Letter of the Day | Let’s keep working to make Jamaica better
Published:Thursday | May 4, 2023 | 12:24 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
I have not conducted sophisticated surveys as those developed by the likes of researchers/pollsters Mark Ricketts and Donald Anderson. Instead, I have spent time listening to classmates, family, friends and colleagues, and even social media users, who willingly shared opinions and information on the good, the bad and the failures of a variety of efforts/experiences from the late 1960s to today.
Each offered limited effectiveness, (demonstrated) a failure to evolve, and suffered the fate of unsustainable support and certain expiration. All this after communicating with various individuals in Jamaica and the diaspora in Europe, Canada and the US.
I have been especially encouraged by the determination of young Ackeef Nugent, who was recently interviewed on TVJ’s Smile Jamaica morning show. Nugent is a student of my alma mater Excelsior High School.
His approach has been to simply not accept the divisive culture of garrison communities and (instead) drive it out with truth, love and a departure from hate-driven separation by location, without regard for community growth and development.
SEAMLESSLY ADJUST
I am reminded of the awesome power of the National Bird of Jamaica - the doctor bird. This majestic long-tailed creature takes the time to drink the sweet nectar of the flower without causing damage.
Its ability to adjust and manoeuvre to the best position while appearing to almost stand still in mid-air is as if it were suspended by the guarding presence of our ancestors.
This agility of the doctor bird is a paradigm and model for us and how we should approach the development and application of solutions to eradicate crime from our communities and Jamaica.
There should be a willingness to seamlessly adjust our efforts and not dwell on disappointment from poor results. We are reminded in the words of Robert Nesta (Bob) Marley:
“The people who are trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off – why should I?”
Let us keep on working to make it better, not just for ourselves but for our children.
“Live for yourself and you will live in vain; live for others, and you will live again.”
H. PATRICK BROWN
Pembroke Pines Florida