Ronald Thwaites | A case for empathy

Gary is a shy seventh-grader at the high school where I am connected. He came last September reading at grade-one level. His primary experience was at a place known as “a slow school”. He needs a psycho-social evaluation urgently and has been given an appointment for 2027.

He lives in a volatile community near Spanish Town so he misses several school days. He is better off than the guy who sits next to him who has to travel from St Mary to Kingston daily.

HE NEEDS MORE

Sometimes Gary is brave enough to ask for a second cup of the porridge which is provided before class. He needs it. Of course it’s his parents’ responsibility to send him out properly fed. But they don’t or can’t.

Julian Robinson’s cautious promise to extend school feeding for all needy children, not just those who fit the narrow PATH criteria, is better than what obtains now or is provided in this Budget, but it is still not enough. There can be no further delay in providing proper food for learning and balanced development.

Breakfast is critical. If the government cleaned up nutrition products, sought private sector support and stopped telling parents who have money that it is entirely optional for them to contribute to their child’s school expenses, the need could be met this year.

PROGRESS

The good news is that with careful coaching and individual attention, Gary moved from grade-one reading level to grade three after a term, and last week when he was tested again, he is almost at grade-give level. There is a Balm in Gilead after all, despite the continuing scorn of literacy, numeracy and character formation efforts by some in charge, who have a corn on every toe and a problem for every solution.

“There are no poor countries, only failed systems of resource management.” (Noam Chomsky)

AN EMPATHETIC BUDGET?

This leads to a reflection on the budget presentations last week. First please explain how we can credibly speak of “pivoting for growth “ when those promoting the pivot are the same ones who, having enriched themselves even beyond a scammers dream, are projecting measly one per cent growth for the medium term with an economy teetering on the gully-bank of recession?

Listening to the speeches with Gary in mind, what is in them for him and the multitude like him? Gestures and illusions yes: the “likkle Probox”, the ‘tuups’ of income tax relief, the few who will get their house wired; the even fewer of those in desperate need who will get a social house, more bruk-down old car to constipate every road and bleed hard currency.

Real upliftment? Wait for the trickle down, console yourself with a spliff and leave the yard when the baby bawl for hunger.

ILLUSORY PRODUCTIVITY

The minister spoke tentatively but hopefully about raising public sector productivity by performance pay. Sounds good. But how would that work if there is no accountability? For “permanent” employees, performance is mostly optional. What sanctions apply to the “roasters” and time-servers? Check the parish councils right now.

Almost all public servants and favoured contractors get stellar evaluations every year even if the public are poorly served, the capital budget can’t spend and who cares if robust inclusive growth remains as much of a mirage as the promise of prosperity.

Last week the newly-minted Independent Fiscal Commission weighed in on the utilisation of the capital budget – already inadequate but underspent by more than a fifth last fiscal year. We continue to step on our own toes. What capacity is there to enjoin efficiency when there is no transparency in the award or effective completion of contracts and persistent corruption at levels way below any minister’s scrutiny?

WHO WILL CLEAN HOUSE?

Without thorough change what prospects would a public service ministry under Julian’s leadership be able to do better? The waste of resources embedded in the big yellow book will soon make some yearn for our version of Elon Musk – hopefully without the slash and burn tactics and the neo-Nazi ideology!

What an embarrassment it should be that, last week too, a notorious drug dealer whose trade would have destroyed countless lives should be memorialised, like Jim and Dudus were, as the real saviour of the people of St Ann, even by the very political leaders whose under-performing job it is to promote development. Is that they really defend?

WE CREATE OBSTACLES

Social media is leading to hyper-sexuality among the youngest of our students and making the task of wholesome character formation almost impossible. This is compounded by the absence of an effective and non-brutal disciplinary code in schools. Suspension is enforced idleness, not therapeutic correction. Parents have to share responsibility for forming, monitoring and correcting their children’s behaviour at school.

This summer vacation must be modified to provide time for a mandatory process of interaction between family and school leaders when rules, learning requirements, parental contributions are made clear and a signed pact of cooperation is the end result. Without difficult but essential monitoring of social media exposure, positive values and behaviour will suffer.

‘HEARTICAL’ LEADERS

Transformation requires bold leadership. Increased trust based on good character and credible policies are what we ought to expect in a crucial national event such as the Budget debate. Are we getting this?

Kudos to Dr Rowley, Ralph and Mia Mottley who have taken principled and sacrificial stands against the cruelty to the Caribbean people by those jealous and hateful leaders up north who want to stop the genuine aid provided us by Cuban health professionals. Does Jamaican political and religious leadership have similar courage to stand against cruelty and oppression here and elsewhere?

Consideration and compassion especially for the weakest are the most important characteristics of righteous leadership. Gentleness is strength, not weakness. Contrast the two quotes below and determine for yourself where this nation stands.

“The fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is empathy.” (Attributed to Elon Musk)

“The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.” (Hannah Arendt)

Rev Ronald G. Thwaites is an attorney-at-law. He is former member of parliament for Kingston Central and was the minister of education. He is the principal of St Michael’s College at The UWI. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com