Dear Editor,

Scene 1: I come to a road junction and there is a stop sign, and so I stop. There is no one ahead of me, but I have to observe the other commuters at the other points of the junction to note in which order I will enter the junction. We each take our turn and we’re on our way — no congestion.

Scene 2: I come to a road junction and there’s a stop sign, and so I stop. There are four stop signs at the four points of entry/exit. Interestingly though, I don’t stop because I am disciplined, but of necessity because there is a major congestion. Instead of one vehicle entering the junction in each round, the vehicles are operated like carts of a train. You soon realise that if you don’t push out you will spend your day where you are. Well, you may still end up spending a good deal of your day there anyway — congestion.

This may insult your intelligence, but which of the two was Jamaica? The other was a first-world country.

The vision of becoming a first world country by 2030 is one that should resonate with all Jamaicans. What, though, is our understanding of the term first world? Is it economic well-being? Or is it social revolution? Is it a combination of both? Other questions may be: How do we get there? Or, how will we know when we are there?

When I think first world I think access to a decent standard of living. Notwithstanding that the classical definition of first world has moved from mere GDP concerns to include human development elements, economic concerns dominate where the rubber meets the road.

That is not surprising because economic data is more easily captured and quantified and could easily give the impression that things are being done. Additionally, many of the indicators of a good standard of living (health care, communication, security, education) seem dependent on economic ability. But to the extent that human development is projected it seems sadly skewed to the “skill-ification” and not the education of each citizen.

“Skill-ification” refers to persons acquiring specific skills that provide opportunities to earn through gainful employment, without concern for morals and manners, for respect and responsibility. Education — true education — focuses on the whole person and seeks to effect a transformation of each person into a caring, contributing creature who possesses cutting-edge skills, and embraces the imperative of wholesome relationships if he/she is to enjoy true and sustainable success in this life. Herein lies the blueprint of first-world living, and the decent standard of living I desire.

There are few things that are crasser than a person of material means who has no breeding. This will only mean that they will be able to afford to make other people’s lives miserable. Imagine a country with citizens who can all afford to make each other’s lives miserable? Perish that thought.

Here’s a thought, though, that may be worth your while: How about treating each other now as we would when we become first world?

Let’s get back to our anecdote. It is arguable that the time wasted in scene 2 is indicative of the wasted opportunities and resources when persons behave out of order. This often results in wasted opportunities to make economic gains. There is critical need to reform our way of thinking and behaviour in relation to each other. First world is really a way of thinking and behaving which will produce effects such as economic well-being.

Charles Evans

Northern Caribbean University