The jungle, in which the status quo exists, should convey to
the Jamaican populous that it’s the minority that will make it – only the
fittest of the fit will survive. Within the current structure and framework of
our society, the ‘jungle’ mentality is quite evident. The recent accident on
the mount rosser road captures it all. A media report reveals that “In a matter
of minutes a horde of looters converged on the scene and, with scant disregard
for the safety of the driver, began emptying the storage area of the truck.”
The driver of the truck states that, "they were more
concerned about looting the goods than about helping me. Only a few wondered
aloud if the driver was not injured. I am glad neither me or anyone else was
injured". The report further states, “It did not take long before the
truck was emptied. The looters were still not satisfied. They then turned their
attention to scrapping the truck and removed the front and back right wheels
before emptying the gas tank.” With this ‘jungle’ mentality parading within our
society, is it not palpable that Jamaica might be in a state beyond repair?
This virus of a mentality is slowly spreading and consuming our people as a
parasite feeding on its host.
There has been a prevalent increase in the method by which
we seek justice. From the 8 y-old that was killed in St. Thomas, to a woman
that was recently killed in a corporate area in Kingston, we hear of how
persons take it upon themselves to administer sentences in which they deem
right – ‘jungle justice.’ In this system of justice, you are guilty before you
are tried. Then again, why not go down that route if we believe that our current
justice system is deformed? Would I be correct to say that to the typical man,
justice is fiction – something that the majority talks about but it’s not real?
Why then would jungle justice be automatic in the case where a person is in
wrong?
Education and Poverty
I have heard this statement quite often, ‘poverty is a state
of mind.’ This means, you are poor if your mind tells you so. Recently, one of
my colleagues and I were discussing the poverty issue. She maintained that
poverty is a state of mind while I was trying to convince her that it is not –
it is structure of the status quo. Either way, it is a national problem. A
study conducted by member of the American Counselling Association and the
Association of Adventist Family Life Professional Dr Alanzo Smith, reveals
that, some 1.1 million Jamaicans are living below the poverty line, fuelling an
intergenerational crisis. This means of a population of 2.7 million people,
over 1 million is living below the poverty line, which is approximately 40.7
per cent.
Additionally the unemployment rate continues to rise. Within
this context, education is highlighted as the priority. Dr. Grace Virtue, a
public affairs practitioner, social policy analyst and social justice advocate,
reports that “Development
studies have long identified education as the key to eradicating poverty and
alleviating the dysfunctions with which we struggle.” The Ministry of
Education has indicated that between the University of the West Indies and
the University of Technology, more than 6,000 undergraduate students are
expected to graduate this year. Moreover, we consider our Teachers’ Colleges as
well as other tertiary institutions. Out of that amount, how many will actually
get jobs?
Students are told to get into professions that are of high
demand, but one has to consider this fact – not everyone will be a pharmacist,
doctor, lawyer or chemists. It’s often said that ‘links’ get you far, so what
if you have no ‘links,’ what happens then? Poverty has become so absolute, that
even our children, who is our future, are forced into prostitution as a means
of survival. Not that they do not want to be educated, they just cannot afford
it. People will do whatever it takes to make it, even if it means destroying
their own. The reality is this; the current status quo defines a jungle, where
‘survival of the fittest’ becomes the pilot of our minds.
Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com
