Makhulu | Cross Roads protest fails to set it off

The much vaunted protest today did not meet expectations.

Rather than thousands upon thousands descending upon Cross Roads to decry the Government’s lack of accountability, transparency and hold its feet to the fire over the Wheatley scandal, not forgetting the fallout from the TCN revelations, it was a mere few hundred, mostly made up of PNP agitators.

Former TVJ boss Kay Osborne led the charge and tried valiantly to spur those who managed to turn out. She is an accomplished and smart lady, but this was not one of her finer moments.

What this priest revealed is that Jamaicans of this generation do not care for ideological fervour, do not care for state management and issues of governance.

The likes of Marcus Garvey and Michael Manley are mere historical figures, remnants on banknotes.

Today’s young Jamaicans demand entertainment  (Vybz Kartel, Shenseea are their heroes), they want a BMW, they want KFC, they want TikTok and social media. Those are their priorities. 

Political discourse and the betterment of their country mean nothing to them. The apathy here is real and entrenched. 

Despite what the bloggers and vloggers say, Andrew Holness retains his popularity and will not be dislodged by street protests. He won three elections in a row and broke the back of the PNP. He is the Donald Trump of Jamaica.

Ten years ago, Trump declared, “ I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.”

Holness, too, won’t lose any sleep with this protest

Less than a year after winning his third term, the issues that now plague his government will be forgotten in short order. Digitalisation has led to people having short attention spans, and it is better to ride out all this drama now than move on.

Make no mistake, Jamaicans are disapproving of Dr Wheatley’s inability to account for his wealth; they do not wish to see undesirables come into their country and add to the crime problem.

They do, however, lack the will to mobilise their voices into mass disenchantment, to challenge the power structure.

Perhaps if Kay Osborne had offered everyone turning up at Cross Roads a free box of KFC, it would have been a different story. The motivation to come out would have seen a groundswell, causing the Prime Minister and the Government trepidation.

It was brave, and many will say commendable of Kay Osborne to organise this protest but she didn’t heed the signs of the times.

Nobody cares, nobody can be bothered. The protest would have had more impact if it was a social media gathering-a Zoom rally of sorts. 

To come out in the hot sun, take time off work, make an effort to show the Government “ I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore,” that’s a bridge too far for today’s Jamaicans.

This protest was a failure because it did not generate national enthusiasm or concern. It will not be the spark that starts a conflagration. 

It is unlikely that a situation that saw Marie Antoinette getting her head lopped off will happen here.

Sure, it will be covered by local TV and mainstream news outlets, it might even make the lead, but that’s as good as it gets.

The Prime Minister will not sack Dr Wheatley. America will dump its excrement on Jamaica. The Government will utilise the windfall of money coming into the country to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa as it sees fit and when it decides – Nothing will change.

If Kay Osborne decides to have another protest, it will not be hundreds that attend next time, but a few dozen.

As to the yellow shirts, a few may turn up if Brazil make it to the World Cup final!