If you go into any major town in Jamaica and watch people as they go about their business, you would get the very strong sense that Jamaicans are very busy.

But then you get a gnawing feeling as the question comes into your mind: What are they really achieving? Are they meeting the goals they may have set for themselves and their families? Are they benefiting from any personal productivity targets they may have set themselves, even though they might not have been able to define these targets in the classical economic sense that economists would? You get the sense of a drift, of aimlessness, of the absence of any real support from the institutions and organisations of the State, from private sector interests or even civil society. How are they being helped to get on to a more productive, enriching, and life-sustaining path?

I watched this in two major towns with which I had to interface recently — Mandeville in Manchester and Junction in St Elizabeth. By the way, where is Mandeville in terms of its city status? The one-way movement of traffic in my view has helped to move traffic more easily in the town centre, but there is still the grave problem of congestion. Your driving skills are sorely tested as you navigate your way through the town. Taxis and other forms of public transportation appear from nowhere. They force themselves beside and before you as they make desperate attempts to unload and onload passengers ahead of the next taxi. This aggressive behaviour is evident as they “fly” past other vehicles on the treacherous Spur Tree Hill.

I notice in Mandeville that two fast food business places have allowed traffic into their businesses to spill over onto the main road. This happens on the main road at the Manchester Shopping Centre by the KFC establishment and at the entrance to the Midway Mall by the Island Grill establishment. The section of the road at the Manchester Shopping Centre is especially annoying as it causes aggravating congestion on the main thoroughfare. There seems to be a constant stream of traffic into the KFC establishment, perhaps as a result of the line caused by patrons at the drive-through windows.

Why does the Manchester Municipal Council allow this state of affairs to persist? It must be incumbent on every business establishment to provide adequate parking facilities for its patrons. None should be allowed to have its patrons contest with public thoroughfares and obstruct citizens who want to go about their business. I may be told that I protest too much, but we have a tendency to take things for granted, which, over time, become accepted as normative, as no big thing, for this is how the “ting set”. But these are deeply irritating to the many people who want to go about their business without hindrance.

How good would it be if pedestrians had sidewalks and did not have to walk on the road, in the path of oncoming traffic. And while the municipal authority might seek to address this, it may want to look into fixing the potholes that are around the town, like the gaping one at the entrance of Balvenie Drive. Do not tell me that the mayor has not passed that pothole several times. It is so glaring it cannot be missed.

These are the glaring irritants that this column has called attention to on several occasions. We are now six months past Hurricane Melissa, and it is really inexcusable that there are sections of main roads that motorists have to traverse daily at their own peril. I can think of some between Junction and Treasure Beach with which I am more familiar. I can see that work is just being done on some areas, but six months after the hurricane event? One can be sure that this is the situation throughout the country, especially those areas hardest hit by Melissa.

The Government started the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme, but it should have embarked on a rapid and aggressive remedial work to give a temporary fix to some of these main arteries, if even to fill in the potholes. This is what any forward-looking Government would do. Again, I ask the question: What are the parish councillors being paid for if these basic necessities are not being addressed? Yes, SPARK may deliver good roads in the long run, but, in the meantime, there is a colossal cost to taxpayers who have to be paying dearly for motor vehicle repairs. Do your jobs, period.

I know the Government has its hands full, but people judge you on the basis of the little irritants that they have to contend with daily. Minister of Finance Fayval Williams has her hands full navigating the treacherous contours of the budget process. I am sure, being the consummate technocrat she is, resources can be found to remedy, in the short term, what are vexing issues to too many communities. She is a capable and efficient public servant, and with her I believe the country is in good hands. While we look at the macro picture, let us not forget those who have to operate at the micro levels and need help. There is a great deal of rot that needs to be cauterised and excised from the body politic if we are to realise the greatness that truly lies within us as a people.

Naming the Western Children Hospital

The People’s National Party (PNP) Youth Affiliate has called for the Western Children and Adolescent Hospital to be named in honour of former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

I wholeheartedly endorse this call. This action would not only recognise her signal role in its conceptualisation and funding, but would be a fitting tribute to the first woman prime minister of Jamaica who dearly loved children and cared about their welfare. Only the meanest among us would disavow her this honour.

It would be a tremendous act of magnanimity on the part of the Andrew Holness Administration. Over to you, Prime Minister.

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life’s Storms; Your Self-esteem Guide to a Better Life; and Beyond Petulance: Republican Politics and the Future of America. He also hosts a podcast — Mango Tree Dialogues — on his YouTube channel. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or stead6655@aol.com.

Raulston Nembhard

This file photo shows congestion in the town of Mandeville. (Photo: Gregory Bennett)

Portia Simpson Miller.

Police at work during a traffic jam in Mandeville. (Photo: Kasey Williams)