Reclaiming our social conscience and civic responsibility
Having completed a draft of this letter, I was astonished when browsing the news thereafter to encounter several recently released articles addressing the very issues I had just raised, but which I wish to explore further. I was pleased to discover that other Vincentians share these concerns and do not accept such circumstances as the norm. These included Jomo Thomas’s commentary on poverty and class snobbery, the report by Ernesto Cooke, “Former Speaker decries widespread civic ignorance”, Donald DeRiggs’ opinion piece “No local Government” and the report on Tourism Minister, Kishore Shallow’s proposal to improve access to restroom facilities to enhance the tourism product.
I appreciate Mr. Thomas’s intellectual discourse and Mr. DeRiggs’ observations on matters that require attention through sound public policy. I offer my layman’s view on these discussions, broadly agreeing with the concerns expressed while highlighting some additional considerations.
I begin with my perspective of Mr. Thomas’s opinion of class snobbery and civic participation. It reflects a serious social failing, when as Vincentians we are unable to see beyond the weaknesses, faults or misadventures of others. I believe elitism is demonstrated by individuals at all levels of society, as some Vincentians have assumed the role of morality police, continually judging what they believe to be the failings of others. Despite the education revolution, the only thing it appears that we have mastered is to assassinate the character of others.
There are individuals who are aware of their shortcomings and are willing to improve themselves but are unable to do so because society does not allow space for that change. Without adequate or accurate information about an individual’s experiences or misfortunes, some Vincentians will continue to spread damaging narratives and denigrate others. Many of the morality judges can hide behind various masks because of their public images, social associations or their employment status. We must allow people to breathe to be able to move beyond their troubled past and not scandalize them. Rather than focus on individuals’ personal failings, which often affect the individual concerned most directly, let us recognize that people can also be victims of circumstances. Let us focus on the tasks at hand, contribute to the development of the nation as a whole and lend a helping hand to others when we can. Furthermore, financial poverty should not be treated as a personal moral failing. Social mobility requires both individual effort and fair access to opportunities which can be undermined by discriminatory attitudes and practices within our society.
Turning to the issue of restroom facilities, I am so disappointed that at our premier sporting facility and at many public events there are gaps in basic public sanitation. I would expect that there would be functioning toilets with adequate supplies to maintain personal hygiene. I would expect that during events there would be appropriately uniform personnel moving through the spaces to collect trash from patrons, outdoor spaces and restroom facilities being cleaned throughout and not at the end of events, especially public functions. I would also expect cleaning products to have no overpowering scents particularly given that some individuals may have allergies or other conditions.
Why are we in the mindset that cleaning should only occur at the end of events? People have a responsibility to dispose of their trash, but could this be assisted to avoid disposal of trash on the ground or disruptions to others by people moving in and out of seats? What happens to the trash that is accumulated, wet restroom floors and empty toilet paper rolls? Minister Shallow, to provide more restrooms is one thing but their operations, maintenance and management are separate issues to be considered. If we are to build a tourism product it is not just at recreational sites, but the quality of service extended at events and the message being relayed to us as Vincentians. It is the Government’s responsibility to establish standards and provide oversight so that event organizers can provide adequate sanitation arrangements.
Mr. DeRiggs is correct in his focus on local government because government institutions should be held accountable for providing essential services and maintaining public infrastructure. However, we have become a society that does things half-way to “plug holes” rather than pursue a development-focused approach that considers the future. On the other hand, where are our dignity, pride and civic duty to share responsibility with government institutions and the private sector? Gone are the days when most homeowners routinely maintained the area around their properties. Instead, some appear to rely on government intervention even where they can undertake basic maintenance themselves. Overhanging trees and tall grass obstructing waterways, along with vegetation encroaching on roads, are among the conditions that can contribute to physical damage during periods of heavy rainfall.
We are sometimes willfully ignorant, not because we do not know better, but because we have come to accept certain behaviors as normal. Some of us practice social irresponsibility by disregarding and avoiding accountability for the harm that is done to others. We believe that to get ahead or look like better people to others we must “carry news” and belittle others. I would hope that as we advance, we can move away from these types of mindsets and help our fellow Vincentians to look forward to a productive future without trampling on them to get ahead. Get out of the “crab in a barrel mentality”. We do not have to carry news on our neighbour to meet basic needs, get ahead or make new friends, we have gone past that.
Let us work towards alleviating poverty by first confronting social exclusion, challenging stigma, discrimination and destructive attitudes to create the environment which allows people to improve their circumstances. Financial hardship alone does not necessarily reflect a lack of ambition, discipline or personal responsibility. People may face structural barriers, limited opportunities and discriminatory treatment that make economic advancement more difficult. If we are truly a Christian society, as we profess to be, let us live by the principles of forgiveness, mercy and grace towards others. These are simple principles that we often seem to forget. Our nation’s development is not only hinged on investment in infrastructure and government policy but requires greater change in our social consciousness as a people.
