THE wise sayings of Charles Dickens Esquire are once again to the fore. With our people in a frenzy about 100 to one, when the talk is dollars, when some are getting by on pickings, while others revel in the finest cuisine; when the supermarket cash register has become one of the defining moments between hope and despair, yes, Mr Dickens, we hear you. We hang suspended between the best and the worst. Never mind what the IMF spokesmen and the bankers say. The people are confused, some experiencing the best, others the worst.

How could things be so bad at one end of town and so good in another? The latest in luxury cars add to the traffic congestion in our streets, challenging visitors to ask, “Are you Jamaicans broke or are you broke? Best of whose times, worst of which times? are the questions of the day.

People are suffering from hundred-to-one-itis. I heard someone predicting that it won’t be long before we’ll be paying $1,000 for a loaf of bread. Even more dire fantasies are being conjured up. Some are already in place. Consider the challenge of user fees at public hospitals. Having got a bly in the election bounty of 2008, members of the public, who clog up waiting rooms at clinics and hospitals islandwide to get free treatment, are not prepared to give up any of that privilege now. The difficulty of the State being able to foot the bills, is of no concern. “Freeniss, we inna dat”. If the Government can’t pay, that’s not our problem. We want what is ours and we want it now…or else!

Pay to pee

Consider the drama which recently played out at the St Jago Health Care Centre in St Catherine. It should serve as a lesson to all who think they can get the public to share the cost of free services, just say even in the lavatory department. Laboratory is another matter. For those who may have missed the story, persons using the public sanitary facilities at the health centre were requested to contribute to keeping the place clean and in order, by making a donation of $20 towards providing paper, soap, etc, which are not only used but removed unlawfully.

Fittings were also badly handled. The request for the donation as well as the “keep it clean” demands of the staff and the response of the public that what is free must be kept free, led to protest and eventually forced the abandoning of the “pee-pee tax”. Back to disorder. Who can help? As a patriotic citizen, I’m willing to contribute a slogan to call upon people’s conscience: How about “Nothing is free… not even a pee.” No? At least I gave it a try… What are you doing in the crisis?

Students’ Loans

I’ve been haunted by the faces of the most recent batch of delinquent debtors whose identities were revealed in “name and shame” advertisements by the Students’ Loan Bureau. The delinquents came from UWI, UTech and NCU. The SLB wants urgent dialogue with the persons identified. There has been no report of how many of them have turned themselves in to settle accounts. The delinquents have been named, but have they been shamed? In a society where owing money “ah nuh nutten”, is there any stigma attached to making their indebtedness public? I bet there is someone, somewhere, even now saying they did nothing wrong. They wanted an education, so they went for it. “We shouldn’t treat dem so. They will pay up, when they start to work”. And if they don’t? Well…

‘Trust and dont pay’ is an accepted form of doing business. We talk a lot about entrepreneurship. Every young person is being directed to go into self-employment. That’s the way to go. What I don’t hear much of, too, is the moral aspect of the matter, from suppliers and receivers alike. Ask striving new entrepreneurs how long it is taking them to get paid for the job into which they put all their resources. Ask how many lies they have been told of when the cheque will arrive. That, more than anything else, I believe, is accounting for closures of new businesses. I’ve yet to hear a business leader emphasising the value of morality and “doing to neighbour as we would be done by”.

Returning to the students’ loans situation, Dr Dayton Campbell, a St Ann Member of Parliament, introduced recently in the House ideas for more effective use of the loan system. He is urging consideration of discounted interest rates on loans granted for studies in areas which can bring advancement to national development. On the face of it, it sounds like a great idea, except that I can see some disciplines starved out because they’re not regarded as “contributing” to national growth. Science and technology, yes, but what about the creative industries, the areas of learning which develop sensitivity, so lacking in our understanding, relationships and interaction with each other? Dr Campbell’s ideas are worth pursuing further, enabling a widening of the discussion on the value of personal development and sensitivity.

Did you see a report quoting MP Julian Robinson about the demands by constituents for assistance with their fees for tertiary education? He revealed that the demands were way above what the constituency development funds can accommodate. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer’s Alicia Dunkley-Willis in yesterday’s edition of this paper, he explained how he has to parcel out little by little what he is able to extract from the funds which have to serve a wide range of needs. Robinson’s plight is not unique. You can bet this will be a serious issue to be gnawed on at the 5th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference which begins this weekend in Montego Bay.

The prime minister went off on a short leave a few days ago. Someone was commenting that it was the first in many years that they have known her to look so tired…and who wouldn’t be? This is a wearing-out place.

I got a call from an evangelist to report on a directive from the Almighty for Mrs Simpson Miller to call a national day of repentance. “What if she doesn’t?” I asked. The reply came “whatever happens, she will be held responsible by the Almighty.” All who want to be prime minister, step forward.

Love and sensitivity?

As South Africa and the world waits, there are mixed emotions on how to treat the closing days of one of the world’s best-loved leaders. President Mandela is very ill. No press releases, no carefully managed official communiqués can pretend that it is otherwise. On one side, there are those who pray for him to be “let go”. Others want recovery. Those who pray for release are seen as disrespectful. Both sides love him. No need for conflict.

Inevitably, the answer will come. One thing sure, without Mr Mandela, the world will never be the same again. We’ve all been the richer because he moved among us. Today, tomorrow, whenever…walk good sir, when the time comes.

To fathers everywhere: Peace and Love. A respectful Father’s Day!

gloudonb@yahoo.com