Dear Editor,

I write to bring attention to the spate of non-functioning clocks that hang in our town centres, transportation hubs, government buildings, and civic squares across Jamaica.

In my view, this represents a pervasive failure across our public spaces that speaks volumes about our regard as a society for national standards.

These clocks, once erected as practical instruments of public service and as emblems of order and reliability, have in far too many instances become frozen relics permanently displaying no time at all. They stand not merely as broken fixtures, but as daily reminders of neglect, indifference, and a troubling tolerance for dysfunction in the spaces we all share.

Our governors ought to know that time is not a trivial matter. It governs commerce, education, transportation, and public life itself. Functional public clocks, in this instance, are more than convenience; they are signals that a society values coordination, punctuality, and accountability.

For, when visitors arrive on our shores and encounter lifeless clocktowers and blank digital displays, what impression are we giving?

There may well be method in organised chaos, but when our citizens pass these fixtures daily what message do they internalise about standards and upkeep?

I would agree that this issue may seem minor when weighed against larger national challenges, but it is precisely in these visible, manageable matters that a culture of excellence — or complacency — is cultivated. Repairing and maintaining public clocks, after all, does not require vast resources or complex policy frameworks. What it requires is attention, ownership, and the will to act.

Jamaica deserves better than frozen timepieces, even in the age of cellphones. As such, municipal authorities, relevant government agencies, and private stakeholders responsible for these installations should now conduct a nationwide audit of public clocks that seeks to restore them to proper working order with urgency. And where clocks are beyond repair, replace them. Where maintenance systems are lacking, implement them. Where responsibility is unclear, establish it without delay.

Jamaica, in the 21st century, deserves functioning clocks in our public spaces, if only to reflect a deeper commitment to order, pride, and respect for the public realm.

Everton Pryce

St Aandrew