Hilary Robertson -Hickling
As Jamaica celebrates its 44th anniversary as a nation on August 6, we must celebrate our achievements. Some may ask what have we achieved? As a visiting relative asserted, "This is a blessed place." It is time for individuals, families and communities to consider how they have been blessed in the last year. Not only have our athletes shone across the world, many good things have happened at school, at work and in the nation. As we mature we recognise that the transfer of power went smoothly from one Governor-General to another and one Prime Minister to another. This continues to be a country which is tolerant of dissent. Our own Mary Seacole has just been honoured by having a building at Salford University in Manchester, England. named for her. She had been identified in an online poll as the most important black Briton in history.
We have also attained enough maturity that we have to address some unpleasant truths about ourselves. There is the need to address the issues of carnality identified by so many persons, the rape, carnal abuse, and incest which are finally coming into the open. We need to take legal action but we also need to take cultural action. This is a society which was built on human trafficking although those who now call Jamaicans traffickers were once the beneficiaries. We have to address the belief systems which Melville Cooke suggests are widespread among some of our men across the social classes. Medical practitioners and nurses, guidance counsellors and teachers must play a role in unearthing the truth and taking action. The clergy must also rise to the challenge of dealing with the problems. If the Church is not a safe place, then where else is?
Battling with issues
We are battling with the issues of wages and benefits for civil servants at a time when government has demonstrated poor stewardship of the nation's finances. Cost overruns and corruption have not only further indebted the nation but also affected our reputation externally. What is the message that we are giving our children? How will we get out of this debt trap? We cannot hide behind fancy legal jargon while justice remains undone. A country with mature leaders and citizens has to admit its failings and must punish wrongdoers from all backgrounds. At present there seem to be no consequences. Our Prime Minister must exercise mature leadership at this time in our history. The old radio serial 'Portia Faces Life' is apt as it identifies the journey which she must take.
The ongoing violence has been and continues to be one of the challenges of life in Jamaica and there have been some advances but many others are required to address this issue. This is linked to the need for urban renewal and hope in the burgeoning inner-city areas across the island. New ideas and new people must get engaged in the processes of creating the new Jamaica. There are thousands of young people whose energy and creativity must be channelled into developing themselves and their communities. There are those overseas who have intellectual, social and financial resources that they wish to invest in the country.
In our region we have many of the same problems and the challenge to our maturity is how to work together.
The CARICOM Single Market is one of the greatest opportunities that we must grasp. We need to learn from each other, the mistakes and the successes are part of our development. The age 44 can being a time of transition as opposed to being a time of crisis. It all depends on how we manage it.
Hilary Robertson-Hickling is a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies, UWI, Mona.
