THE EDITOR, Madam:
IT HAPPENED in Yugoslavia, Indonesia, and Poland and to a lesser extent Mexico; the perfect examples of people power at work. In these countries the people were united enough to demonstrate (literally) to the sitting government that they were not willing to put up with its injustices any more. What we find common among these countries is a situation where the people's rights, welfare and social needs were being grossly undermined by the government.
University students, coal miners, factory workers and the general population created such a groundswell that swept these governments out of power. These people were not afraid to give their lives in some instances to have their demands for change and justice met. The pain and suffering was too great for them to bear anymore. They knew if they gave up their struggle, they would continue to suffer - so they fought on, united and with a cause.
Anyone who understands these things will see clearly the dilemma we face here in Jamaica. While most of the people complain about the bad government, crime and poverty, there is not enough unity among the people for us to demand any change. There is no strong enough issue to rally the population to unite for a call for change. True, we all see the injustices and we all feel the effects of the economic stagnation.
However, Jamaicans are so divided and set on their purpose of self-fulfilment that the government can continue to not govern and the criminals can continue to pick us off one by one. Those who can leave, do so (no hate for them) leaving the rest of us behind to continue the suffering.
The people need to let this government realise in no uncertain way that we have had enough. Mr. Patterson is living in a different world if he thinks he is governing this country. Why is Jamaica the only Caribbean country that is seeing no growth?
Until the people of Jamaica unite, until the gangs with guns realise that killing each other will only leave all of them dead, until the government wakes up and smells the rot, Jamaica will continue to slide further into decay. Let us start now before we become too weak to fight!
I am, etc.,
GEORGE HALL
E-mail: bluedotboy@hotmail.com
Kingston 17
Via Go-Jamaica
