Letter of the Day | Break the cycle of mayhem and disorder

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Disorder, mayhem, violence, corruption, and falsehood reign in this nation. This is a culture created by greed and dishonesty governed from the top to the bottom in this nation.

There is lawlessness on the roads, in communities, in Parliament, in homes, and in families! The overwhelming sense that disorder is the prevailing ethos in Jamaica darkens the senses. Woe, woe to us as a people!

If we are to survive as a nation that is respected, we must begin to clean up, from the top to the bottom. Clean up the Parliament, the judiciary, leaders in public sector, the media, and the transportation system. The stench and smoke from Riverton that choked us is symptomatic of the stench that is stifling our moral sensibilities in this nation.

Murder is rife, in families, for ‘ded lef’, for turf. Murder rules the scammers. In such a small country, no day goes by without a report of murders.

No matter that on the macro-economic scale we are said to be improving, it does not reflect in our culture, in a sense of security, in a sense of peace. Nothing more stands as a reflection of what this country has become than the mayhem on the roads created by taxi drivers and other reckless motorists who blatantly break the road code; drive through red lights, cut before cars waiting in lines, drive over sidewalks, and break speed limits. All of this with no one, no system in place to hold them accountable as they randomly and without impunity do as they please!

To be someone who obeys the laws, who is considerate of other persons, who is kind and thoughtful, who values truth and order, who cares for family and loved ones, who wants to earn an honest living and have pride in being accountable and transparent in your dealing with others, is no longer valued in this nation. It is the person who can own the biggest home, who drives the latest car, flashes the latest jewellery, wears the most fashionable clothes, parties in the clubs, drinks the most expensive alcoholic beverages and brags about their sexual exploits, and who has many hits on their social media profile. This, it seems, is the aim of the ‘in crowd’.

Is it possible to have our leaders set the example for our people on how to be selfless, accountable in our transactions, courteous in interactions even in the face of disagreements, to be honest in our dealings and not self-serving? Is it possible that our leaders could pride themselves in showing the strength of character to go against the tide of immorality and corruption that characterises this nation? If the head of the stream is dirty, how then can the river be clean?

ESTHER TYSON