Dear Editor,
Jamaicans are quite upset with the present political system and its disadvantages, but do we ever stop and examine our contribution to its ruination?
Politicians should be blamed for their blatant promotion of pork barrel politics and the decadent culture it created, but this does not mean that citizens are entirely blameless.
We are always lamenting the state of the job market, but more productive jobs could be created if we weren't so dishonest. Just look at the experience of a local company, Moonraker SIPS Limited, which was recently forced to temporarily shut down its operations after thieves stole its inventory. With occurences like this you would expect sensible people to understand the private sector's aversion to establishing businesses in Jamaica. But, as usual, we ignore the problem and pretend hapless businessmen become lazy capitalists who are exploiting the masses, when it's really the other way around.
For years politicians have tricked the masses into believing that they are poor due to some selfish businessman who doesn't want them to prosper, when in reality their poverty is due to their own bad habits.
If you complain when you are required to purchase a textbook for your child, but you don't hesitate to purchase hair extensions, then you and your child will be condemned to a life a poverty. If you idle in Half-Way-Tree and refuse to go to school in the mornings, then you will be poor and dunce.
It's so ironic that the same people who engage in unproductive activities have the gall to think that they are entitled to the wealth of hard-working entrepreneurs. Squatting is an issue which clearly explains the entitlement mentality of some Jamaicans, and this is why no politician is willing to tackle it head-on, even if it costs a private company millions. Sonic Limited is an agro-investment company whose multimillion-dollar project is being stalled due to squatters. Although the company promised to involve squatters in the project they are still not compliant, and then we wonder why few jobs are being created. Can you imagine how many jobs would be created if investors weren't forced to deal with squatters?
The present system benefits politicians and their henchmen, but it is hampering the country's development and we the thinking citizens should not expect the PNP and the JLP to alter the state of affairs. Maybe it's time for Jamaicans to follow Europeans and North Americans and develop their own brand of anti-establishment conservative politics.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
We are part of Jamaica's problem
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Jamaicans are quite upset with the present political system and its disadvantages, but do we ever stop and examine our contribution to its ruination?
Politicians should be blamed for their blatant promotion of pork barrel politics and the decadent culture it created, but this does not mean that citizens are entirely blameless.
We are always lamenting the state of the job market, but more productive jobs could be created if we weren't so dishonest. Just look at the experience of a local company, Moonraker SIPS Limited, which was recently forced to temporarily shut down its operations after thieves stole its inventory. With occurences like this you would expect sensible people to understand the private sector's aversion to establishing businesses in Jamaica. But, as usual, we ignore the problem and pretend hapless businessmen become lazy capitalists who are exploiting the masses, when it's really the other way around.
For years politicians have tricked the masses into believing that they are poor due to some selfish businessman who doesn't want them to prosper, when in reality their poverty is due to their own bad habits.
If you complain when you are required to purchase a textbook for your child, but you don't hesitate to purchase hair extensions, then you and your child will be condemned to a life a poverty. If you idle in Half-Way-Tree and refuse to go to school in the mornings, then you will be poor and dunce.
It's so ironic that the same people who engage in unproductive activities have the gall to think that they are entitled to the wealth of hard-working entrepreneurs. Squatting is an issue which clearly explains the entitlement mentality of some Jamaicans, and this is why no politician is willing to tackle it head-on, even if it costs a private company millions. Sonic Limited is an agro-investment company whose multimillion-dollar project is being stalled due to squatters. Although the company promised to involve squatters in the project they are still not compliant, and then we wonder why few jobs are being created. Can you imagine how many jobs would be created if investors weren't forced to deal with squatters?
The present system benefits politicians and their henchmen, but it is hampering the country's development and we the thinking citizens should not expect the PNP and the JLP to alter the state of affairs. Maybe it's time for Jamaicans to follow Europeans and North Americans and develop their own brand of anti-establishment conservative politics.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
We are part of Jamaica's problem
-->