I Believe is the title of a strongly motivational song that seeks to offer reverence to our Creator. “I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word” is one strong line offering a symbol of faith that there is a greater power than ourselves. “I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come to show the way” suggests an expectation that we will be saved from ourselves by an external power, and in fact an acceptance that we need not help ourselves, and we are really “Waiting for Godot” as the title of the famous play suggests. This is a paradox.

In turning thoughts to those of us who are Jamaican, the “I believe syndrome” has manifested itself in many peculiar ways, several of which are extremely dangerous. In fact, many beliefs take on lives of their own and impede the progress of the nation. In our case the most dangerous transformation is that of “I believe” into “I forget”, or “I can’t recall”.

Last week, I had reason to comment on the tragedy of the killing of a promising student of Kingston College, the much vaunted institution founded by the Rt Reverend Percival Gibson. The much voiced “Fortis cadere cedere non protest” alumni have not even voiced or led the charge for justice in the investigation and conclusion of the police investigation.

At the time of writing I have no name of the “well-connected person” on both sides of the political spectrum. The police can find no bullet and over a week has passed, sufficiently long for the suspect to leave the island, return, enter custody, engage the great inquirer Patrick Atkinson, and still remain anonymous in the public domain. It seems that great respect is accorded the “connected” as opposed to the “disenfranchised” of our society.

Shame on you, for you will probably have the strength to criticise me for writing this, but in reality I believe that as a powerful group you are failing to stand up in any way that would have been taken by your great founder. The much revered “Priest”, would not have condoned this non-action. In fact, the failure to take a strong moral position suggests that you may have already “yielded”. I expect much better.

The lively Latin rhythm “Papa loves mambo, Mama loves mambo” has been re-written to the WikiLeaks words of “Peter loves Portia, Portia loves Peter” as the distractions continue. The same is true of the leaks about the JLP, who said they would not comment, but each party senses a political advantage in commenting, so they comment, turn on each other, and also turn inward on themselves.

I believe that Jamaicans have the shortest memories of any people, and that we must have been biologically impaired, or genetically disposed to the very early onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Both parties have been voted out regularly, yet we expect a different performance, and I believe that constitutes a definition of madness, that is, doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different outcome.

There is a potentially dangerous situation developing, with certain chemicals threatening to escape from a closed gold mining operation into ground and surface waters that could be life-threatening. Do you believe that the operations were fully compliant with acceptable standards as dictated by world standards and supposedly supervised by NEPA?

Do you believe that the licence granted was fully compliant in all regards and uninfluenced by political intervention? Certainly the procedures for full closure and disposal of hazardous waste have not been complied with, and this operation started and ended under the former regime now seeking to return to government.

The supposed “bond” that has been spoken about by NEPA very vaguely seems to have no public disclosure as to whether it is in force in perpetuity or has already expired. The ongoing inspections that should be required to evaluate the deterioration of the facilities do not seem to have been done with any regularity.

The “watchman” interviewed on the television does not seem to bring any scientific input to the process. Cyanide is an extremely dangerous chemical, and its disposal is a complicated operation. I believe that we are compromising the welfare of the nation by budget cuts, and at the same time finding funds to do politically expedient things.

I do not accept any apology from AJ Nicholson on behalf of the PNP for not stopping the debacle that was the Dudus/Manatt inquiry. This column indicated prior to the commencement that the terms of reference could not lead to any definitive findings that would allow legal or other action to be taken against the guilty.

I find it hard to believe that the party of Norman Manley that boasts “eminent” lawyers such as Pickersgill, Knight, Atkinson, Nicholson, et al, could be so naive. This was a two-party duplicity and should not be forgiven, or if accepted, should recognise that the vaunted legal minds are well past their prime!

I believe that we should be disappointed that no independent candidates of an independent mind, or good intentions, can win the support of the voters over the combined and sinister interference of the two parties who wish to continue their “hegemony” of dividing the spoils right in front of our faces.

I believe that my friend KD Knight needs to lead a demonstration for decency and let the political chips fall where they may, rather than to protest in an effort to perpetuate political duplicity. Not every human value or virtue needs to be sacrificed on an altar of political and tribal animosity.

I believe that I have a right to have a gate, regardless of the attraction of scrap metal dealing.

I believe I have a right not to be killed in the pursuit of my lawful comings and goings.

I believe that if we fail to address these fundamental rights, then we are accepting fundamental wrongs, and then we should just shut up and suffer, or migrate.

I believe we have choices.

I believe we should register to vote.