IN statistical terms, the difference between the impossible and possible is one. Even if it never happens again, the fact that there has been a single occurrence means the phenomenon is undoubtedly possible and repeatable.

The regularity with which the phenomenon occurs is dependent upon the value of the key contributing variables. What does this have to do with our crime rate? On November 24 Brazil played their first World Cup football match and for the first time in a long while, Jamaica recorded zero murders.

This comes as no surprise to the citizens of Jamaica because it was expected. Whenever there are massive events taking place that involve Jamaica in some capacity, the crime rate takes a significant nosedive. Whether it is the Olympics, Euros, UEFA Champions League or World Cup, the country just becomes more harmonious and peaceful when these events occur. Brazil’s match day proved that we are capable of a nil crime rate and, as the preceding paragraph dictates, if it happened once, it can happen again. Knowing this, how do we get Brazil to play every day?

Of course I don’t mean the actual Brazil team playing every day in a literal sense but how do we replicate the atmosphere that appears when they do play? To arrive at our answer we must first dissect the phenomenon. When Brazil plays it is a big deal because most Jamaicans are Brazil fans. So, to replicate this, we need a big team or cause that everyone can join hands and hearts to support. When Brazil plays the fans become invested in the events leading up to the match, the actual match, and its aftermath. So, our big cause will need to be sufficiently impactful enough for every Jamaican to be fully invested in all stages.

We are getting there but not quite, because Brazil has an active national team that plays several matches every year and the “loyal fans” don’t usually care as much. Therefore, the difference is the tournament and the stakes that come with it. The beauty about the World Cup is, only one team can and will ever win it. Each match won is a milestone that the fans have willed the team towards. The wagon becomes more and more laden the better the team performs at each milestone, as the team and its supporters remain fixated on the ultimate goal which is to win the World Cup finals.

So yes, we will need a big cause or team and we will need the whole tournament structure too. By tournament structure I don’t mean group and knockout stages; I mean milestones that determine how well we have performed as a people. We need milestones with self-imposed implications as we hold ourselves accountable having not met that which we deemed feasible for the slated periods.

We don’t need to be a Neymar to set goals for ourselves. It is not outside of our capacity to say if we do ‘X’ we will have ‘Y’ and this is what Y will do for every citizen. As a developing nation I don’t see why these sorts of challenges are not put to the people. For argument’s sake, there is no reason the Y can’t be a 10 per cent increase in the minimum wage if our tax bracket is X for a quarter. Maybe Y can be equal to fully subsidised education for every child below 18 if X is met.

The issue is: When plans are being put in place perhaps the citizens won’t even be around to experience these plans, or the plans are so far from their reality that it is hard to even care. You rally support through inspiration and you inspire through goals and incentives. I am not saying long-term goals and planning are not important. However, short-term gratification is its own prize and it is much easier to subscribe to a plan that will fundamentally improve a citizen’s living standards within three months than in five years.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic many events were terminated due to health protocols. This was the case for most nations including fellow Caribbean island St Vincent & The Grenadines. Their most beloved annual event is the Vincentian (Vincy) Carnival and because of how much the event meant to the people, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves made a deal with the Vincentians that if 70-80 per cent of the adult population was vaccinated by May of this year the carnival would be held as planned. The citizens became the police of this endeavour and encouraged each other to become vaccinated. St Vincent’s carnival ran from June 30 to July 11, 2022.

This is how we get Brazil to play every day — a big cause or several causes with an ultimate goal or milestone that impacts every citizen positively (particularly those in crime-ridden areas) in a medium- to short-term period. Remember, it only takes one occurrence to prove something is possible so imagine if our milestones are reached. What greater incentive can you offer a citizen than proving that their positive contributions are improving their living standards in real time?

Hugh Graham is Member of Parliament for St Catherine North Western and CEO of Paramount Trading Company Ltd.