Anger in the Nation
In recent months I have noted a definitive negative change in the mood of Jamaicans.
I am not sure what has provoked it: It is not so much a rising sense of insecurity, but more a feeling of frustration and anger.
Possibly it is a consequence of poor economic management of the country. People earn less, borrow more, lose the value of their assets in foreign exchange changes, real estate holdings, pension values; on average we are getting poorer. All investment in the country has realized poor yields for businesses, farmers, and professionals. The costs related to education have soared. Universities, technical schools and other educational institutions find students I gather, but have little qualified teaching and management staff, and the quality of education is not up to an international standards.
On the other hand, Government taxation has reached astronomical proportions; persons are being taxed in every sphere and aspect of work life. GCT is now in every simple commodity that one needs, rich or poor, and at increased rates including energy of 17.5% ( please note approximations). In Britain taxation is just as high but there are incentives freely allowed to producers, and there exchange rates are more conducive to living. In Jamaica, many persons are starving, children and adults.
In addition, Government accounting of public funds paid over in taxation, in saving for a better life, in providing health care, and in infra-structure development is minimal. Our crime management is not as effective as it could be; our social services are depleted beyond any service whatsoever. We are in the hands of the Receiver (IMF), virtually bankrupt. An associate said recently that it is like giving someone $1000 to buy something at the shop; he spends $700, saying when asked, he lost track at the shop, and cannot account for the balance.
In much expenditure by Government the results give the same conclusion: ‘We are investigating’ where the missing funds have gone. Then there are no subsequent explanations, for years (remember FINSAC), and dollars paid out in auditor’s fees, and perhaps legal charges thereafter.
Where do we go from here? ‘’ Is there any balm left in Gilead? Are there no physicians? Who will take care of the poor and suffering?” Jeremiah’s call goes unanswered. Where are the solutions to come from, where are the answers?
In the past two years, many suggestions have been made to remedy the situation; some sensible and some frivolous. Perhaps some have been tried and some are in progress. But I see there is no organization in the approach of the suggestion. Committees have been formed, and have been dismissed, without any obvious conclusion formed and disseminated. There was a recent suggestion that the two parties align the most intelligent and acute minds of their supporters, including members of the public. Then put them to the job of improving our circumstances.
This should not be a paid committee: except for lunch and coffee where necessary, and must be assisted by professional trouble shooters in law enforcement, military training, and legal backgrounds. That is my opinion; perhaps that way we shall get a quick response. ©Ramesh Sujanani
what do you expect from a nation of people that have been schooled over the years by politicians to expect a ” you must give me ” mindset….successive governments waste and steal your money by taxation.corruption from the top down is rife…corruption is very damaging to a countries economy so while everybody gets angry and frustrated about the economy and their country they are the ones that make it so…putting blame is the national game.!…blame anyone else except yourselves….and until the main players are held accountable this situation will continue…while its every man for himself nothing will change…x
legalise it
RASTAFARIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILIVES FORIVERMORE JANUARY 1, 2015 IS 82 YEARS OF STRUGGLE AGAINST COLONIAL AND JLPNP INJUSTICE N GENOCIDE 1933-2015…….ONLY POSITIVE THING WE GAVE EM REGGAE RASTA AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION NOW THE HERB…….free up the Afrika nLliberation vehicle NOW !!!!! JLPNP
I couldnt agree more. As george stated all the stake holders are responsible, some by choice and some by sphere minority. Where we lack the power to do something. About it. I will not try and make excuses here, the populatio is to be blamedfor the state of this country and i stand behind that a 100%.
WHAT WE REALLY NEED IN THIS COUNTRY IS A CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM SO WE CAN HOLD WHO IS RESPONSIBLE . RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY ARE ENTRUSTED TO DO WHEN THEY DO DIFFERENT
How can a government who pays for votes be a good one?
Here is another reason to be an Angry Jamaican https://www.proudli.com/blogs/1/378/why-start-up-jamaica-is-set-up-j
jamaicans are not afraid to work give them something that will produce good earnings let jamaica supply the world legalize it or the opportunity will go by
United we stand …Divided we will continue on the path of destruction…We have all become a talking band with no action to follow. Everybody and his grandfather have a solution..We all want the same thing but we refuse to join forces for a common cause..There are more splinter groups about Jamaica Solutions than sand on the seashore. Since” independence”(whatever that means) there have been over 47 registered third parties and they all fall by the wayside for almost always the same reason yet more will be formed….The orange and green are an engrained part of the culture of the Nation and cannot be changed by wishful thinking…Culture is learnt so if we who want better are serious we need to Unite and do what we must to educate and empower our people and show them the clear alternative to orange and green starting in the preschools…They must understand that their first loyalty and civic responsibility belong to GOLD,GREEN and BLACK .
What more evidence do the jamaican people need other than that they are the ones voting in and supporting these egocentric greedy, so called leaders , oppressive puppets and slaves to imperialism and colonialism ?
What Jamaica needs is a system that will keep government straight (an Ombudsman group) for the people – they should be selected by the UN and not be affiliated with any party in Jamaica – because it is time people wake up and see that whether JLP, PNP or NO party every level of government in Jamaica has gotten corrupt and the purging must start from within. Next Jamaicans needs to become informed about GLOBALIZATION, the advantages and the disadvantages because we have become a society of foreigners yes everything must come from abroad for it to be good – even most our food supply now comes from abroad – yet we have the best soil and natural fertilizers but we want chemical food so that government can make trade and build friendship by owing billions of dollars. People abroad having to be renting spots of land in the summer just to plant lettuce, tomato and peppers and we have lands at our disposal walking and cursing it like it is nothing – JAMAICA and JAMAICANS on a whole needs to free their minds from Mental Slavery the slavery of thinking that what we have is not good enough but still other countries want what Jamaica has – they want our resources, people (Jamaicans when we put our mind to it are hard workers anywhere we go), they want our lands we are strategically located in the Caribbean for those who did not know, our soil is rich in minerals the Jamaican government does not want to inform the public about. Government and Jamaicans need to stop selling out – because we are giving away and having nothing to show in return. One prime example is Air Jamaica, gone caah come back, my family and I are traumatize after our experience of flying with the airline under the name Caribbean Airlines which is now back under Jamaica umbrella – we don’t even know what is going on because of the politics still going on with Jamaica and Trinidad over that. If our national airline is having money trouble hey could have offered all Jamaicans who can afford to buy shares it is our national pride or it was as I use to look forward to seeing that ‘Air Jamaica’ bird in the sky and at airports. Next is the crime, solve crime first of all by paying police well and giving them good benefits that way they don’t have to turn a blind eye to corruption within and without and they won’t have to take bribes, then properly screen deportees even provide a workshop for them to inform them about the Jamaica culture use a deportee who has return to Jamaica and is doing well to train others so that they can be productive citizens in Jamaica. Reach out to children on the streets who are struggling on their own to survive because they are the ones who are recruited into gangs and become adults, teach them a trade so that they can find real jobs – is this list impossible I believe it is attainable and we can all do it as Jamaicans – with the support of government, the UN, more active social service workers,and help from all Jamaicans YES WE CAN!
Jamaica is bound by European and America contract which make it impossible for Jamaica to move forward.until we abolish those contract we can’t benefit from one of our biggest asset is the legalization of weed
I think that Jamaica have what it takes to be a driving economic force, the west Indies must unite in a trade and barter framework. Less is more if we have a definite aim
Also, when it pertains to prostitution, Jamaica is not a whore.Jamaica need to turn back to Jah
The Jamaican people has lost hope, their is no future for the youths, when you look around poverty and despair every where, Every second person you meet they want to leave. For a small island as Jamaica with Jamaicans who have excels and show their weight in gold something is terrable wrong. Jamaica celebrate its independence yesterday yes we are proud, but we would be better off not freed.
Legalize marijuana and capitalize on the medicinal benefits, before foreign investors seize the potential of this lucrative crop.