Dear Reader,

The Bible asks a question that may appear on the surface to be completely ludicrous. It asks, can a nation be born at once? (Isaiah 66:8) For the spiritual and discerning man the answer is yes, and as odd as it may seem, I believe that Jamaica is poised for a profound and revolutionary rebirth.

The events of the last two weeks have been both sad and sobering, to put it mildly. As angry as many Jamaicans are about the brazenness and intransigence of the criminal elements in the country in general, and those that occupy Tivoli Gardens in particular, there is a deep feeling of grief and a stark reality check that I sense everywhere I go. Even more pervasive is the cry from everybody I talk to: Jamaica needs a new beginning.

What is particularly vexing to me is that what transpired in Tivoli could have been avoided if the people of our inner cities had not been abandoned and dispossessed for so long. As early as 1982, on my return to Jamaica after living abroad, I began writing about the plight of the poor. The signs were obvious from then: teenage pregnancies, the steady migration from rural to urban areas resulting in familial dislocations and serious overcrowding, the increasing overseas migration trends, high-school dropouts, and the growing levels of unemployment, among others.

In 1982, murders and other serious crimes were beginning to register significantly on the national radar, and social red flags, such as single-parenting, were becoming more and more evident. In response, the organisation to which I initially dedicated my time and energies, VOUCH, worked assiduously to introduce serious parenting education, and worked with constant financial constraints to promote and provide support for children and families across the country. Not many people paid attention or provided the financial help that was necessary.

And the storm clouds kept gathering. The IMF’s Structural Adjustment Programme exacerbated an already unequal and compromised social and economic structure that was largely the legacy of slavery and colonialism. As central government relinquished and watered down its basic responsibilities of security, education and other vital social services and essentially abandoned the communities, other forces and elements stepped in to fill the vacuum, and the result is what we see in Tivoli Gardens and other such inner-city garrisons across the country where illegitimate enterprises operate at will.

For the longest time I had been calling for the residents of Tivoli Gardens to reject the type of paternalistic rule that they have been subjected to since that West Kingston garrison was created. Isolated behind walls of concrete, the people of that community have lived in a manner that resembles apartheid – separate and unequal – brainwashed into thinking that the crumbs off the “official” table was manna from heaven, and that the best thing since sliced bread was a seemingly benevolent but absolute ruler.

The psychological condition of the people resembles the phenomenon known as the Stockholm Syndrome – a state of mind wherein the captives fall in love with their captors. It is an interesting form of oppression, but one that is highly effective. It was the way that slave owners kept their subjects in check, and it was without a doubt the way to ensure blind and perpetual loyalty.

Years ago I wrote a column calling on the people of Tivoli to free themselves from the shackles of mental and physical slavery. As a children’s advocate, I lamented the fact that the country was largely inaccessible to outsiders, and equally hostile to anyone from the inside who wanted to leave. There were stories of footballers who couldn’t freely choose to play for another team, and whisperings of residents who lived under fear of leaving the community. Of course, it was difficult to verify anything because of the tight grip on the community, and very few people dared to speak publicly on the matter.

While all of us are collectively responsible for the general neglect of the poor by remaining silent in the face of glaring atrocities, those politicians who rule over garrisons should hang their heads in shame. Every single one of them must take responsibility for the lives lost in Tivoli, and for the vulgar way they have used and abused the citizens of this country. Not only have they sliced and diced Jamaica, but they have foisted a mindset of dependency on the people that is a part of a vicious inter-generational cycle. They have succeeded in pitting one group of us against the other, while ensuring that their loyalists are well taken care of. “Divide and rule” has been the mantra, and they all score high marks in that regard.

But all is not lost, and those who believe and understand that the darkest hour comes before the dawn must stand ready to create and promote change. While we cannot replace the lives lost, we can make a renewed commitment to protect and promote the welfare and well-being of our brothers and sisters in the inner cities. If each of us decides to help one family, especially to provide the emotional and mentoring support that the children and young adults need, I believe that we will begin to see a significant turnaround in a relatively short time.

I wish to say to the people of Tivoli that many of us feel your pain, while we understand at the same time that each of us, including those in the inner cities, must be responsible for his own actions. I for one look forward to the healing and restoration, and the day when our people will be free to lead peaceful and productive lives. Can a nation be reborn in a day? The answer is yes!

With love,

bab2609@yahoo.com