Dear Editor,

Self-destruction is the worst kind of destruction.

Sometimes it is difficult to find the right words to fit a particular situation. Sometimes the word you want to say is best left unuttered, and sometimes silence is the most profound statement to be made.

What do you say to a person who has worked, is expecting a salary, and then see nothing in his/her account? Genesis 3:19 posits, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till though return unto the ground, for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” The word of God has set the precedent, but man, specifically employers — private business operators and government entities — have been operating out of the context set by the Creator, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Today, there are people who have laboured for the day, the week, the fortnight, or the month who are crying for their salaries because their employers decided, for whatever reason, not to honour the word of God.

It has become tiring to hear teachers lament. One teacher stated, “Migration, migration, migration is a must. At least dem nuh hitch with the lilly pay, so mi hear.” Those in authority seem not to care and it is as if our hands are tied behind our backs.

But the problem is bigger than teachers and the public sector. Common labourers and employees across every industry are affected by this seemingly unconcerned attitude of employers. What should they do? If everyone looks to migration, what will become of our island home? Will there be a Jamaica, a land of sun, sand, wood, and water?

It is time we take a serious look at what we are doing to each other. The time draweth nigh when we will have to give an account of how we treat each other. How can employers be comfortable on any day of the week when the people they employ go to bed hungry because they were not paid for work done?

Then the country is faced with another problem, after having worked and got paid, people cannot access their money because the automated teller machines (ATM) have not been stocked with cash? If God created man and He does not force man to worship Him, why does it appear that governments are trying to force people to accept a cashless society? Are governments greater than God? The Bible says the end is coming, but until the spirit of God leaves the Earth, no other spirit can control.

It is time people recognise oppression. The days of slavery used chains and shackles, but in this 21st century oppression takes many forms, and preventing people from accessing their earnings is one such way. What sense does it make to be driving from one ATM machine to another and being told there is no money? How are people expected to navigate those systems which do not allow point of sale (POS) transactions — markets, public transport, corner shops, etc.

As a country, Jamaica is oppressed in so many ways. Our forefathers sacrificed their lives for freedom, yet today their descendants, in their cutely worded laws and by-laws, have become oppressors.

How long will it continue? How long will the veil be over our eyes? How long can the lies continue? How long?

Yes, migration is an option. The real story has yet to be told about how many teachers, nurses, doctors, and skilled labourers have migrated. And they have been excelling in the countries to which they have migrated. These countries appreciate their services and skills.

Jamaica has lost and is losing some of its best citizens. When will we build our citizens? Are we a country that trains our citizens to provide services for other countries? If so, we are destroying our island from within.

Every general knows that the war is already lost if the fighting is within the camp. Jamaica needs to unite, not from the lips in a campaign speech but from the heart in our actions towards each other.

Natesha Lindsay

lindsay.natesha2@gmail.com