Colonial rule much better
Published:Thursday | October 13, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Hear me out!, Lloyd Hewitt
This is the second instalment of 'Hear Me Out!', a new feature in which our roving reporters give voice to so-called ordinary citizens on the street who are given an on-the-spot opportunity to contribute a guest column. You've always heard from opinion makers, experts and high-profile commentators. Now, it's time for the man on the street to say, 'Hear Me Out!'
Things worse now than before 1962, man. Before Independence, we lived a normal life, go up and down when we work a little £9 a week. We could see our way out, buy our food, pay our bills and all them tings deh. Food and other things were more affordable than they are now.
I have this grocery shop now. Things slow, because the people don't have no money, them can't afford the things. Every day, the price of things going up.
When Independence came, we thought it would have been better, but that hasn't been the case. Under British rule, to me, things were better. Mi dying for them to come back here now, to bring in some discipline. People were more disciplined in the early days, before Independence,
To me, under British rule you couldn't have them young boy and gal a cuss and gwaan. When mi see certain age girl shouldn't carry a child, if them can't take care of them or certain age boy, them not supposed to get any children. Them can't rule them. Mamma a cuss Daddy inna house, Daddy a cuss, then the pickney come the same way.
In our days, we had manners and respect and grow up with principle. Yu have to say, "Good morning, Sir or Ma'am", and yu gone same way. The loss of these things is what helps to break down the society.
After Independence, things just take time deteriorate all sides, all 'bout it a deteriorate. Them a tief this, them a tief that. Mi have mi cow, mi hog, dem a tief dem. Things a go up every day. Yu have to say it worse, to me, it worse. Any one of the government - whichever party - it's the same thing. The Government is not doing anything to make things better.
The little young bwoy dem nuh want work. Yu have yu house, them bruck it; yu have yu animal a bush, them tief it; yu plant even yu ground, them tief it. Mi have to pull up.
The opportunity is the same as when mi did young, or even more now, because them days deh, if yu miss first or second year at school, yu can't go third year, but now yu have free school.
When we were going to elementary school, we knew lots of things. The quiz that come on TV nowadays, yu ask the kids questions, them don't know the answers. Ask them the plains of Jamaica, them don't know them. The kids are not interested to learn. Them don't have a trade or education, them not working. Them say that say them hand nah touch ground. My kids different. I grow them to have education. Them go university and all these things.
Lloyd Hewitt, 76, is a shopkeeper in Knockpatrick, Manchester. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.