Dear Editor,

When KFC Jamaica rolled out its 50th anniversary chicken deal, thousands of people rushed to outlets across the island. What should have been a harmless fast-food promo quickly turned into public chaos — long lines, property damage, fights, and even reports of gun violence. Over fried chicken?

It’s easy to laugh or shake our heads at the headlines, but we would be missing the bigger picture. This incident wasn’t just about food — it was a national X-ray. It exposed deep cracks in the Jamaican economy and signalled just how strained daily life has become for many.

1) The hunger is real: The most jarring part of the entire ordeal was the desperation. People didn’t turn out in thousands just because they love chicken — they showed up because, for many, a discounted meal is a rare opportunity. This points to a growing crisis of food insecurity and poverty.

When families are willing to risk safety, spend hours in line, and battle crowds for a few extra pieces of chicken, something is deeply wrong. We’re not just talking about fast food — we’re talking about survival.

2) Unemployment and idleness are fuelling the fire: The sheer size of the crowd during weekday hours raises another question: How many people are either unemployed, underemployed, or surviving in the informal economy without structure?

The turnout suggests that thousands had nothing more pressing to do — no jobs to be at, no structured responsibilities. That’s not just a sign of individual choice, it’s a reflection of a wider lack of economic opportunity.

3) This wasn’t a chicken crisis, it was an economic alarm: This wasn’t just a marketing mishap. It was a loud warning bell.

People are hurting. They’re tired. They’re hungry. And they’re desperate for relief. If leadership — both in Government and the private sector — continues to ignore the everyday struggles of regular Jamaicans, then incidents like this will become more frequent, more dangerous, and more damaging to our society.

The KFC frenzy didn’t create these problems. It simply put a spotlight on them. Now it’s up to us — citizens, policymakers, business leaders — to decide whether we brush it off as a joke or treat it as the serious wake-up call it truly is.

Alison Fearon

fearonstacy@gmail.com