• About the author

Jamaica: Political Economy

~ Views on what's happening in and around the Yard

Jamaica: Political Economy

Daily Archives: September 24, 2013

Feel my pain? Really?

24 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by The Grasshopper in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Jamaica, Political issues, Social issues

Some politicians often try their best to show they are not far removed from the mass of their electorate. When times are rough, especially, remarks such as “I feel your pain,” start to make more appearances. Given the lifestyles many people see politicians living, however, I’d be surprised if any but the most naive would really believe that all the roughness that ordinary people encounter in daily life also leave visible marks on politicians.

20130924-095908.jpgJamaica’s prime minister chose her party’s conference this last weekend to make one of those remarks. I can’t say for how many people it rang hollow, and I’m not wishing to suggest that she was anything but sincere. However, as I was traveling to country this morning, my eyes focused on what some were feeling.

The roads in Kingston, at around 6:45 in the morning, are filled with children walking to school, or waiting at bus stops. Most look astonishingly neat, especially the girls. Cars are crossing the city with children perched in seats with their parents, many of the kids are getting some extra sleep. Some children are on the gas tanks of motorbikes, clutching backpacks. Long lines of traffic clogged the roads entering Kingston from the west, with people headed to work. Many of the market people would already have reached town. Once you get into the towns outside Kingston, you see groups of children and adults waiting for taxis, or children clustered around school gates. That’s the day starting.

I took a short stop around 7:45 to grab some porridge for my breakfast, and of course the place was busy. As we proceeded to Mandeville taxis sped past us, jammed packed; some buses, too, jam packed. I remember the scene in Kingston last night as I was headed home with my daughter. “Wow! Look at those people!” she was flabbergasted to see an express bus filled to the brim with passengers.

We can ask and know the answers about how people are dealing with bus and taxi fares 25 percent higher than when schools closed for the summer.

Taxis may be flying along but I hear that business is tough.

Many people don’t have a job, so are trying to earn money in other ways.

A young girl, living near Mandeville, whose father does some small farming, is trying with her mother to raise chickens for sale. I’ve eaten some and can’t wait to get more. But… Rats have been digging their way into the chicken coop and killed and taken away nearly 35 of the 50 young chickens they were raising. So, economic wasteland still on the horizon. What to do? Not give up. She has to find a way to deal with the rats. She can’t use another predator on rats, which may also prey on the chickens. Don’t want to use poison. Dilemmas.

That was just a few thumbnail sketches. But, I’m sure none of that has been what Sister P has been dealing with for quite some time. Explaining to the population what sacrifices they need to make to see economic progress won’t be easy. I’m not sure that empathy is really needed, rather than words that suggest that what people have to endure is not endless.

Share this by clicking desired button:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • Jamaica’s crime monster looks like it’s grown much stronger and we’re all suffering because of it
  • A hard road to travel: curbing mayhem on Jamaican roads
  • Bank of Jamaica explains the FX market
  • Piecing together the picture: Why P matters so much in Jamaica
  • Traffic tickets ‘fiasco’ explained: Another insight into disjointed public administration

Recent Comments

petchary on A hard road to travel: curbing…
Traffic tickets ‘fia… on Looks like a duck, walks like…
petchary on #RoadWarriorTalesJa–Cras…
petchary on Let’s all play detective …
The Grasshopper on Let’s all play detective …

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013

Blogs I Follow

  • Damien King
  • ShaneKells
  • DHG CONSULTS
  • nadzspeaks
  • jamaicachange
  • Dr CJPJ
  • Albert Darnell Anderson
  • Ramona Crisstea
  • "write pon di riddim"
  • The Terrible Tout's Weblog
  • CCRP Jamaica
  • Zaheer's "Facts, Lies & Statistics"
  • Notes for a New Day
  • Help Mi Consulting
  • thecrooksofthematter
  • Jamaica: Political Economy
  • Meanwhile...back up North
  • Right Steps & Poui Trees
  • Active Voice
  • rodneysocampbell

Categories

  • Commentary
  • Economic issues
  • Politics
  • Reportage
  • Uncategorized

Copyright declaration

© Dennis George Jones and 'Jamaica: Political Economy' 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dennis George Jones and 'Jamaica: Political Economy' with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,773 other followers

Follow me on Twitter @dennisgjones

My Tweets

Flickr Photos

Cans & BoxesRed SquirrelLate Trains Early Sunset
More Photos
September 2013
M T W T F S S
« Aug   Oct »
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  

Recent Comments

petchary on A hard road to travel: curbing…
Traffic tickets ‘fia… on Looks like a duck, walks like…
petchary on #RoadWarriorTalesJa–Cras…
petchary on Let’s all play detective …
The Grasshopper on Let’s all play detective …

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013

Blog at WordPress.com.

Damien King

ShaneKells

American International School of Kingston - Head of School

DHG CONSULTS

Cultural Economy and the Global South

nadzspeaks

Mindspace, unleashing a few truths, but mostly concerned with life and the way I see it.

jamaicachange

Dr CJPJ

Caribbean Woman, Paediatric Surgeon, Lover of Life

Albert Darnell Anderson

Just read, it'll inspire you!

Ramona Crisstea

"write pon di riddim"

multimodal site born to a decolonial feminist / cultural analyst/ and bad gyal Ph.D.

The Terrible Tout's Weblog

Just another WordPress.com weblog

CCRP Jamaica

Life to the Fullest!

Zaheer's "Facts, Lies & Statistics"

A collection of literary narratives, opinionated articles, and statistical analyses on the world of sports and more.

Notes for a New Day

Observing the Intersection of Life and the Arts

Help Mi Consulting

Extending the frontiers of support services across industries.

thecrooksofthematter

No-spin commentary

Jamaica: Political Economy

Views on what's happening in and around the Yard

Meanwhile...back up North

Back to the cold... hoping to continue exploring

Right Steps & Poui Trees

Active Voice

sharp, pointed, often witty commentary on current events in Jamaica, the Caribbean, India and the world

rodneysocampbell

This WordPress.com site is the bee's knees

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: