So we have barely recovered from many weeks of national celebration. During that period, we focused on those things that were right with our land of wood and water, and celebrated 53 years of proud and free Jamaica. Now that the World Reggae Dance Competitions and Grand Galas are over, it is time to move forward and think about how we will build our country to have something to celebrate next year, much more, 53 years from now. The first step in solving a problem is to first identify the problem, so our #GivesMeLife question this week is:

What is one thing about Jamaica that does not #givemelife?

Yakum Fitz-Henley: Politics; the way we blatantly accept mediocrity and dishonesty for the little attention or handouts from politicians in Jamaica does not #givemelife.

Jodi-ann Bell: One thing about Jamaica that doesn’t #givemelife is how we shifted from being a racist society (though not completely) to one that is classist, which isn’t really much better. That is, classists in the sense that people of a higher social status are automatically treated better than those of a lower one.

Rashida Byfield: One thing about Jamaica that does not #givemelife is the ‘handout’ and ‘freeness’ mentality that exist among the masses. That is, the idea that they should sit down doing nothing and government should provide for them and their children and their children’s children.

Candiece Knight: One thing about Jamaica that does not #givemelife is when people in try to slap me in the face with their views and lifestyles. I personally respect different perspectives, but some individuals get lost on their quest for acceptance and equality and start seeking superiority. These views are often related to religion, race, sexuality, body types, etc.

EDITOR’S PICK:

Devaro Bolton: Well I’m sure this isn’t unique to Jamaica, but the difficulty that university graduates face when job-hunting is one feature that definitely does not #givemelife.

Monique Edwards-Davis: One thing in Jamaica that does not #givemelife, apart from crime and violence, is the fact the many citizens STILL LITTER!! The far-reaching repercussions are very evident and real whenever it rains… blocked drains, flooded houses, with many individuals severely affected. If we think about where every piece of trash ends up, then littering would stop being an issue.

As we reflect on these things that are wrong with Jamaica, it is with the hope that those ‘right things’ that we celebrated recently can, as Governor General His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen  often alludes to, right such wrongs. Next week, we continue to identify the issues facing us, with a Reader’s Only special.