Can any government enforce the island’s laws without being voted out?
This is a question I always ask myself and as I closely monitor our social behavior, have come to the conclusion that any time you try to implement laws, there is widespread discontentment.
Today, there is carnage on our roads, especially from commuters, but dealing with it is an uphill battle because of attitude.
There are countries in this world where society is governed by policy and principals, but given the many violations of the laws of the land politically or legally, we have a tuff task at enforcement.
Let us start by accepting the fact that most of the accidents are caused by drivers and bikers, because of high levels of intoxication and substance abuse – as some would say, this is now the spirit of St. Lucia. But if there are no drinking and driving laws and no breathalysing tests for the use of substances of any kind, how can that area be monitored?
Further to that, we have a major problem with high-beam vehicle lights, inclusive of ‘fog lights’, badly painted road lines and no speeding regulations, all of which contributes to that carnage.
We have bikers who refuse to wear helmets and other safety gear and traffic police who do not operate at night, so how then can we reduce such negativity?
Everybody now seems to live on the edge, there is anger everywhere, there’s excess amounts of what I call road rage and hostility seems to be the order of the day, with daily threats if you dare to bring to the attention of Joe and Joan Public that their actions are unbelievable and irresponsible. Everybody thinks that what they do is right, drivers feel they can overtake anywhere, or stop anyplace, and nobody should object or condemn their actions, because they feel they are free to do as they please.
Stealing is rampant, price-gouging has become normal, crimes like child molestation and rape are still swept under the carpet. Guns of all types are now available on the market, and drugs or alcohol are available at every street corner.
As far as the churches are concerned, they continue to preach The Bible, yet not see the atrocities being caused by religion, especially in the Middle East.
We continue to adore our Motherland, but rather seek refuge in America’s Big Apple and in Europe, and not accept that they are greatly responsible for the underdeveloped Africa and the Caribbean.
We do not recognize modern-day slavery. We spend all our salaries on living in the fast world and seek no spiritual guidance, or even try to live in harmony with our environment; and our children are becoming more lawless daily, and bullying is now part of our DNA.
I say all that to drive home the point that to have or implementing corrective measures means going against the norm and change is not readily accepted in today’s society.
So, should we leave things as they presently are, or accept that we have shortcomings as it relates to enforcement of law and order and the consequences can become disastrous for the foreseeable future.
We often say that the children of today are the men and women of tomorrow and that they will be responsible for all the development changes that our country will be in good and safe hands, but I question what kind of society we will have if no one accepts that their values and accepted way of life is not going to make us a better society.
How do we change what is to what should or could be? Are we fighting a losing battle, or are we to go with the flow because this is the behavior of the world?
I do not have the answers, only questions for now. But for what I see and know, if we do not do an about-turn, I say again: Crapo will smoke our pipe!