After seeing the story regarding the murdered students in my home parish of Clarendon I could not believe my eyes. Seeing such a brutal act happening to a family I know brought it closer to home for me. We need justice for the above and a new outlook on the value of life. I still cannot understand the thought process that took place which led to the murder of these children. The perpetrators should be caught and locked up as this level barbaricness have no place in society.
I was born in Mandiville Hospital 09.30pm 13.05.1988 to a family from Bell Plane Clarendon.
I have spent the first 14 years in the Country that defined the views and type of person I would grow to be. Growing up in Jamaica I was never a stranger to violence and brutal killings, it’s the corruption inside the police force or the brutal murders taking place inside the urban and now rural areas, death was never a stranger to me. The nature of the Island I grew to know & love is still very new and mysterious to me, the fact it can be the most beautiful, scenic, peaceful and tranquil place on the equator yet it has the capability to be the most violent, blood soaked place to call home. The problem I find in such a small country is there isn’t a middle ground. We have influential people preaching hatred whether that be homophobia or the rise in gun Culture referencing music making it cool for kids to pick up guns etc. We need more people like Cronix or Omi to wave the flag for forward and peaceful thinking. I think it’s a turn in tide for the people in Jamaica, we are realising the power of unity and community as the people who are benefiting from the current corrupted system wants us to be divided or opposing our fellow-man (Divide and conquer).
We need to stomp out this brutal message of gang culture we seem to have adopted from the US as this will not help the development of what has the potential to be the greatest country built on great values. We have a rich culture from The buccaneers of port royal to the emancipation of slavery we as Jamaican people have come a long way. We have our own identity in this new developing world with products that are only authentic when its being exported directly from the Island. With the rise of Ska, Reggae and Dancehall we have seen the Jamaican culture brought to the forefront of the music industry influencing the dress culture to the cannabis culture to the clashing culture. As Jamaican people if we come together we can make changes to the unjust laws set up by the profiting organisations that does nothing for the local people living in the country. Like the legalization of cannabis we can get more laws over turned to benefit the people living in the island. we have the capability to forge a new system where everyone’s taken care of no matter what class or background they are from. We need take realise what Bob Marley is preaching was not just to make good music but to change the minds of the people, to understand the need for equality and the need to not be dependent on material things.
We need to listen to the people before us who put there lives in danger to attempt to open our eyes to injustices in this system. We must not be fooled by high profiled politicians visiting us but not addressing the current issues affecting the working people. We need the white wash of past black leaders to be lifted, we need or heroes and prolific people like Marcus Garvey or Sam Sharp to have their image restored as forward free thinkers and not anarchist criminals. We have come a long way from the Bloodshed caused by Edward Seaga in the 80’s to get votes, however our communities are still feeling repercussions of those times. We are still trying to deal with th alarming amount of fire arms present on the streets of Jamaica yet Jamaica has not one ammunition or arms factory. Just knowing that shows the current state of the south is not due to the local people acquiring guns but is caused by the corrupted officials allowing and enabling the supplying of illegal fire arms. We are in need of a change in system, we need to stand up for our fellow-man.
How much more will have to suffer? How much more will have to die? There is a natural mystic flowing through the air if you listen carefully you will hear.
Times are changing, we need to understand the influence we have as people. As residence of the global community we need to see through differences as we are all one people. Out Of Many One people
Sherwaine
sherwainepresents 