“Nuh watch di noise a di market, watch fi yuh correct change.” Or, “Don’t watch the noise in the market, watch the sale.” These sayings have similar meaning. That is, focus on your specific objectives and do not let detractors and distractions agitate and derail your direction. Our forebears created these adages through hundreds of years lived experiences. More of us need to attend to the practical and philosophical genius of aphorisms like these.

“Feast today and famine tomorrow,” is another proverb I often heard wise kin repeat while growing up. The meaning of this precept is pretty obvious. Again, more of us would do well to adhere.

With the advent of social media, the temptation is great for people to be misdirected even to the point of financial self-destruction. The pictures some individuals post of themselves living it up, 24/7, are not reality. Real life is full of ups and downs. Unfortunately some among us have been ensnared by the fake, shiny objects that are flashed before us. Some among us, too, have even fallen into the trap of believing that a national economy can be patterned on ‘feel good’, minus even common sense.

He did not blink

Recall this headline: ‘Barbados Gov’t caps fuel prices’. This news items said, among other things: “Consumers in Barbados will be paying less for gasoline and diesel come Friday, as Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the price of fuel at the pump will be capped for the next five months.” (Jamaica Observer, August 16, 2022)

Recall that for much of 2022 His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition here clamoured vociferously for a removal of part or all of the additional $7 per litre Special Consumption Tax (SCT) that was placed on petrol by the People’s National Party (PNP) Administration in March 2015. The SCT on fuel ranges between $37 and $38 per litre.

I am glad Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke did not succumb to the noise of the market, as evidenced in this news item. Headline: ‘Gas tax stays — $2 billion set aside to support people most adversely affected by higher fuel prices’. The story also noted these and related details: “Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke has said that there will be no new taxes for a fifth consecutive fiscal year, while sidestepping calls for a reduction in the fuel tax in favour of targeted intervention to help the most vulnerable cope with the rising cost of energy. Clarke had argued that raising taxes now would go counter to his push to have the economy recover in the quickest possible time.” (Jamaica Observer, March 9, 2022)

There is no free lunch. This is an axiom we must always keep in mind. Two Sundays ago sections of the regional press reported that gasoline and diesel prices were to increase in Barbados. Why? The cap on value-added tax ( VAT) and retail prices on gas in place since August 2022 expired on January 31, 2023. This means that their full VAT of 17.5 per cent is now fully reinstated.

Did Barbados make the right decision? That is for Barbadians to decide. I believe we made the right decision. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. While gasoline prices are inching up in much of the region, they have been trending down in Jamaica for the last several months. Targeted groups most vulnerable to gas price increases were given relief, instead of everyone across the board. It is coming out in the wash now that this was a wise decision.

Populist pandering

Recall that last September president of the PNP Mark Golding, doubtless feeling the strain of needing to excite party faithfuls, shoved aside basic economic sense while speaking to Comrades at Norman Manley’s Party annual conference. Golding seemingly got lost in populist fervour when he entreated the Andrew Holness-led Administration to go on an imprudent spending spree, notwithstanding repeated warnings from numerous quarters.

This newspaper noted, among other things: “Despite criticism, including from the influential private sector, president of the People’s National Party (PNP) Mark Golding has reiterated his call for the Government to set aside $40 billion to provide a cushion for the most vulnerable Jamaicans from the effects of rising inflation.” (Jamaica Observer, September 19, 2022)

Planning for ‘a rainy day’ is an important key to success. Populist politics is not big on preparation for rainy days. The orientation of populist politicians is: Let us all eat, drink, and be merry, because tomorrow will take care of itself. The reality is, however, tomorrow does not take care of itself. People have to carefully plan for tomorrow.

Populist politicians are often rich and/or from privileged backgrounds. Do they spend and/or invest their personal fortunes, according to the formulae that they espouse for other people’s resources and those of the countries that they fight tooth and nail to lead? No! Populist politicians are mostly traders in smoke and mirrors. Populists called themselves progressives. Progressive is a euphemism for the failed brand called socialism. International benchmarks tell us there is no successful socialist country on Earth. None!

‘Jamaica’s economy rebounds to pre-pandemic levels – BOJ’ (Jamaica Observer, February 21, 2023) is a validation of the Administration’s conservative approach. Some of our sister islands chose a more liberal spending path akin to the one advocated by the PNP. Today some of them are contending with some very choppy waters, while Jamaica’s economic sticktoitveness is paying good dividends. I believe we must continue to strenuously resist those who entreat us to kowtow to the noise of the market.

The Holness Administration has been able to skilfully manage the affairs of Jamaica without resorting to destabilising austerity. Those who think this is an inconsequential achievement should read an insightful piece, entitled ‘Jamaica is doing great, thanks’ in the internationally respected Financial Times early last month.

Those who are facts-averse or facts-resistant should take a look at the destabilising impact of biting austerity in our (Caricom) relative Suriname. Last Monday’s The Gleaner reported these and other details: “President Chandrikapersad Santokhi began hearings with various civil society organisations and groups in an attempt to de-escalate the high political tensions in the country, but two key groups have refused to be part of the consultations.

“The head of state said that he wanted to obtain input from society to adjust his policy after a peaceful demonstration on February 17 turned into large-scale riots in the capital Paramaribo, in which numerous businesses were looted and destroyed and the Parliament building was attacked by demonstrators.”

Saving for a rainy day makes sense.

Follow-fashion

Empty barrels make the most noise, it is said.

Some of the nosiest in the market these days are self-seekers on social media. There are fuelled by their insidious posts being retweeted and liked. I suspect many will soon ‘meet their Waterloo’. And dozens of their underlings, I predict, will come to a similar fate.

Jamaican proverbial wisdom warns that “follow-fashion monkey never drink good soup”. Nonetheless, some are quite happy to follow fashion — the good, bad and the ugly, pardon me for taking liberties with the title of a famous Spaghetti western. Monkey see, monkey do. For those who are adroit at adding the sum of 5 + 5 to make a grand total of 55, I make it abundantly clear that I am not calling anyone a primate. I am using the dictum in the symbolic sense as the proverb does, meaning imitation without apparent application of reason.

Some experts say social media has turned many among us into slaves of carefully curated gossip, insidious innuendos and Ponzi-like schemes. I think there might be more than a grain of truth in that line of thinking.

Recently a teacher called me in a frantic state: “Have you heard what happened to a teacher at Vauxhall?

“What?” I inquired.

“There is a big uproar at the school.”

“Why?” I asked.

“A teacher was stabbed in her side with pencil and a gun was found at the school,” she submitted.

“Where did you get this information,” I asked.

“It is all over social media,” she shouted.

“I see, let me do some checks and get back to you,” I responded.

To make a long story short, as they say in the rural parts, there was absolutely no truth to the story.

Even after the police verified that the story was false, some on social media continued to “run wid it”.

Here is a snippet of a report in The Star on the same day the lies were noised abroad: “Following reports that a teacher was stabbed, and a gun was found in the bathroom of the Vauxhall High School in Kingston, the police are declaring that the stories are not true.”

It did not matter to some. The verifiable truth was generously shared on various social media platforms. Still some revelled in the lies.

One-armed bandits

Those who manufacture lies and propagate them especially on social media are one-armed bandits. They have no compunction about creating severe panic and abusing the vulnerabilities of others.

Recall this, ‘Job scam — Hundreds left unhappy after unemployment fair turns out to be fake’. The Jamaica Observer news item of February 22, 2023 said among other things: “Hundreds of jobseekers who turned up at the Girl Guides headquarters on Waterloo Road, St Andrew, on Tuesday, were left disappointed after being told that no job fair was being hosted on the premises.

“Some of the people who spoke with the Jamaica Observer on request of anonymity shared that they were notified about the event through several flyers that were circulated on social media platforms.

“A flyer obtained by the Jamaica Observer, labelled ‘Canadian Job Fair’, indicated that registration would take place in the Girl Guides auditorium from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm at a cost of $2,500.”

Some among us evidently get immense pleasure from setting of panic bells.

Recall this: ‘$35-M theft hoax — Bankers’ Association, police, BOJ react to social media claim’. The news item delivered these and related detail: “The Jamaica Bankers’ Association (JBA), the police, and the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) all say they have no evidence that $35 million has been stolen from a financial institution in St Ann by an employee.

“They were responding to Jamaica Observer queries following a media organisation picking up and publishing a social media claim last week that a female worker had walked out with $35 million and had taken a flight to Canada.

” ‘We looked into this matter in great detail and found no evidence to support these allegations,’ Jamaica Bankers’ Association Anti-Fraud Committee Chair Dane Nicholson told the Sunday Observer on Friday.

” ‘We are deeply concerned as an association by false or unverified reports that can cause unnecessary panic and alarm among customers, investors, and other stakeholders,’ added Nicholson, who is also manager of special investigations in the Fraud Prevention Unit at National Commercial Bank.” (Jamaica Observer, February 26, 2023)

The fabrications which occasioned this investigation should have sent off several red flags immediately. Those who sat and deliberately spun this lie were, of course, capitalising on allegations of banking fraud that have been in the public space especially in recent weeks.

I would be foolhardy to believe we have seen the last of these types of fabrications. I do not believe playful children having fun at their computers are creating these lies. I believe there is an orchestrated plan by some among us to use social media to hurt, maim, and destroy. I have said it before, but it bears repeating: I believe that there are some among us who are quite prepared to spread falsehoods with the intent of dislocating and destabilising the Administration. Those who would prefer to put their heads underneath the sand like ostriches are welcome to it, but realpolitik is not a hoax.

Repel them

Some who seek high office are busy weaponising misinformation and disinformation. I believe we must resist them with every sinew. If we fail, we will recede into a space where truth is not seen as an objective reality anymore. Then democracy dies.

If we choose, we can establish workable defences against these purveyors of lies.

Here are some:

1) Pay attention to where your news is coming from.

2) If you get information from social media, check the original source.

3) Within news articles, examine the sources and how they are included. Read beyond the headline.

4) When you see your friends and family share misinformation, correct them.

Garfield Higgins is an educator, journalist and a senior advisor to the minister of education & youth. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or higgins160@yahoo.com.