The recent implementation of the new Road Traffic Act, which fast became a comedy of errors — and regrettably so — has unearthed a flawed characteristic among many Jamaicans, which is that of not taking personal responsibility for their actions.

Yes, there was much bungling on the part of the Andrew Holness-led Administration, so much so that in any other self-respecting country Transport and Mining Minister Audley Shaw would have resigned in the wake of the amount of eggs and rotten tomatoes that were hurled at the Government.

This writer, in the meantime, agrees with Prime Minister Holness that there is indeed a silent majority out there who welcomes most of what is being promulgated in the Act because all well-thinking citizens are fed up with what has been happening on our roads every day and night. There is also irrefutable evidence that most of the infractions being committed are by operators of taxis and minibuses, many of whom have chalked up thousands of tickets for traffic violations, which they have failed to pay over to the national coffers.

Let’s face it, Jamaica has become a most disorderly, undisciplined, and crass society in which law and order no longer holds sway. Instead, it is every man for himself and the Devil takes the hindmost! Anecdotally, there have been numerous stories circulating about the many concerned Jamaicans who have opted to migrate, not just because of the high crime rate, inclusive of murders, but because of the general breakdown in civility and good manners as well as the lack of adherence to the principle of taking personal responsibility for one’s action.

As one angry and frustrated pensioner puts it, “Who wants to live in a country where just about everybody behaves like puss and dog?”

In the face of all of this deterioration in acceptable standards, Jamaicans have been failing to respect and practice the words found in the second stanza of our national anthem, “Teach us true respect for all, stir response to duty’s call, strengthen us the weak to cherish, give us vision lest we perish.” The national pledge goes further to reinforce those values and attitudes that are so lacking in the Jamaica of today. “I promise to stand up for justice, brotherhood, and peace, to work diligently and creatively, to think generously and honestly so that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship, and prosperity and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race.”

Jamaica Labour Party Leader Andrew Holness promised in his last election campaign that his Government was committed to guaranteeing Jamaicans a bite of the prosperity cake, but this Utopian dream has become a nightmare for many citizens because, in the final analysis, money and opulence are not all. People want to live in a society in which the misery index is minimal and that comfort level can only truly be realised when just about everyone is prepared to take personal responsibility for their actions, including those who govern or are seeking to govern this irascible, contentious nation that wants to have its cake and eat it.

An introduction to What is Personal Responsibility? reads thus: “Can you imagine a world where you don’t have to confine yourself within set rules that you set in your life? Often these rules are put in place for personal gains, like achievements, accolades and accomplishments, goals, being more conscientious, improving quality of life, or more. Setting personal boundaries and rules to play by makes you consciously aware of your every action.

When you are consciously analysing your steps, you hold yourself actively responsible for your life. This personal responsibility, when practised correctly, can help you not only lead a better life, but its butterfly effect also touches the people around you. You may not have thought so, but personal responsibility doesn’t just end with you. No. That’s where it begins. As you carry on, this personal responsibility will extend to every facet of your life and reflect in your environment, impacting much more that you could have imagined.”

In this increasingly materialistic world where selfishness becomes the norm, those who would wish to see a better Jamaica, land we love must ensure that we revisit post-haste and implement a Values and Attitudes campaign (or call it what you will) which should start in our homes and schools. As has been said, personal responsibility is an extremely crucial skill to have if we want to succeed in life. And, yes, whether we like it or not, we are ultimately responsible for ourselves.

In a Jamaica where things are falling apart, the usual refrain is, “Mi nuh response.” Gary Keller, in his best seller The One Thing, states that: “Accountable people achieve results others only dream of. Taking complete ownership of your outcomes by holding no one but yourself responsible for them is the most powerful thing you can do to drive your success.” The tendency to blame everybody except ourselves is very commonplace in Jamaica. If we are to build a truly prosperous and well-ordered nation, then this can only be achieved through corporate and social partnership, which presupposes self-regulation and individual responsibility.

Regrettably, so many of us spend our time blaming politicians, dancehall artistes, media, Satan, slavery, etcetera, etcetera. Steven Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People states: “Principles are not values. A gang of thieves can share values, but they are in violation of fundamental principles. Principles are the territory. Values are maps. When we value correct principles, we have truth.” It is time that every Jamaican stands up and be counted on the right side of responsible citizenship, which means taking responsibility for our actions and doing the right thing.

As the late Michael Jackson sang, “I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I am asking him to change his ways, and no message could have been clearer, if you wanna make the world [Jamaica] a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.”

Lloyd B Smith has been involved full-time in Jamaican media for the past 47 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lbsmith4@gmail.com.