Garth Rattray

When I close my eyes I'm transported back to a time when our days were balmy and our nights were cool. The beaches were pristine, the air was clean and the hills were chilly. Lush vegetation adorned most fences and thick, strong mangroves guarded our coastlines. John Crows (turkey buzzards) circled in large clusters overhead and bull frogs (toads) were always hiding in nearby bushes. Now, Mother Nature has been usurped by the trappings of 'progress'. Asphalt and cement have replaced rain-producing, life-giving plants and zinc wire fences and concrete walls have replaced shrubs and bushes. Overpopulation and pollution have made it impossible for many animals to live among us.

When I close my eyes I remember when children, women and the elderly were protected by the entire community. Physical conflicts were uncommon and policemen were highly respected members of the society. Political differences were discussed over drinks on verandas or at the bar. Thieves existed but they were the pariah of the community. A criminal record or a prison sentence was a shameful thing to be kept secret within disgraced families. Now, deviants and reprobates target our unborn, our children, our young and the elderly. Disagreements are liable to end with someone being killed and criminal records are proudly brandished like badges of honour by convicts across the span of society.

Going back in time

When I close my eyes I recall a time when civil servants were upstanding, honest, educated, polished, dutiful, hard-working and esteemed individuals. Teachers spoke the Queen's English and commanded respect from everyone (especially parents). Street cleaners and garbage men were extended members of the communities that they served. Bus drivers and taxi operators took great pride in providing safe and comfortable rides for their customers. Now, some greedy, corrupt workers have tainted the civil service, many teachers struggle to form one single grammatically correct sentence and too many public servants grudgingly work and gripe throughout the day. Drivers of public passenger vehicles ignore every traffic law and hurriedly get rid of their fares to pick up a new one as they hustle for passengers.

When I close my eyes I go back to a period when decorum, modesty and general decency were the order of the day. Women dressed conservatively in public places and topics such as sexuality were reserved for special and appropriate circumstances.

Everything and anything goes

Now we are advancing to a place where everything and anything goes. Sex has become the buzzword for everything from attracting a potential mate to selling tickets to a play, selling a car or a home. It has lost its special place as the ultimate expression of (physical) love between two individuals.

When I close my eyes I see Jamaica as the pearl of the Caribbean and the envy of all her 'small island' neighbours. Her unmatched beaches, beautiful blue skies, gushing rivers, clean air, luxurious flora, unique and bountiful fauna and friendly people were legendary. She was the most exotic island imaginable and the rave of filmmakers and novel writers. Now smog blankets our plains and refuse chokes our gullies. Our dwindling trees have led to sparse rainfall. Untreated effluent is killing our barrier reefs and protective mangroves. Our coastline is being eroded and widespread criminality is driving away native talents and foreign investors alike.

When I close my eyes I imagine Jamaica as it was 46 years ago, but when I open them I see her for what she has become today. Perhaps I should close them again.