When there is a problem in Jamaica – a good example being the Sandz party which all but closed the Norman Manley International Airport on New Year’s Day for several hours – there are certain predictable responses. There will be calls for an inquiry. For accountability. Blame will be shifted and avoided. Promises and commitments will be made. Then - rinse and repeat.
There is one step, however, that we rarely take – and that is problem analysis. Questioning the “WHY?”. Why did the Police give a permit for an event at Seventh Harbour for a second year, despite problems last year and according to one source, a decision taken by the Police High Command not to grant such permits? Was this poor communication? Poor record keeping? Short memories? A decision taken at a high level to overrule this sensible decision? Because a policeman was reportedly one of the promoters? Answering the “why” takes us to targeted fixes.
Why did people simply park on the side of the road rather than go to a designated parking area serviced by shuttle buses, which was located past the venue? Was it a lack of signs? Unwillingness to take shuttle buses because patrons want to leave whenever convenient? Too few buses? Would it have worked if the parking area was before you got to the venue? Was it because one person parked illegally and by the time removal occurred, too many others had followed suit? Were there enough wreckers? Or were wreckers ineffective because once the traffic backed up, the wreckers could not return to the site?
Why was the assigned constabulary force overwhelmed? Were there too few officers? Were they at the party instead of on the road? Was it simply impossible for any limited number of policemen to control the numbers, who were in the majority determined to park on the road? If most patrons at any event are not prepared to abide by parking rules, is there ANY amount of policemen that will be effective?
To describe another common problem: Why are there so often garbage bags placed beside skips, instead of in them? Answer: Because it is young children who are tasked with taking out the garbage and they cannot reach. Fix: Steps, which are high enough, perhaps. Why are there so many broken garbage bags beside skips? Answer: Motorists, including taxis, coming from communities without garbage collection throw their bags at the skip and miss. Fix: Possibly relocation of the skip. Speed bumps to slow traffic so aim improves. Large basketball hoops placed over skips? Can’t you see it – the ridicule a taxi driver or passenger would receive if their throw missed the hoop? You SALT, man!
Without problem analysis, we will come up with the wrong solution, time and time again. Police Commissioner Quallo has promised signage for the Palisadoes. But lack of signs did not cause the problem on New Year’s Day, and the evidence of our unwillingness to obey signs is all too apparent.
If we want to solve our problems, we have to delve into the WHY of things.
(Still struggling with the EMBED thing. I swear, I'm looking for a job translating computerese into English.. See Damien King's tweet and photo regarding the usefulness of signs in Jamaica.)
PS. Dear Weebly: FAILING GRADE!
There is one step, however, that we rarely take – and that is problem analysis. Questioning the “WHY?”. Why did the Police give a permit for an event at Seventh Harbour for a second year, despite problems last year and according to one source, a decision taken by the Police High Command not to grant such permits? Was this poor communication? Poor record keeping? Short memories? A decision taken at a high level to overrule this sensible decision? Because a policeman was reportedly one of the promoters? Answering the “why” takes us to targeted fixes.
Why did people simply park on the side of the road rather than go to a designated parking area serviced by shuttle buses, which was located past the venue? Was it a lack of signs? Unwillingness to take shuttle buses because patrons want to leave whenever convenient? Too few buses? Would it have worked if the parking area was before you got to the venue? Was it because one person parked illegally and by the time removal occurred, too many others had followed suit? Were there enough wreckers? Or were wreckers ineffective because once the traffic backed up, the wreckers could not return to the site?
Why was the assigned constabulary force overwhelmed? Were there too few officers? Were they at the party instead of on the road? Was it simply impossible for any limited number of policemen to control the numbers, who were in the majority determined to park on the road? If most patrons at any event are not prepared to abide by parking rules, is there ANY amount of policemen that will be effective?
To describe another common problem: Why are there so often garbage bags placed beside skips, instead of in them? Answer: Because it is young children who are tasked with taking out the garbage and they cannot reach. Fix: Steps, which are high enough, perhaps. Why are there so many broken garbage bags beside skips? Answer: Motorists, including taxis, coming from communities without garbage collection throw their bags at the skip and miss. Fix: Possibly relocation of the skip. Speed bumps to slow traffic so aim improves. Large basketball hoops placed over skips? Can’t you see it – the ridicule a taxi driver or passenger would receive if their throw missed the hoop? You SALT, man!
Without problem analysis, we will come up with the wrong solution, time and time again. Police Commissioner Quallo has promised signage for the Palisadoes. But lack of signs did not cause the problem on New Year’s Day, and the evidence of our unwillingness to obey signs is all too apparent.
If we want to solve our problems, we have to delve into the WHY of things.
(Still struggling with the EMBED thing. I swear, I'm looking for a job translating computerese into English.. See Damien King's tweet and photo regarding the usefulness of signs in Jamaica.)
PS. Dear Weebly: FAILING GRADE!
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