Carlos Pipher | The power of public outcry

In any democracy the populace possesses enormous power over the government. It is very important that the citizenry is aware of the power that is in their collective voice. A public outcry and a demonstration are two different avenues to show disapproval.

In some cases, demonstrations can become violent and negatively affect law-abiding people from going about their business. It may disrupt the productive sector and the government apparatus.

Whereas a public outcry is a collective appeal from the populace, all chanting the same tune, from their homes, on social media, place of employment, in the street or just about any place. No gathering is necessary for it to be heard or seen. A demonstration usually calls for a gathering; a public outcry does not need a gathering.

The recent salary increase to the political directorate announced by the minister of finance and the public service was a shock and awe for most Jamaicans who are barely surviving from a salary that has suffered severely from inflation. Where will the money come from to pay those hefty increases, given the economic crunch that the country is in? It will come from the overburdened taxpayer.

Every employed person deserves an increase to keep up with inflation and to increase their disposable income. The political directorate are employees of the country and so rightfully deserve an increase, but not in that triple digit percentage. The parliamentarians got an exorbitant pay hike while those at the lowest end of central government and executive agencies are very unhappy with their pay increase. This imbalance will give rise to a public outcry.

The wheels of Jamaica are kept rolling by the hard work of the proletariat; they need to be properly compensated for their labour so that they can stay afloat because presently many of them are sinking because their fiscal burden is too heavy.

The proletarian class knows that they will never be rich by working for government; all they ask for is a livable wage. Most of the working class are the true patriots; they are the ones that keep the wheels of our industries turning.

BRIGHTEST MINDS

If the logic for the hefty salary increase is to attract the brightest minds to the political directorate, so that it will function more efficiently and effectively, then the same should go for the ministries and executive agencies, especially the employees who are at the lowest end of the pay scales.

The employees at the lowest end are the ones who interface with the public daily; they are the ones who people will use to determine if government systems are working properly. Give them a reasonable wage and the best minds will also be attracted to those areas of employment which will eventually raise the standards of the government workforce.

The Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Fire Brigade, customs officers, correctional officers, border protection personnel, and employees in technical areas concerned with national security all need the brightest minds within their ranks.

CRYING OUT LOUD

The working poor are crying out the loudest but are not being heard, followed by those who believe in right over wrong. Any reasonable person, even those that received the hefty salary increase, knows within their hearts that the increase is unconscionable when so many workers are disgruntled over their pay. Whenever issues or concerns are openly unfair and unjust, a public outcry will always follow suit and it can always be relied on to bring about a correction or change for a better outcome.

Mark Golding, the opposition leader, yielded to the outcry and informed the country that he will only take 20 per cent of his salary increase until the government completely settles with all sectors.

The prime minister also heeded to the outcry and made an about-turn on his increase.

Apparently, the public outcry has severely appealed to their conscience; it shows that their hearts are not made of stone. However, more rollback needs to be done to bring some form of equity. Imagine if people had grumbled only to themselves? Their voices would not be heard and the increase would seem to be accepted.

The populace has a duty to keep those that it elected in check so that they behave in a reasonable and fair manner. Let us not forget that the duty of government is to look out for the interests of the people and not to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers.

Public outcry was effective in the following concerns:

• In 2005, the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands had planned to set up a halfway house to support prisoners in their re-entry and readjustment to society. The locals were not happy with the idea because of the risks; an outcry caused the initiative to be rescinded.

• Because of a public outcry in 2022, Jamaica was forced to ban music and TV programming from the airwaves that advocate violence, drug use, scamming, and anything that glorifies criminal activity.

• In February 2023, the Government had to revisit the issue and made amendments to the child safety restraint system under the new Road Traffic Act. This was possible through relentless public outcry.

• Public outcry in August 2022 caused the National Environment and Planning Agency to announce that they will implement enforcement and legal actions under legislative framework against UC Rusal Windalco for a spill that contaminated the Rio Cobre in July 2022.

Any action by the Government or any of its agents which has the people unified against such action obviously cannot be right or in the best interest of the nation.

Public outcry is a very powerful tool to bring about a reversal in an unjust decision.

Carlos Pipher, CPP, PCI, PSP, is a security professional and is the newsletter editor for ASIS International-Jamaica Chapter. The views expressed are not those of the Jamaica Chapter. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com