Dear Editor,

In a country where one’s ability to echo public sentiments in an articulate manner is often equated with intelligence, the late venerable Wilmot Perkins was never afraid to exhibit independent thought.

Perkins, fondly called Motty, did not think twice about adopting an unconventional stance on issues like reparations, colonialism or even the reasons for Jamaica’s perceived lack of development. But it was never his intention to become a provocateur, Motty wanted to expose his listeners and readers to differing views, because whenever everyone thinks alike, no one thinks at all.

Motty also had a great interest in the economic disparity of nations and, like thinkers before him, he wanted to know why some nations prospered while others failed, and this made him the enemy of the local intelligentsia.

Motty also had a great interest in the economic disparity of nations and, like thinkers before him, he wanted to know why some nations prospered while others failed, and this made him the enemy of the local intelligentsia.

Whenever, he compared Jamaica to states like Singapore and Japan he earned the ire of many who accused him of neglecting the socio-political differences between Asia and Jamaica. Although he was well aware of these differences, highlighting them was never an option. Perkins wanted us to identify a simple feature that made the difference between enterprising and stagnating countries.

Unlike pariah states, successful countries lacked leaders who promoted “victimhood”, or polarisation, furthermore these countries were not afraid to transplant successful foreign concepts to their respective territories. Luckily they wasted no time in remembering those who exploited them; their energies are invested in exploits that will make them more successful than their former colonisers. The past must be respected, but in the long-term it makes more sense to ask ourselves what made our aggressors so dominant for centuries, and what can we do to be greater than them?

Unfortunately an anti-Anglo Saxon idealogy prevailed, and today Jamaica is reaping its fruits, the seeds of which were sown years ago.

It is even so annoying that many of the people who are complaining about Jamaica’s low level of productivity, its inefficient energy infrastructure, and lacklustre economy never missed an opportunity to berate Motty for being negative and, now that he is passed on, these matters have become so important. Clearly some of us were living in a dream world for too long.

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of Motty’s death and the best way to honour him is to think seriously and independently.

Lipton Matthews

lo_matthews@yahoo.com