I have been noticing how Jamaicans operate on a general basis. I have done no research to draw my conclusion therefore I am not sure as to what factors contributes to such behavior. It could be because of poverty, illiteracy or otherwise, but it also occurs among those consider themselves as the elite of society or among the academia. This problem that I notice manifests itself in various forms, it is of various natures. What I have noticed is that Jamaicans have a disciplinary problem. We are very indiscipline nation. Though not everyone fall in such category I think it would be safe to say that this problem is widespread among the majority.
I figure
that is why we have so much corruption from the least to the greatest. I was
reasoning with my friend about how Jamaicans operate. We came up with a
scenario to compare how Jamaicans would generally behave in comparison to people
from other nations. There was a tsunami some time ago in Japan. In the aftermath of this event, people were seeking shelter, food items
and clothes. You saw persons lining up, waiting patiently, to get whatever they
should receive in terms of food supplies, clothes etc. We call this discipline.
We then came to the conclusion that if it was Jamaica the people would be
rushing for the items, behaving like hooligans. Why did we say this? Look at
how Jamaicans would behave if a drink truck turned over. An incident occurred
on mount Rosser last year and persons were more interested in what they could
get instead of the safety of the driver. People went as far as steeling the gas
out of the truck! I witnessed how people behave to get funeral programs, the
rush and the push. I was at a convention recently, and there were people who standing
because chairs were limited. When a truck came with some chairs, I saw people
rushing and running to get chairs instead of just waiting patiently in a line
to be handed a chair.
The way how Jamaicans
routinely behave at times, is like we are living in a national jungle where the
mantra "survival of the fittest" is widespread. It is like people will do
whatever it takes to be on top even if it means selling out their own.
Jamaicans have now started scamming their own, setting up fake companies, posing
at immigration representatives and robbing people of thousands. Now Jamaicans are
now buying illegitimate insurance papers. Jamaicans find ways to get pass any
system. I was taking to a friend once, he told me that he was at a medical lab
and a man came to get something done. My friend told me that no
one else was there, so the man would have gotten through either way. However, the man came and was asking for a “bly” which means to get through quick. That is the perception our people. There is a video circulating on social media which features a crowd gathering at gully bop's house with people begging money, acting like hooligans, why not try to get a job?
Jamaicans
have the perception that they can get around every system, they can beat every
law. They believe that they are entitled to the possessions of hard working
people. The rule of law means little to us in this country. That is why the
crime monster cannot be controlled because it is a cycle. It is like a genetic
disease that is passed on to every generation. Whatever we need to do, let’s do
it now. This problem must be addressed and it must start at the lowest level.
