Earlier this year, a massive earthquake which measured a whopping 7.0 on the Richter scale, rocked the country of Haiti and caused major damages to its capital Port-Au-Prince and surrounding areas, killed 200,000+, and affected approximately 3 million Haitians. The world watched in shock as the devastation was unfolded in the news reports. The ensuing overwhelming outpouring of love and support in humanitarian aid, once again, led us to rekindle our faith in our fellow human beings, that we are capable of committing selfless acts of giving to each other without limitations and boundaries. Geological experts predicted a series of several similar devastating earthquakes for the Caribbean region. Jamaica was among the islands listed within the region that was high on the prediction scale of experiencing this catastrophe. It was inevitable.

Experts were correct. It was unavoidable. An earthquake did occur in Jamaica.

But the earthquake did not occur in the form that was predicted.  It was indeed felt in every sector of Jamaica’s society and shook the very foundations of Jamaica’s civilization. The loss of lives was inescapable. This earthquake claimed seventy plus (70+) persons lives. As it was with Haiti, the world watched, the world listened, and the world waited with abated breath. The nation of Jamaica was forced to their knees, as one man rocked the island of approximately  2.5 billion people. “Dudus” Coke, soaring high on the Richter scale, jolted the little island of Jamaica and caused the fundamentals of our nation’s political and societal structure to shudder greatly.

Jamaica was ripe for such a disaster.  The decayed moral fabric of the incompetent and corrupted Jamaican government over the past 3-4 decades, has fostered the energy that created this traumatic moment in Jamaican history. The framework of our society teetered on the edge of a historical major upheaval and revolt. This tremor jolted some sensibilities, it shook some out of their apathy, it shook some from slumber, it shook some from their naiveté, it shook the fear of God in some hearts, it shook real fear into the hearts of many.  ‘One Love, One Heart, Let’s get together and feel alright’ Bob Marley’s heart cry for his nation became an ironic reality, as criminal garrison forces from opposing political standpoints, emerged on the grounds of Tivoli, united in their efforts to engage in a ‘stand off’ with the Jamaica Security Forces. 

Despite the capture of Dudus, and 70+ bodies later, the fragile plates of our society still harbor enough energy to trigger another massive earthquake on the same scale, to which we hope that our current government is taking heed. Aftershocks are still on-going, albeit the nation was spared a much more horrific tragedy.

But maybe Jamaica is not out of the danger zone as yet.

Maybe there will be an aftershock of the same magnitude that will intentionally cause a mighty ‘shake up’ of Jamaica’s Leaders, and as a result, hopefully, position the nation in the right direction. 

Now, this form of earthquake is needed for such a purpose.

Haiti did not need such a ruinous act to their country. Jamaica needed an enlightening.

Haiti was devastated. 

Jamaica was revealed.