I called the contractor to find out why he had not come as promised to repair something at my home. When it comes to these conversations I wish I could just press fast forward, past the part when I express my disappointment, skipping his story about his sick aunty, car troubles, or need to collect cash, and past when I in turn give my equally elaborate story why I really need the job done. I'd press play, as we got to the new agreed time that he may or may not honour.

This conversation was to be no different. I called, he answered, I complained and he gave his excuse … "I was in jail". I am not one that cares for excuses, in fact I was brought up being told never to make excuses, either something was done or it wasn't, why it wasn't isn't really very relevant. This, however, was a good one, and being one for a good story, I had to hear the scoop!

'Brown man' in lock-up

This Upper St Andrew man was pulled over by the police in a routine check and had an outstanding traffic violation. He was told to call someone to collect his car and duly carted off to the station. The next few hours were spent in an overcrowded, hot lock-up. Being an affable fellow, he seems to have made friends with the lady constable who did keep an eye out for the 'brown man' and, by his own report, he is none the worse for his day in jail.

Perhaps the truth is he was actually out on his boat fishing but thought I'd be happier to hear he was in jail, but his story fits with what we are seeing all around us; this government is clamping down on EVERYTHING. Who told me to advocate for tax compliance for all? To reward my sins I am being audited, and the only benefit to this ordeal is now a colonoscopy doesn't seem so daunting! As the old saying goes, 'Be careful what you wish for', and we wished for an end to lawlessness, and now I have to put on my seat belt, all the time.

Discipline a bitter pill

The truth is what we really wished for was for everyone else to pay taxes, and abide by the laws of the land. Or at least we wanted the big boys to pay the taxes, and the hardened criminals to get caught; the rest of us were just being Jamaican, laid-back. Rigidity is going to take some getting used to, and discipline is a bitter pill in the land of 'cool runnings', yet, apart from a few, I believe most of us accept that this is what it will take for change.

However, if we all rush off and take advantage of amnesties, and pay tickets and wear seat belts and become model citizens, the powers that be must make it equitable. The big boys cannot be exempt. My friend who spent the day in lock-up did so with the hope that it is the beginning of something positive for the nation; he paid his fine and only commented that he hoped they did something good for the country with it.

Catastrophic results

Yet, if nothing positive comes out of it, and if more decent people spend the day in jail for minor offences while drug dealers roam free and prosper, the results will be catastrophic.

If the system moves to strangle the small businesspeople and the minor offenders, in the face of gross corruption and crime, then migration or total anarchy will be the order of the day. The Government should not appear to be a bully prefect, picking on the small kids in the playground, harassing them for the slightest infringement, while turning a blind eye to the big kids who he knows have the might to fight back. We do not just want a system that attempts to make the honest more honest, the taxpayers to pay more tax; we also want a system that will also be brave enough to go after real criminals.

Tara Clivio is a freelance writer; for feedback, columns@gleanerjm.com.