Errol Hewitt, Contributor
"And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations and you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets with dwellings."
- Isaiah 58:12.
The emancipation of slavery only partially satisfied the blood, sweat and tears of a people who for themselves and subsequent generations had made the ultimate sacrifice to achieve it.
The triumphant shout of "full free!" that August morning was, however, for a constricted personal freedom - a surreal freedom - for in the next four years of apprentice-ship and beyond, the estate owners [they were simultaneously landlord and employer] continued to maximise their exploitation.
Nothing had changed. They were wearing the same rough calico/linen, living in the same deplorable circumstance; experienced hard labour in the same fields at minimum wages, and high, rentals for the same miserable accommodations, while still growing their own food in their 'spare' time.
Attempts at personal independence by purchasing small lots and moving from the plantations were often frustrated by the owners. The church, however, assisted to alleviate the issue by purchasing acreage, sub-dividing and selling lots to the 'peasant' farmers - some forming townships such as Sligoville and Sturge Town. Many became, in time, the backbone of the internal economy - a role further enhanced by the 1890s land reform which made larger lots available at discounted prices. From the 'ruins' of their lives they had started 'to rebuild' and to 'raise up a foundation for many generations.'
In contrast, many of the racially mixed or those 'absorbed' into the white households, were more readily accommodated in acquiring property and commercial opportunities, thereby solidifying then and into the future, their higher social and economic status.
Emancipation did not mean reparation for the slaves; rather, it was the Jamaican slave owners who received then over £6 million compensation from the colonial authorities for losing legal [not economic] control of the slaves.
Here was evidenced the biased social justice and the distinctly racially-stratified socio-economic order. "At the top were the white masters, in the middle the mulattos, and at the bottom the black slaves ..." which, despite adjustments for 'modernity,' has largely remained with us.
JOURNEYING TO FULL FREE
The thrust towards 'full free' continued unrelentingly through such struggles as adult suffrage and self-government towards another benchmark, political independence: governing ourselves and enabling every willing citizen to become the best that he/she can be. Naïve?
Expectations were high. Here was an opportunity to 'repair the breach' for a people forced into slavery/apprenticeship/colonialism and to bring them to 'streets with dwellings' - the realisation of their God-given potential and right to dignity.
But no one expected our own leadership to be without vision or opinion and to readily become [like the colonials] self-seeking and authoritative, some themselves becoming an obstacle to achieving 'full free' for all; further exacerbated by the fact that government, with its legal authority locally and overseas, the largest budget and employer, is the defining national player.
Yet the private sector is not much different. several of its leading players are from the people but no longer of the people, simply replacing their colonial predecessors - in contrast, the people in general remaining comparatively 'as they were.'
Nationhood and socio-economic progress is more than an anthem and a flag. It has to be moral, disciplined, ethical and egalitarian, properly organised and managed, with respect for the law, an unequivocal system of justice, an agreed path and facilities to economic independence, and the opportunity for social mobility based on merit; goals sought by our people for generations which outline the path to 'full free' - the fervently-sought crowning attainment since arriving on the slave boats.
It has to do with an education system with at its very core the nurturing of the ability to think, inculcating the people's history, thereby embracing at last their true identity, from which can be forged positive personal and national goals, while unlocking the mental fetters which have imprisoned most, irrespective of socio-economic status.
It also has to do with the church seriously and consistently adhering to its fundamentals in 'holding up the nation and its aspirations before the throne of God and fearlessly and without favour, representing Him to the state.'
Economic reality
Political independence was to have been consolidated [politically, economically, administratively, etc.] and a foundation laid for economic independence, i.e. the ability of each individual, "to escape poverty through one's own hard work.'
This effort, however, is struggling because of many factors, such as incompetence, e.g. the unbelievable use of expensive money for long-term physical infrastructure, and, a lack of serious commitment in leadership, e.g. the continued cement issue and its negative multiplying effects.
We are net importers of most essentials. Our major industry, tourism, is one of low wages with the major benefits routed overseas and strangely, labour-intensive businesses continue to relocate elsewhere.
Migration is continuous as many seek a better life, and remittances and 'invisible' imports are indispensable contributors to our income.
About 66 per cent of our foreign income is spent importing oil while the country bleeds heavily from the enormity of the dollar value of corruption which, unpunished, weakens a country where morality and justice are increasingly marginalised.
Violent crime [accelerated from the very political system created to facilitate our freedom] is not only a major killer but a despoiler of social and economic progress
Our Minister of Finance seems continuously to be juggling budgetary demands, keeping them in an arc-like orbit as each passes fleetingly through his hands in an ever-repeating cycle.
This is our circumstance: A nation that has come of age but is neither able to feed itself nor solve its problems.
New game needed
The finance minister's juggling has to be replaced by a new vision and determination with a new act.
Given our history, our leaders [public/private and the church] still need to grasp its importance and from it, have a sense of our destiny - an inherent belief in our God-given potential for greatness; a passion expressed through selfless commitment and leadership to complete the drive to at last attain 'full free' for everyone - the realisation of our forefather's dreams and the hope today of all our people.
A detailed national plan reflecting what we have, how we should be organised, what are our best options etc., should neither be beyond us nor involve extended time. There are many analyses, reports and recommendations already on the shelves. This has to incorporate the talent, innovation and productivity of all our people.
An urgent priority, therefore, must be a focus on the mass of our people - especially the young - the rural/urban communities where the people are concentrated, which traditionally have been left behind; where they are accustomed to being spectators to developmental programmes rather than the focus; more accustomed to contributing to the economy than its beneficiaries; more accustomed to bringing honour to the nation through its music and prowess in sports than being honoured by the nation.
Jamaica's progress has to be based on the productive innovation of all its people and commitment to responsibilities.
History asserts that our people have the drive to succeed and are our most valuable asset. The original free holders that emerged from abolition are our bedrock.
They and succeeding generations not only carried the economy on their backs but their foresight, progress-iveness and frugality ensured the advancement of their children.
They sold livestock and produced from small farms and enterprises, migrating to urban centres [local and overseas] to facilitate the progress of family members.
Their cooperative spirit engendered an impressive list of institutions, e.g. 'relief' associations, 'partners,' 'burial schemes,' etc., tailored to support their socio-economic activities and to underscore the inherent dignity of the people.
Seething volcano
Yet, the lack of real support has kept most of our people in 'shackles.' They see no hope, no legitimate pathway to success. They are embittered by the 'spin' on everything; the ascriptive 'who-you-know' format to progress instead of by achievement; the contagious yet unpunished corruption [only poor people go to prison] and reckless squandering of resources; the unchanging social order where real power still rests in only a few hands, and, a 'tribal' political system with which they are disenchanted.
We are complacently sitting on a seething volcano and history will judge us negatively if we do not deal positively with this situation.
In the name of all the generations since the middle passage across the Atlantic and a God who offers us 'an assured future,' let us do our part to 'repair the breach' and 'restore the streets with dwellings' for our people.
"Each generation must discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it." (Frantz Fanon.)
Errol Hewitt is an information and communication technology planning consultant with the United Nations and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
