It has long been said that Jamaican people are ‘angry’. I don’t like generalisations, but considering what has been happening in schools over the last few weeks, for the purpose of this argument, let us assume this is true.

In the last week, Jamaica has seen school events of bullying and bullying that has led to death. But let us be honest – this behaviour is not limited to schools. For many in Jamaica, anger and violence are the default emotions. It is how we, and I use ‘we’ loosely, deal with everyone in our lives.

My question is, where does the anger come from? I am not a mental health expert, but for every problem, there is a source.

The ‘old timers’ talk about a time when acting ‘proper’ or being well-behaved was the default and celebrated. Bad behaviour was not tolerated by anyone, whether that was the elders in your family or your community.

But we live in a different time now, where access, in good forms and bad, show us the gross underbelly of society, and that underbelly is now celebrated.  Badness and violence is what is praised.

We have gone from cultural heroes like Bob Marley preaching peace to artists, community leaders, and parents preaching and practising anger and violence. I honestly wonder if Marley’s message (not his music) would have been as powerful today, or would it have been drowned out by social media and the underbelly.

Former Minister of Finance, Peter Phillips, said it – if you play by the rules in Jamaica, you get shafted. This is not a saying limited to business. This is a saying that is true for every facet of Jamaican life, from the school to Gordon House, and everywhere in between.

I am not saying that Jamaican culture and Jamaican people are not its most beautiful assets. They are –, but we have to acknowledge that we as a nation have a problem, if you want, call it an illness that needs treatment and healing.

In my opinion, we have a cancer, and it needs radiation-like treatment. Yes, parents need to do better, yes, communities need to do better. But we are at a Defcon 1 situation as a society. This ‘anger’ is not going away. Social media has given this anger a megaphone. Society, through government, needs a bigger megaphone.

Now treatment comes in many forms. Other societies have strict legal penalties for the small things because you cannot tackle the big things without equally tackling the small things. But in my opinion, both small and big things can only be tackled by legislation and a major effort of enforcement.

• As for legislation, a man needs to feel the pain of censure in order to learn a lesson.  
• As for enforcement, enforcement needs to be supported by real money; after all, it takes cash to care. You cannot give the enforcement authority a basket to carry water.  

Everyone cites Lee Kuan Yew, Former Prime Minister of Singapore, when it comes to the moulding of a society. He famously implemented a strict “Fine City” approach, enforcing rigid order through serious fines, penalties, and public shaming for small infractions to ensure a clean and disciplined society. He believed that ignoring minor infractions led to a breakdown in order.

This approach got me thinking about discipline. Bottom line – Jamaica has lost its will to be societally disciplined.

I am tired of the 9-day wonder of public outrage and the relevant ministry’s condemning of the act. Condemnations without action are the same as saying ‘I am sorry it happened – now on to the next issue’. Someone has to do something. He who has the greatest power has to swing the hammer, and when I say “He”, you know who you are.