The Editor, Sir:

There are some persons in the media and the political arena who have so abused the phrase "poor people of Jamaica" that I have come to hate the phrase as much as I hate poverty. The continuous labelling of Jamaicans by these influential persons is creating a psychology of poverty which is fast becoming part of our culture. It is creating a state of "learned helplessness".

Jamaicans are not poor; they are instead, economically and socially challenged, but not poor. When someone begins to think they are poor, several things begin to happen. First, they begin to believe that their situation is irreversible. After a while, he or she begins to glorify the situation as a way of justifying his or her existence. Second, it creates the belief that all problems and ultimately all solutions are externally driven or created. No personal accountability is assumed for one's condition in life.

A culture of blame and the victim mentality then set in. There is also the belief that a messiah of one sort or another will come to rescue them from a life of misery. Sometimes it is Jesus or the politician or the philanthropist. The reality is, however, that nothing in life is ever free.

In contrast, someone believes that he or she is facing an economic challenge has, at the core of his/her psyche, the idea that the situation is temporary and something over which there is a degree of control; a better day will come and an effort to change things must be made.

Psychological mind shift

This presents a very important psychological mind shift from one of mere existence to one of honourable survival. It is not that we do not suffer or experience hunger or injustice; what is more important, however, is how we choose to respond to these circumstances that will define us as a people. People who insist on calling you poor show you no honour or respect. They are are, in fact, oppressors.

If these 'lovers of the poor' had succumbed to the idea that they were poor, they would never have assumed the positions of power and influence they now have.

I would suggest that we, the people of Jamaica, especially in these hard times, reject this damaging label. Jamaicans are a powerful, highly creative people. We must believe that our present condition is within our scope to change. We must believe that the way to fight poverty is to become literate, know our history, embrace hard work as a virtue and not a curse.

I am, etc.,

SARAH WILKS

sallywilks28@yahoo.com

Spanish Town

St Catherine