Crime and Business in Jamaica

This is my rant about the crap that perpetuates in this land we love as it relates to the lack of political and social will to make this place truly remarkable.

Jamaica has a complex social problem. 47 people dead in 7 days is only the surface. Unsubstantiated reports are that the police have been holding down the figures to the media by half. That means on avg, closer to 100 lives lost in 7 due to violent crimes. And what happens in this island paradise?

Life goes on.

We wake up, and those of us who can afford blue mountain coffee or expensive imported blended teas sip away while people die around us.

The cost of the lives of poor innocent people piles up on our heads while we go about, simply because the poor are killing themselves. Innocence means nothing.

Security costs hike for people conducting business, insurance escalates, and the price of everything goes up as a result of Bush's quest for Iraqi oil, while wages remain the same and the pay cheques for those earning an honest minimum wage is less than a speeding ticket.

But why change it? The owners of security companies have become mutli-millionaires and those who can afford to buy under-priced stocks and real estate buy, buy, buy while the market is down, accumulating significant cash cows for when things get better.

Those with university degrees cannot afford to buy their own homes, as the pittance they earn brings them nowhere closer to that elusive dream. When they do buy, they have to settle for subdivision housing schemes that will run down in 10-15 years as the space provided is too small to sustain middle class lifestyles. Their children have no park or playground, no community centre, no green area, and are confined. And when many leave high school and university, the jobs that they will get will cost them more to be in because the expenses incurred come out higher than their wages. They will live with their parents longer, having their own children in the same tiny homes. The space that was too small for two adults will then house at least three generations, because no struggling middle class family can afford separate housing or nursing homes for their elderly.

At this point, 90% of crimes go unpunished. It is said that it is because we have an understaffed police force and inefficient just system. I say something else. I say that crimes continue to go unpunished because it suits a lot of high profiled officials for things to stay just as bad as they are. Whose orders are these henchmen carrying out? How do they afford guns and ammunition when they cannot afford bread?

And yet the new government sits idly by, wearing newly acquired suits and posits as though it is still in opposition. Maybe they were in the cold so long that they have no clue as to how to implement forceful intervention policies, much less to be proactive. While people die, they talk, and talk and talk and talk.

But there is hope.

If I didn't believes so, I wouldn't be here. Who am I fooling, I dont like being away from this little rock for too long. By the time the calendar strikes two weeks, I am pining for Jamrock. So maybe I am a selfish little patriot. And why the hell shouldn't I be?

I proudly write "Jamaican" in the "nationality" box on forms because, the fact is, I would be a second class immigrant anywhere else. This is my blood, my soil, my rock and I'll be damned before I go out searching for a land of milk and honey.

I want my right to live in a peaceful society and to offer my children a stable home.

People. That is what makes Jamaica so different. Our people. If we continue to pay scant regard for their well-being and safety and proffer some as more equal than some, dog eat we supper.

I sick and tired of the long talking. I want action, not a bag a mouth. Tough decisions, and punishment for all, no matter what station, who are involved in criminality. No sin is greater than another, no sinner worse. Let justice be served.

How Long Has it Been?

Really now, whoever said that it would be hard work to run an under capitalised start-up alone lied. It's SLAVE work. Only good thing about it, is that I get to be both slave and master.

But seriously, I dont believe I have worked this hard in my entire life! And its not only the hours but the stress! I dont dwell on it and I seem to get through the days somehow, but trust me, it aint easy.

I moved (cant even remember if I mentioned that I have moved down the road from my Ma in the hills. Translation? Mosquitoes galore, but plenty bush cool breeze, and calm.
Real Deal? No time to go in to do any administrative crap with inefficient utilities which means no land line, no internet, no cable.

OK, maybe I should make the time. Yeah Yeah Yeah i know. But truly the line does get mawga somewhere and whereeversopart it get mawga, it pop off. And for the past 4 weeks, that is exactly wherepart it pop off.

I spoke with yet another Cable and Wireless person, or in this case, someone who has a CW connection and maybe I will be presented with a much more efficient alternative to going into their lousy customer warehouse centre and join a line as if I am waiting for free health service in a third world health clinic.

Oh how I miss this space to rant! And gloat. And ponder. And dream.

It seems that every waking moment is filled with work that has to be done or should have been done and I struggle to stay pon top a things.

I realise that I have to modify my present system to make it more efficient. I have to get a dedicated assistant.

Well...if nothing else, I am certainly learning!