plague the school system. Last week there was a fatal stabbing at the embattled Garvey Maceo High School in Clarendon and another stabbing at the Herbert Morrison Technical High in Montego Bay.
On the roads the Christmas season has given impetus to reckless driving by motorists who endanger themselves and pedestrians. Indeed indiscipline is no harbinger of peace and goodwill; unchecked it may cross the line into criminal behaviour.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
