The Lack of Organized Public Protest By The silent Majority

I cannot help but wonder why there is an almost lack of public protest in Jamaica, I am having a hard time remembering a time when Jamaicans organized a massive, peaceful, progressive socially cohesive movement against anything and I am not talking about the politically organized partisan, out of control gas riots of the past or the protest in defense of Dons, warlords and gang members but a more productive outcry, a socially conscious movement against injustice, mismanagement and corruption within the Jamaican society.

The lack of organized public outcry in Jamaica either means that we are all content, yard nice, everything sweet, session a run  and everything is right in our world or that we are such a fragmented society that it is almost impossible for us to come together as a people to confront the problems we face as Jamaicans. I know for a fact that all is not right with our world, even though some of us like to pretend it is. I know we are all concerned about the alarming crime rates in our country, mismanagement of the Government sector, I know we are concerned with high unemployment rates , I know we are concerned with dilapidated infrastructure and the declining education system that is turning out students who are incapable of 21st century productivity. So why then are we so complacent in the face of Government corruption, crime and the declining economy? I have said it before that the people of Jamaica are afraid to hold the Government accountable fearing that the Government would then turn around and hold them accountable, I think Jamaicans are afraid of a society with rules, equality and Justice and we are addicted to the crab in a barrel lifestyle.

People in other countries throughout the world do not seem to suffer from this complacency, people around the world are organizing and taking to the streets to voice their discontent, from the UK various groups have organized and took to the streets, the massive student protest against raising student fees almost shut down cities across England, disgusting far right groups have organized and protest to make their voices heard, a protest against police shooting that turned in a mass riot in England which highlighted deep rooted social and economic problems that exist across the UK and more organized protest are being planned as we speak against government cuts, increasing unemployment and economic hardship.

 In the United States the Occupy Wall Street Movement is a protest against the greedy bankers who run the financial system that caused global economic collapse, which is set to spread to other cities and countries as people take to the streets to send a message to the ruling class that enough is enough, we are tired and we are not taking it anymore. The Tea Party Movement represents people standing up for what they believe in (right or wrong) and making their voices heard. I remember the million man march which was perfectly organized and executed with precision, Jon Stewart’s rally to restore sanity  just to name a few. Not to mention the uprising the in the Middle East.

 Million Man March

So what of Jamaica? We complain daily about the negative things happening within our society but we never seem to get past that, our Governments know that we are incapable of organizing a dance or a piss up in a brewery much less a massive socially conscious movement and so they are free to do what they want, when they want and like us they only pay lip service to the problems we face as a nation. The year (2009) when we had 1681 murders across the island, where was the outrage? Where was the organized movement to force our government to take the issue of crime seriously? When are we going to stand up and demand accountability from not only the Government, but the Private sector and ourselves? We are afraid to protest because we think it will affect our earnings, disrupt the well oiled wheels of our economy (lol) but crime, mismanagement and corruption is actually affecting our earnings and causing the wheels of our economy to grind to a halt.  

When the mid 90’s Orane Report on waste and mismanagement in the Government was published and the Government did not implement it, I expected the people to demonstrate and demand that the Government implement the requested changes for making the Public sector more accountable and streamlined this would save millions of tax payer’s money. In doing so the people would have demonstrated that they have reached a level of political sophistication, demanding not only short term but also long term changes from the Government. This would have set precedence, showing that the people are no longer waiting for crumbs from the politician table but wanted exactly what they employed them to do.  I remember a group organized a protest against the rising crime rate but only about 200 people bothered to show up at that event, but keep a street dance on Knutsford Boulevard and the people will descend like locus to part take in the merriment,” Easy skanking, skanking it easy”.

OK the memory of Morris Cargill ripping into Bob Marley about the following lyrics just comes to mind, Morris thought it was a low class and boogoyagga thing to say ... 

I want to disturb my neighbour,

'Cause I'm feelin' so right;

I want to turn up my disco...

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