Wendel Abel - I AM WHAT I THINK THE PATIENT gasps for another breath.
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Time: 12:01 a.m.
Place: The island of Jamaica
Status: State of psychological hopelessness and helplessness secondary to a chronic state of economic stagnation.
At the bedside are gathered the prophets of doom and gloom. Their moans and groans have become louder. They have inundated the media and the talk shows with their cries.
"The economy is about to collapse"; "Social upheaval and chaos is inevitable"; "Jamaica can't come back".
The patient gasps again. She continues to show very little sign of activity. She is haemorrhaging psychologically. She is losing hope rapidly. The virus of despair is spreading rapidly. She is plagued with lack of confidence. Pressure is mounting for her to meet the expectations all around. She cannot respond.
Where are the caregivers, the government? They are not communicating. They are in a state of denial about the state of the country and they are reluctant to admit to the true status. We are in a state of uncertainty and are being left to the mercy of rumours that abound.
The patient gasps again. Psychological despair is imminent. Immediate attention is needed. A national prescription for hope and recovery is required to prevent a state of panic.
THE NATIONAL
PRESCRIPTION
1. Jamaica needs a "perspective transformation". A perspective transformation that will not only change our current lifestyles and attitudes but also our mindset from hopelessness, stagnation and despair to that of hope, opportunity creation and a vision of growth and prosperity.
2. Our leaders need to address the psychological state of our people who are gripped in a panicky state of fear and hopelessness. They need to present the facts and address the issues honestly and become less defensive. "Without vision the people perish". They need to lead us in creating this collective vision of hope, recovery and prosperity. It is time this government wakes up and delivers a marshall plan to re-inspire, to galvanise the collective will and to motivate our people. The country is languishing psychologically.
3. This perspective transformation should allow us to re-evaluate our morals as a society and recreate values and attitudes that are built on honesty, respect for truth and respect for our fellowmen. This not only applies to our politicians but to all of us.
This transformation will lead our
businessmen to offer quality service,
pay taxes and statutory deductions that they have collected. This transformation will result in us treating our employees better and paying them better. This
transformation will make every worker more committed to giving an honest day's labour. This perspective transformation includes a re-evaluation of our lifestyles. It is often said that, as a people, we have champagne taste on beer pockets. We need to change the culture of conspicuous, competitive consumption to one that is built on hard work, thriftiness and
frugality. We have always resisted attempts to curtail this lifestyle.
3. We need to decide collectively what it is to be a Jamaican and our educational system needs to take the lead on this
perspective transformation. Every Jamaican should be committed to a core set of values, should have acquired some basic concepts of citizenship which involves love and respect for country and its national symbols. Greater attempts must be made to make this a more inclusive society, far too many of our people are locked out of the opportunity structure.
This perspective transformation must include all stakeholders in the society,
the church, service clubs, civil society, professional organisations every citizen. We need to recommit ourselves to this country, to transforming this society and to recreating hope and prosperity. If
every day we beat upon ourselves and
we criticise ourselves destructively then very soon our self esteem will be lost and we will begin to feel worthless. This is also true of the national psyche.
As a country, we need to recommit
ourselves to the common good. We need to come forward "and ask not what our country can do for us but what we can do for our country." God bless Jamaica.
Dr. Wendel Abel is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer, University of the West Indies.
