MEDICINENET.COM defines amnesia as “an impairment to or lack of memory. The type of amnesia that aptly personifies Jamaica’s citizenry, with regards to our attitude when faced with betrayal of public trust by our officials is retrograde amnesia, colloquially called the nine-day wonder mentality. This, as national disgust is exhibited for a few days, then we forget that such a scandalous incident ever happened, and it is business as usual.

This condition has plagued our country for too long and has cost us dearly, because successive governments and political parties, having studied the people’s psychology, realise that we lack the intestinal fortitude to pressure governments over the long run when there is evidence of mismanagement of the country’s resources and, in some instances, blatant corruption.

What has prevailed for years? An act of mismanagement is revealed, there is outrage from civil society for a few days, media houses discuss ad nauseam the topic for two weeks, the print media publishes the story and there is some follow-up. Then, amnesia sets in, and we move on to the next story. The political parties know this, and that is why both behave the way they do. They know that civil society and the media, which ought to be the watchdog and guardian of the public interest, only give knee-jerk reactions to the issue of the day, but fail to galvanise the citizenry to action that ought to bring about drastic change.

This mentality of both civil society and media has indirectly facilitated the longevity of the careers of failing politicians who have no clue as to what it means to be facilitators of social development. An analysis of history has shown that changes are never achieved unless people are willing to sacrifice even their lives for social and political reform. Look at the American Revolution: When faced with a government that taxed them unjustly without representation, the colonies demanded change in how they were being governed, and when that was ignored, they rose up against the British.

Look at the Arab Spring: Facing tyrants and dictators, oppressed citizens decided death before dishonour and rose up against the corruption of their governments. Our forefathers endured the struggles and sacrificed all so that Jamaica could have achieved self-government and Independence from the British. Today the Jamaican populace has lost that tenacity that calls us to action in the defence of our beloved country; instead we have become a docile group, not willing to pressure successive governments to do good to and for the Jamaican people. We need people like Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey and Sam Sharpe. If we are to achieve the Jamaican dream, our people cannot just allow politicians to dictate the future, we have to be active participants in the decision-making of our country and challenge the authorities when they do not live up to the ideals of democracy and good governance. As one blogger puts it: “All progressive societies have dynamic and well-organised groups designed to push progressive nation-building agendas. These progressive societies understand that the people are an integral part of governance; a vital part, and a valid branch of Government. It is not simply vote and forget, but vote and engage. They understand that the concept of government is not limited to the elected officials alone, but extends to the entire population who must communicate their desires, intentions and displeasure by organised mass protests and rallies designed to send strong messages to the elected officials, kind of like guiding the sheep in the right direction.”

A truly democratic government should be honest, trustworthy, and should do all within the framework of the constitution to fulfil the dreams and hopes of a people. For too long Jamaica has been denied the ideal situation to experience what it is to live in a country where the government treats it citizenry as first-class people.

Jamaica is at this crossroads because we have political leaders who have put party politics above the Jamaican people and a disengaged civil society. Prior to each election, both political parties launch what is called an election manifesto, which the spokespersons of the various parties describe as a social contract with the Jamaican people. In this document both political parties outline a vision of what their governments intend to do for us. They inform us that a government of the people and by the people should be one that serves the people’s interests.

In that same document both parties usually outline several initiatives that would transform Jamaica into the island paradise we known it can be. They promise good governance, accountability, justice, liberty, and prosperity to all Jamaicans. Indicating that corruption was the monster that was responsible for the failure in achieving most of our goals, each pledge that should it form the next government, it will hold public officials to a high standard and accountability would be the norm of the day. However, time and time again, once the elections are over the said manifestos become history, and promises made are never fulfilled.

If Jamaica had an informed citizenry and an investigative media this could not occur, as both groups would ensure that the parties are held accountable to the social contract they espoused. This culture has to stop, but that can only be possible when breaches of the people’s trust are met with a sustained national protest instead of the current retrograde amnesia, because the politicians know that we do not have the resolve for long-term protest — sit still for two weeks, and when the nine-day wonder sets in, they know it is a return to the status quo.

When one does a critical analysis of how we have been governed for the last 35 years, one can’t help but see the many injudicious acts and actions akin to corruption that hace cost us, as taxpayers, dearly and serve to undermine the Jamaican state. From the 1980s to the present date there have been many scandals which have resulted in billions of tax dollars going down the drain; monies that could have been used to invest in human capital, national development, education, and health care.

Because of the present diagnosis of retrograde amnesia I will remind the citizenry of a few of them: The 1980s Spring Plain scandal ($270 million); the Rollins Land Deal scandal (1989); the $500-million zinc scandal (1990); the furniture scandal ($10.6 million) (1991); Shell waiver scandal ($29.5 million) (1991); the motor vehicle importation scandal (1992); Public Sector Salary “Fat Cat” scandal ($60 million) (1998); NetServ Jamaica scandal ($220 million) (2001); NHDC and Operation Pride ($5.5 billion) (2002); NSWMA scandal ($2 billion) (2004); the Sandals Whitehouse scandal (US $43.3 million) (2005) The Trafigura Scandal (2006) The Cuban Light Bulb Scandal ($114 million) (2007); the Dudus extradition debacle (2009); transport minister house purchase/upgrade scandal ($50 million) (2009); NHT Outameni scandal ($180 million) (2014). What has happened to the publif officials who have been accused of playing lead roles in these scandals? What has the Jamaican citizenry done to ensure that these egregious acts never happen again? The truth is, nothing!

The nine-day wonder mentality ensured that some of the folks who are responsible for these events are still serving in the public domain and implementing policies that affect our lives. If we as a people took our role seriously in the advancement of the Jamaican dream, an angry civil society would have pressured the political class and ensured that justice be done for the Jamaican state. Those political officials who abused their public office would be imprisoned or barred from public office for life, and monies lost would have to be repaid. That’s what happens in democracies where there is a vigilant citizenry who ensures that the government serves the interest of the country, because the best solution to the problem of corruption in any country is the existence of strong, influential public opinion. As Jamaicans we have stood up against outside intruders, but the threat from within has gone without challenge, therefore we must be vigilant in the protection of Jamaica, land we love, against anyone who would take our country’s wealth and deprive the Jamaican citizenry of a better future. If we don’t, then our country’s slippage on the Misery Index will continue and Jamaica will become the next Zimbabwe. Every generation has to secure the future of the next generation. My question is this: What is this present generation doing so that the next one will find a sustainable Jamaica?

Marvin Williams is a medical doctor and graduate of Universidad Adventista del Plata in Argentina. He hails from Dry River, Maggotty, St Elizabeth, and resides in Westbury, New York. Comments: margaye98@yahoo.com