Dear Editor,

An incident on Wednesday, March 3 has prompted me to write this letter. At about 6:00pm that day, I was in the vicinity of Barbican Square, about to turn and join the line, go around past Loshusan Mall, Barbican Road and on to Arcadia Drive, etc.

As I edged forward in the line of traffic, a motorcycle rider with a pillion rider, wearing no helmets, cut in front of me and attempted to squeeze between my vehicle and the one in front.

I suppose he thought I should have noticed and automatically deferred the right-of-way to him. However, I didn’t notice and he must have believed I had no intention of allowing him to pass and what subsequently followed is what concerns me.

He launched a tirade using some extremely colourful Jamaican words which would have made a Regimental Sergeant Major blush. Tired and frustrated of the perpetual indiscipline on our roads, however, I would have no more and responded likewise. Not to be outdone, he began to berate me again and for every expletive hurled, I replied with one of my own. I personally believe he did not think a Jamaican “white boy” knew such language.

I know people reading this will say, “You should not stoop to that level,” but at some point we must all say, “Enough is enough.” Would he have understood me had I addressed him in the Queen’s English? I don’t believe so.

My point here is that so many have become caught up in their own little worlds that they care nothing for others. So they have become road hogs, lie, cheat and steal to achieve their own personal successes with no regard for those affected.

How often has anyone driven on our roads only to be passed by someone in flagrant violation of the speed limit and who ends up one or two cars ahead in the line? How many have watched as two, or three, or four cars, speed through a traffic light which turned red 30 seconds before?

Jamaica has lost its moral compass. Ethics, values and the basic principles on which our society was built have long gone by the wayside. Many have no manners any longer. Many do not say “Good morning”, “Good afternoon”, “Thank you” or “Please”. Many arrive late at work and when spoken to, are rude and they sulk for the remainder of the day because their employer dared to speak to them. Or worse, they call down the union on the employer.

It’s a pity that these core values are to be presumed lost for the selfishness of a few.

As for our politicians – well, that’s another letter.

Andrew Camacho

grim_reaper62@yahoo.com