Dear Editor,

Locally, values have been misplaced and the prioritising of morals has turned upside down; wrong seems right and right seems wrong. How did we reach here? Surely, this was not an overnight occurrence.

Frankly put, decades of building on a weak societal foundation have brought us to a point at which it seems the house is about to crumble. Blame must be absorbed by both political parties for not doing enough to create a stronger societal fabric that would shrug off any external cultures. We have to build a society in which reasoning and conflict resolutions are easily executed.

Personally, I believe our position as a nation was exacerbated from the early 90s with globalisation. Technologies of various types started to slowly creep into our spaces. By the early 2000s the penetration of computers and cellphones started to sink into our bones. Once these devices were there, the next element was access.

Over time, access to the Internet became more affordable, faster, and available to people in rural Jamaica. The technology was not the issue; for the first time in the history of Jamaica we were connected as a nation but disconnected as a people. The advent of social media widened that disconnect.

Our people were not mentally prepared for this influx. The levels of misinformation and disinformation are at an all-time high, making it extremely difficult to decipher the truth. The daily posts accompanied by the numerous discourteous comments serve to highlight a deep gap in our reasoning skills and our ability to handle conflicts. Conflicts that are reflected in our homes, at schools, in the communities, and on the roads.

We became more selfish and self-centred, and our insatiable desire to be economically independent took a wrong turn. “Nothing wrong with unexplained wealth,” some may say; “Mek di youth dem eat a food,” the same attitude that has brought us to the brink of societal collapse. We turned a blind eye to issues blatantly wrong, and due to political backlash and fear of losing political popularism we let it slide. Interestingly, this posture is predominantly showcased by subjects who should know better.

Is it all doom? No! For us to fully address and correct the wrong turns, we must come to the table and admit that there are some critical approaches that must be agreed across the political divide.

Both political parties must focus on programmes that strengthen family structures, improve education, and encourage community involvement. Schools should emphasise digital literacy and responsible social media use, ensuring that our youth are prepared for the challenges of a connected world.

Moreover, each of us needs to take personal responsibility. “Blame Anju” cannot be our forever answer to every societal ill. It’s time we start looking at the ‘Anju’ in the mirror! What contribution have I made to make Jamaica better or worse? How can I make my space a home of values and not hype?

Let’s each commit to creating a culture of values and integrity, starting within our own homes. If we can hold ourselves accountable and work together, we can address crime and other social ills.

Jamaica’s future depends on all of us. Let’s rise to the occasion and build a society we can be proud of.

Richard Delapenha

rdelapenha@gmail.com