Why Fourth World Countries Are

Way back, in the mid 1980s, Jamaica had brought over an expert.   He was to analyse the situation after a serious flooding incident.

To explain ‘serious’  bridges washed away, houses washed away, it wasn’t a hurricane, it was rain.  It was rain which flowed on the roads, blocked them, went into homes, overfilled gullies.

The chap said to me;  “It seems that in Jamaica, the drainage is such that the roads are set to be flooded.”

It sounded funny, but he indicated various sections of Kingston in which there was no where for the water to go except on the roads.

In First world countries there are grates, and under the grates are sewers, so that the water goes down, through the grates, into the sewer.

In Fourth World countries there usually aren’t sewers, if they are they would be backed up since like the gullies they are never cleaned save around election time to give party supporters ‘a work’   and ‘a money’.

There were heavy rains over the past few days in Jamaica.

The flooding was amazing.    Houses were washed away, roads were impassable.  There was six feet of water in some places.  There were landslides.  There were deaths.

Everyone is ‘investigating’.

Politicians, the various municipal agencies, the National Works Agency, everyone is investigating.

Over thirty years ago the studies were done.  The report was simple; there is no drainage.   Sewers are needed. Gullies need to be cleaned constantly.

What was done since the report?  Nothing.

This is the Fourth World.   Members of Parliament come in driving an old car, and soon are speeding by in brand new Benzs.    They buy mansions.   They get jobs for their relatives and friends, even if they aren’t qualified.

There is no money for infra structure.

This is how it has been virtually since Independence.

Previously, it was only a major Earthquake or Hurricane which could cause this damage.  Today, it is rain. If it rains for an hour, the roads flood.  Two hours, the gullies overflow.   If it rains for four days there is a national disaster.

And it takes a very long time to recover.

Sure, one could see where money and resources are needed, but considering the corruption, even if the budget was doubled there would be more stealing.

This is why Fourth World Countries stay that way.