The Auditor General’s report on public sector pay, the death of jockey Al Gopie, and national footballer Ricardo Fuller’s kicking of an opponent might seem to have little in common. But the official reactions to these events all reveal an unwillingness to take decisive action which might be unpopular, and a refusal to take responsibility when things go wrong. Such traits are as old as man – victory has a hundred fathers while defeat is an orphan goes the ancient proverb. But in Jamaica the refusal of those in authority to say ‘It was my fault’ or ‘I was wrong’ has reached almost pathological levels. Our so called leaders have completely forgotten the concept of doing what duty demands even when it may have unpleasant results - they greedily covet privileges, but flee all obligations. With such shameless examples from the top, is it any wonder that the common man in Jamaica often seems so unwilling to accept responsibility for the consequences of his actions?

The Ricardo Fuller affair might seem a trivial event, because footballers kick opponents everyday. But the weak kneed reaction of football officials to an incident where a man could have been killed is extremely disturbing.

Media reports say Fuller first elbowed defender Garfield Brown to the ground while they tussled for the ball. When Fuller was shown the red card, he walked over to where Brown was lying and kicked him in the head with full force. Brown was rendered unconscious, had to be taken to hospital, and will have to undergo brain scan checks for permanent damage. He could easily have been killed, and many have gone to jail for far less than what Fuller did. To argue that he was provoked is nonsense. Being harassed is part and parcel of the game, and Brown was not even called for a foul. One might excuse the elbowing as a heat of battle reaction. But there is absolutely no justification for kicking a prone and defenseless man in the head. So what if he said he was sorry afterwards? Those who break down and cry after killing another in rage are still guilty of manslaughter. A man is responsible for everything he does even in anger.

The JFF’s decision to give Fuller a two month ban is completely irresponsible. Anything less than a one year ban was always going to be seen as ridiculous. The JFF is basically telling Fuller and the nation that stars can get away with anything. But stars should be punished more, not less severely. They must always be aware that their actions might be aped by youthful admirers, and so have a duty to act responsibly at all times. Perhaps the JFF did not punish Fuller more severely because his absence would weaken Jamaica’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup. But if winning football matches has become more important than justice, this country has nowhere to go but down.

Tivoli Garden football club is just as guilty. It took no disciplinary action against Fuller and let him go ahead with his English try out, no doubt hoping for big transfer dollars. And if football fans really thought Fuller’s sentence was inadequate or had any sense of fair play, they could impose their own ban by refusing to attend any match in which he participated. But the next time Fuller scores for Tivoli or Jamaica, the crowd will cheer wildly and few will remember the time he almost killed Gerald Brown and went virtually unpunished.

When jockey Al Gopie recently died during a race at Caymanas Park, the insurance policy in place gave his family a reported $30,000. Now Mr. Gopie’s death was a tragic accident. But then horse race riding is one of the most dangerous professions on earth, and Caymanas Park is not the first racetrack to have witnessed a jockey’s death. And the jockeys themselves were partly responsible for the lack of proper insurance. In addition members of the racing fraternity have made substantial donations to Gopie’s family.

But the relevant authorities had clearly not made adequate provisions for such an occurrence. And it was disgusting to see the manner in which both the Jamaica Racing Commission and Caymanas Park Limited tried to shift all blame from themselves. It reminded one of nothing so much as the disgraceful and unprincipled skulking by the Jamaica Cricket Board and the West Indies Cricket Board following the Sabina Park pitch debacle last year. In both cases no one had the decency and courage to admit to having made blunders and miscalculations. One can forgive mistakes – to err is human. But cowardice and dishonesty stain men forever.

And as the Auditor General’s report on bloated government agency salaries reveals, the ‘not me’ mentality goes all the way to the top. No one will accept responsibility for setting or monitoring public executive pay - it is all the fault of faceless ‘boards’. Now in any properly structured public service these matters must fall under a specific portfolio. Who appoints these boards? Who are their chairmen? One or more senior officials is plainly guilty either of negligence, dishonesty, or both. But instead of taking proper action, the government has simply thrown disposable (and greedy) lackeys to the wolves in hope of assuaging the public lust for blood. The same thing happened in the Montego Bay Street people scandal. There no one would admit to authorizing the police action or the use of municipal dump trucks and the only ones charged were order carrying out foot soldiers.

All these incidents are said to have caused great public outrage. Yet a truly aroused populace would do something to see that officials who were derelict in carrying out their duties were punished or removed. But after the foaming at the mouth and gnashing of teeth, things in this country always return to normal and the same bunch of shameless people are left in charge. Did anyone organize boycotts of cricket matches at Sabina Park or football matches at Tivoli or horse races at Caymanas Park? Did businessmen in Montego Bay refuse to work with the incumbent parish council? Will there be a public demonstration calling for a full fledged public inquiry into the pay scandal? Does the Jamaican electorate ever vote out manifestly dishonest government officials?

Many Jamaicans claim the country is sliding into an abyss. But if it does, who will we have to blame but ourselves? Every country gets the kind of government it deserves. Only an alert and engaged electorate can produce accountable and transparent public administration. If we Jamaicans want to know what is really wrong with the country, let us look in the mirror.