Sri Lanka versus Jamaica

Thanks to Prof. Damith Wickramanayake (Computer Science UTECH) and his wife, Sharlene, I just spent a delightful, entertaining, and educational three weeks in Sri Lanka.

Like Jamaica, Sri Lanka is an island nation and a former British colony (formerly known as Ceylon). It looks a lot like Jamaica, too, only much larger, lusher, more populated, and cleaner.

After travelling over much of the island on well-maintained, mostly pothole-free roads, using their cheap, reliable public transportation system the question that kept popping in my head was how come we in Jamaica can't get these basic things right?

Why is it so hard for us to even keep our tiny island clean?

It has to do with a lack of respect by our politicians for the people.  Keeping the environment clean for its citizens is a basic necessity!

Sri Lanka has twenty-two million people and is about five times the size of Jamaica, yet I only saw one place as dirty as most places in Jamaica. That was at the bus terminus in Anbalagoda, near Galle, where both local and city-to-city buses pick up and drop off their passengers.

You know how they keep their island clean? Simple. They pick up the refuse constantly, day and night, for on almost every road you travel, you run into vehicles working, be they small garbage trucks, tractor-drawn carts, and even three-wheel-drawn carts, all picking up and hauling away garbage.

So, if a third world country with seven times our population and about five times as much rainfall as we get can do that, what's stopping us?

And talking about rainfall, their water does not settle on the roads and create potholes, so why does ours? 

Sheer political corruption, for if the contractors we employed were professional instead of being mainly political hacks, they would be putting in proper drainage and building solid roads so we wouldn't be throwing away the billions we do and getting nothing but potholes in return.

The other basic thing I mentioned was how they move their twenty-two million people effectively, cheaply, and quickly. The transportation sector is highly subsidized to make sure their low-paid masses can get around easily and on time.

They use a combination of rail, private bus, cars, three-wheelers, bikes, public bus, taxis, ride-share and you don't wait for hours to move from any point to where you are going. 

They even have their own airline too and the service is excellent!

I have used them all, and the prices on the ground are ridiculously low.

Sri Lanka is not a wealthy country with mineral resources like bauxite. Their economy earns from manufacturing, remittances, exports (mainly tea and rubber), agriculture, and tourism. Their tourism arrivals are not even as high as ours, as in 2024, they had just over two million arrivals, whereas we had over three million.

 So, where is all our money going? Why can’t we see it in basics like good roads, proper transport, and a clean environment?

I have news for you, though. It wasn't always like this, for in 2022, being pushed to the brink because of mismanagement and political corruption, the people rose up and took action.

At that time, the GDP was revised down to a -7.3% growth rate, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. And inflation had climbed to 70% in what was described as a debt-ridden nation.

The people naturally blamed their political leader, President Gotabaya, and his cabinet for their economical malaise, took to the streets, and literally chased him out of town.

An interim government was formed, and in 2024, President Dissanayake, who campaigned on an anti-corruption, pro-poor platform, became president.

In 2024, Sri Lanka's GDP grew by 5.0%, marking a strong recovery from the 2022 crisis, according to Wikipedia.

 Sure, there are problems there as salaries are extremely low and poverty is pervasive. But things are extremely cheap.

I had been alerted by my generous host, Professor Damith, that things were extremely reasonable there, but had no idea how cheap they were until I got here! 

For example, I paid about J$ 50 for local bus fare on a government bus. Less than Ja$500 on a four-hour train trip. Ja $375 for a solid phone charge cord, 30 cents for a cup of coffee, and on and on.

It's surreal.

Cultural differences

Of course, things are not all hunky dory for despite Sri Lanka having had the first female prime minister in the world, (Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the international airport is named in her honour), I find women in my age group and even younger, reticent about being treated equally in the domestic environment. 

Shrinking violets, to put it mildly!

 However, I understand the younger generation is having none of that, so it’s changing rapidly and the escalating increase in the divorce rate seems to be bearing that out! (From 5% to 50% in the last few years, according to Professor Damith.)

Another big difference is that Sri Lankans are big organ donors. According to a senior surgeon with whom I was speaking, this is because Buddhists have a giving culture. So not only are they quick to donate some organs when they are alive, but a vast number have living wills authorizing their organs to be harvested when they die. He informed me that each year they reap so many eyes, that it’s Pakistanis who benefit most, as there is no need for so many in Sri Lanka!

I am still a bit puzzled about a characteristic I observed there, though, for in general, they appear to be quiet and peaceful people in their interactions with one another. In other words, when I travelled on crowded buses or trains, all was quiet. No boisterous shouting/cursing or loud music like at home.

 Yet they do not seem to have a problem with violent upheavals!

So, between 1983 and 2009, they had a long, brutal civil war, which I am told left over 130,000 people dead in its wake. And during the political upheaval in 2022, when the president was literally thrown out of office, many people were killed and wounded.

Could this be a perfect example of still waters running deep?

 RE food, See:

 https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2025/05/omg-im-allergic.html

 

 

 

 

 

Winning the lottery

To some people, there is only one word that can appropriately describe the recent increases Prime Minister Andrew Holness awarded himself and his fellow politicians and that is;  is “craven.” For its as if they all won the lottery without buying a ticket.😡

Most people, including myself, do not think the vulgar level of increases ranging from 100-300 %, is by any means justifiable. For when you look at the top performers  around the world and the compensation thier leaders earn in comparison to ours, there is just no justification for the proposed level of increases.

For example, Britain has the 6^th largest economy in the world, yet the recent increase would bring our PM’s compensation to only $150,000 less than thiers, although our economy is way down at #130! (Measured by GDP).

Go figure.

In light of the hostile reaction to the disgraceful increases in politician’s salaries, the prime minister, fast on the heels of a pronouncement from the leader of the opposition, is saying he won’t grab the increase but everyone else will. (The leader of the opposition said he will only take 20% of his increase and give the rest to charity). 

Give me a break.

Another slap for the taxpayers is the fact that former prime ministers who are still living, will  also benefit from the whopping increases.

Those living are; P.J. Patterson, Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller.

In my book however, the only former prime minister who deserves any raise is Portia.

For wasn’t it under P.J. that Jamaica’s economy hit rock bottom with the Finscac Affair which destroyed some 40,000 businesses and put the country into recession for years?

And why would Bruce Golding be deserving of a whopping increase when he only served as prime minister for 4 years before having to resign in disgrace after being accused of putting the interests of a notorious criminal above that of the country?

Portia is most deserving, as she returned Jamaica’s reputation to respectability and it was under her leadership that Dr. Peter Phillips restored Jamaica’s economy to viability, so we can now have money to spend on development rather than on debt servicing.

Another aspect of the inequitable handout being given to politicians without ‘accountability’ is the fact that parish councilors have also been awarded much more than they deserve.

For their pay has been increased by more than 300%, moving their renumeration from $1.6 million per year to $5 million.

How many councilors are performers? In my book, probably no more than 10%.

During the many years, I spent on radio, no topic was more pervasive than that of the non-performance of the councilors.

For decades, it has been recognized that taxpayers do not get value for the money spent on the parish council system. As in the main, their functions often overlap with that of the constituency representative, the MP.

That is why some 40 years ago, a study was done and it was proposed that parish councils be replaced with County Councils.

In other words, instead of having 13 Parish mini-governments, it should be replaced by 3 County councils, representing Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey.

I liked the suggestion then and I still like it. For in my view, we have just too many politicians tripping all over each other with taxpayers getting short changed, every inch of the way.😡

Delivering good, cost-effective representation was not the objective of politicians 40 years ago, so the recommendation was shelved.

And value for money is not the objective today either.

Therefore, this latest act of exploitation will most likely be just another 9-day talk as politicians continue to enjoy the fruits of our labor without any accountability.

(See also  : https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2023/05/absolute-madness.html?m=1)

Memories of Jamaica's 60th Anniversary celebrations.

I understand those persons who thought that in Jamaica on August 6, 2022, we were making too big a thing out of the celebrations to mark our 60^th anniversary from British rule.

 That is because successive governments since independence have been so corrupt and such failures.

But, while I sympathize with that outlook, we must consider how horrible it would have been if we were still being ruled by the British who had enslaved our ancestors, enriched their crown and country through the free labor of our people who they brought in chains from Africa, then oppressed us further during the colonial period!

Yuck, that  concept is so terrible that the very thought causes shivers to run down my spine.

So yes, successive governments have not done half as well as they should have but at least we have our freedom and our dignity, even if technically we have not yet removed the queen of England as the head of our country.

I really don’t know what we are waiting for.😖

Despite failing governments, we Jamaicans has built quite a reputation for ourselves all over the world, through the individual achievements of our artists, cultural icons and sports people.

We are so respected worldwide that even Niagra Falls in Canada took on the colors of our flag😊

And our Caricom sister Guyana, had a member of their Defense Force parachuted into the arena carrying our flag. https://youtu.be/S31XRe0usCo

Good going.

And while it has mainly been though individual effort, our Sunshine Girls Netball team which has been consistently outstanding for decades, gave us a special boost just before this years celebrations, by 

winning gold and the title of Caribbean Champions at the inaugural Caribbean Games.             No wonder they are honored with this well-deserved monument in front of the National Arena.

Anyway I stray, for I set out to comment on the impressive celebrations for our 60th Anniversary.

I visited the Independence Village on the National Arena grounds and it was really well done, not only in terms of decor, displays but the mini stage shows and general entertainment as well.

. 

I have a problem with the colors of our flag though.

They are supposed to be black, green, and gold but clearly many people do not know this as black, yellow and green were all over the place, even at some government establishments! 

I actually like the yellow but we have to make up our minds, is it supposed to be yellow or gold? 

Whatever we decide on, we should stick with it shouldn’t we ? 

Anyway, all over Jamaica the celebrations were in full force. I loved the spirit reported in Treasure Beach in my home parish, where many boats went out to sea carrying our flag

https://youtu.be/HQJ_QSBJYg4

I was in Kingston but avoided the Grand Gala at the National Stadium, as I wasn’t about to take on the large crowd. Luckily maybe, for as it turns out, they had printed far more tickets than they had seats for, so many people were turned away.

Overhead view of the National Stadium where the grand gala was displayed

But I watched the excellent videos on You Tube including the drone exhibition which was really exceptional.

Part of the drone exhibition

Instead, I visited my close friends in Lauristan St. Catherine, where they had a small celebration, mostly for the children.

 Lauristan, often gets a bad rap in the press, especially since the “Clansman Gang trial.” But those gangsters do not live in Lauristan which is a very nice area, but instead, on the fringes where squatters have basically captured the gully bank. So, I have never had any fear going into that community. In fact, I had spent many early Christmas mornings going Carol Singing at people’s gates, over the years.

You see, my friend Audley Nain is the President of that Citizen’s Association there and the time and effort he and his wife Marcia have spent making that association work well is just phenomenal.

With the Nain family

For independence, they organized to have popcorn/icicle/soda stations, food, bounce about and other rides for the kids. I was especially intrigued by the merry go round which was operated manually, something I had not seen since I was a child!


The adults were also treated to free food and drinks, all donated by community members.

Where I got in my element however, was when the entertainment started. This was provided by a youthful revival band which brought me to my feet instantly.

You know, I would probably be religious today, if I had been brought up in the Pocomania religion. As a child I was dragged to boring church services, but was always distracted and motivated hearing the pulsating revival music piercing the quiet Malvern atmosphere, as members of that religion who worshipped nearby, have always taken the charge in the bible to “make a joyful noise,” literally.

But I was deprived, as I was born during the colonial period when Afro-Centric religions we maligned as being somewhat satanic.

So, I was never allowed to attend their church and now as an adult, every time I hear their music it lifts my spirit.

This Afro based music consolidates our real distance from Britain and put me inna mi element. 😊. 

I enjoyed our 60th Anniversary celebrations everywhere. 

 MEMORIES OF OUR 60TH

Some former athletes who originally made Jamaica respected overseas

JCDC displays Independence Village

Link; https://youtu.be/6z4_SAuiUZU
 

Poor God.

Some bible tooters will tell you that the good book proclaims that the love of money is the root of all evil.

I wish to disagree whole heartedly however as our experiences on this earth has shown that more people have been massacred over the love of religion than the love of money. 

The latest reminder of this comes from Nigeria where some 5oo persons, mainly women and children, have been chopped to death this very week, near the city of Jo. These victims were supposed to be Christians who have been massacred by their Muslim neighbours as a reprisal for the massacre of Muslims which took place in January this year.

 History is replete with this type of brutal savagery in the name of religion, something I have never heard happening because of the love of money.

For if its not not genocide in Bosnia or Darfur it is as they say "sectarian violence" in India, Iraq, or terrorism in the United States (what do you think 9/11 was?) and Britain. And who remembers the brutal religious taerrorists in Uganda who kidnapped children and forced them to kill. Their name? ....... " The Party of God."

Poor God. The atrocities being carried out in Her name are really outrageous and one wonders when biblical teaching will be updated to keep up with the realities of life.