Garth Rattray | Raise their standards, don’t lower yours

I have the kind of medical practice wherein the people who decide to trust me with their health come from all walks of life and some live in inner-city areas. Consequently, they often tell me of some of the happenings in their environment.

Many years ago, a well-known politician decided to tour his constituency, which was deep in an inner-city area. It was an unofficial, impromptu visit. During his little chit-chat with some residents, several local gunmen (sporting assault rifles) wandered upon the scene and stood stoically by, taking in the happenings. The politician was accompanied by two policemen, who took umbrage to the presence of the armed gunmen.

Both sides began arguing and weapons were drawn, they were about to exchange gunfire when other residents warned them by repeatedly shouting, “Mind unno shoot the politician! This well-known politician has never appeared to know anything about the existence of any gunmen in that community. And, to this very day, despite that close call, that politician denies any inkling of illegal guns in that community.

This politician is known for his cognitive proclivity. But he has shown himself to be aware of and tolerant of gunmen. Residents within that community relate that he has never admonished the gangsters and gunmen for their violent lifestyle. His actions represent tacit acceptance of their behaviour. He has, in fact, come down to their level, lowered his standards for the sake of votes.

SCANT REGARD

You will recall that, in a recent political meeting there was a hubbub and something that sounded like gunshots. Whoever started the altercation demonstrated scant regard (no respect) for the toponaris politicians on the stage. This occurred because too many politicians descend into the vibes of various communities in an effort to be perceived as one of them. In doing so, they hope to gain acceptance and the support of the citizens by their votes during elections.

This is akin to parents behaving like their children and expecting their children to respect them as parents – the people who are concerned with seeing to their development and future. But you can’t have it both ways. Either you are a leader, or you are being led by others. In fact, the electorate see right through that ploy and are thoroughly entertained by it. They also use it to their advantage and ‘fren up’ the politicians into buying them food and drinks, and to ‘let off’ something.

Politicians should realise that there are serious, darker, and more damaging consequences when they fail to raise the standards of the electorate and lower the standards that should be encouraged in all communities. Some politicians and their underlings intentionally allow their grass roots supporters to ignore the rules and regulations necessary to maintain law and order, safety and fairness.

Nobody seems to monitor where people capture land and build homes and businesses until tragedy looms or occurs. I recall a television news item concerning a homeowner whose house was in danger of falling into one of our major storm gullies (canals) at the height of a rainy season. He was allowed to flout the law by constructing his dwelling on the concrete bank of the ’gully’. However, the wall was being slowly but inexorably eroded. The homeowner was complaining that the government was not repairing the wall and that his house was in jeopardy.

The television interview took place in the rain, and when the camera widened its view, it revealed a huge, three-storey, concrete structure that should not have been there in the first place. But the relevant authorities only use their power on citizens residing in law abiding areas. They mostly exert their considerable might on decent citizens who try to abide by the rules.

HANDS-OFF

In far more than just a few communities, the authorities adopt a hands-off, let them be happy and contented running their own [social] show, attitude. Interference takes place whenever there are serious crimes, and interactions take place with a background of politicising. Consequently, citizens are totally free to be the architects of their own [local] social mores and judicial system. They also carry out any business in residentially zoned areas.

I know of decent, elderly people whose homes are regularly invaded by the loudest sounds that rattle windows, doors and nerves. They are bombarded by the most lewd recordings imaginable. Calls to the police have consistently been a total waste of time. It is impossible for school-age children to study and learn in such an atmosphere. Elderly and infirmed citizens are denied their Constitutional right to enjoy their home all because some politicians are determined to appease the faction of the electorate intent on transforming their communities into free-for-all places that act outside the law of the land.

That same mentality is transferred into many everyday social activities across Jamaica. It is evident in how major cities and towns have become transformed into crowded, sometimes obstructed areas where sellers of goods capture sidewalks, and dispose of garbage in the streets. It is evident in the way that some public transport, route taxis and privately-owned buses, commandeer our streets. We see the influence of how inner-city permissiveness and culture has leached out into the Jamaican society and it’s not pretty.

Only a no-nonsense administration that is determined to put aside party politics for the sake of our country can change things.

Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice, and author of ‘The Long and Short of Thick and Thin’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com