Dear Editor,

Jamaica is one of the most famous Caribbean nations in the world, always in the global spotlight. Yet looking at the current socio-political state of our island, one has to ask: Have we lost the plot? Are we selling ourselves out?

Every day, ordinary Jamaicans are forced to endure worsening conditions. We see health-care facilities in disrepair and schools struggling with poor infrastructure. When our children are forced to learn outdoors due to damaged facilities, we are told by leadership that the children “enjoy being outside”. Frame-shifting systemic neglect into a positive outdoor experience does not erase the reality that our students and teachers deserve safe and modern classrooms.

This disconnect becomes even harder to swallow during moments of national crisis. Following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, which left countless citizens struggling to rebuild basic lives, we learnt about massive salary packages for leadership positions. How can we justify executive compensation while everyday Jamaicans are left living in awful situations without basic structural relief?

It is time for leadership to own up to these shortcomings, stop downplaying citizens’ struggles, and start prioritising the well-being of everyday Jamaicans.

Sanaa Robinson

sanaazaire02@gmail.com