The Art Of Neighbourliness

“'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.”- St. Mark 12:31. To a large extent the positive qualities surrounding the ideal of being a good neighour has been lost over the years. There are those who will argue that the caring and warm-hearted spirit of being a good neighbour still exists in the rural areas. However, there are vast and striking differences between rural and urban living. One does not need to have a doctoral degree in Sociology to know the differences. The recent passage of Hurricane Beryl once again brought into sharp focus the state of neighbourliness or lack thereof in the society. Many of us in the urban space do not know the names of our neighbours. The reality is even when we know the names of our neighbours we do not speak with our neighbours. Interestingly, this was not the Jamaica of old. A lot has changed over the years and decades. Maybe urbanization and globalization have divided us and now we have become strangers looking at each other through the fence. The neighborliness relations over the years have waned. Some will argue that this separation in the social fabric of the society is due in part from a change from agrarian societies during the plantation societies to a more industrial type society in post slavery societies. Relations between neighbours represent informal social relations that constitute a part of everyday life. While aspects of neighbour relations have been studied in connection with research on local communities, gentrification, and neighbourhood effects, little research focusing specifically on interactions between neighbours has been conducted, and theoretical reflection on the central concepts remains lacking. The Art of Neighbourliness. Good neighbours are the foundation of strong communities in a world that is becoming increasingly insular. Perhaps you can share some of those traits and deeds that make the ideal neighbor. However, here are a few. Good neighbourliness is built on the foundation of kindness and respect. For one to be a good neighbour, communication must be open, honest and transparent. Being a good neighour means being respectful of the concerns and opinions of the other party. This entails paying attention to what your neighbours are saying, being approachable, and demonstrating a willingness to solve problems and concerns. Building trust and resolving disagreements is made easier by cordial talks and open channels of communication. Respect the limits and privacy of your neighbour. This particular trait is all but gone in the society. In some communities neighbors play lewd, loud and disturbing music throughout the day and night. No one cares that the sick and elderly live in the neighbourhood. The truth is there are those among us who are clueless as what is means to be a good neighbour. Being good neighbours mean that we should watch out for the safety and security of our neighbours and last but by no means least protect the environment and the community by practicing environmental awareness. A significant number of communities are still without electricity especially in the parish of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. Thomas, St. Mary and Portland in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. In a significant number of cases the downed power poles are a direct result of overgrown trees which have been allowed to cover the power lines of JPS. It is evident tjat some of us will never be good nieghbours and this is where the State must step in and take the corrective measures for the greater good of the wider community. Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently indicated that changes might be necessary to the legislation under which the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) operates. The Prime Minister added “a lot of the lines that have gone down have gone down because trees are falling on them, because trees are growing too close. You go to all the foreign countries, there is nothing growing beneath their main transition line. There some neighbours who are unapproachable. In the event of trouble they are not amenable to offer assistance. There are also some neighbours who will offer assistance because they believe some monetary reward is available. These examples are not good or ideal neighbours. The Prime Minister spoke at the James Hunter Event Centre in Negril argued that while the power company did fairly well with the maintenance of its main transmission lines, trees had a severe impact on its secondary distribution lines. “As you rightfully say, we have to do more maintenance. I tend to agree with you that we may have to review the Act to have stronger penalties but even more enforcement at the local governance level about removing and ensuring that trees are not growing close to power lines." Without a doubt the breakdown of neighbourliness has contributed greatly to the current state of affairs in Jamaica, one in which is rooted in a high crime rate. The society tends to be impatient and conflicts are almost resolved by a fight or some physical encounters. Had we adopted the principle of neighourliness we would not be faced with so many social problems as a society. Undoubtedly, the Prime Minister thought processes is on the correct path. We can only hope he will follow through and make the necessary legislative changes to the JPS Act. Reviving Neighourhood Watch. Formal neighbourhood watch groups have operated in Jamaica since 1987. More than 700 of them are registered with the police’s Safety and Security Branch (SSB). Called by various names around the world, neighbourhood watch groups are essentially residents working with law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and make their community safer. Often, their members share information with each other and/or the police about unusual or suspicious activities in their communities. In some cases they may integrate their private surveillance systems and operate warning signals. The reasons for the slump in Neighbourhood Watch programme in Jamaica are likely to be many and varied. It is almost certain though, that they will include numerous overlapping causes for many people’s retreat from civic engagement, among which are distrust and fear. In this case, the distrust is of the police, and the fear is that their involvement in anti-crime initiatives will make them the targets of criminals. Ironically, it is the police who many people fear will leak the information. Another reason for the downturn in Neighbourhood Watch groups is the increase in commercialization of residential areas. Any community will experience adjustments and shifting conditions. The demands of their neighbours may alter over time, therefore a good neighbour is adaptive and flexible. This hold true especially as we age and many of us cannot afford to move to a better neighourhood. Unfortunately, in the Jamaican space a lot of businesses have moved into once residential areas and in so doing this has changed the dynamics of who is a neighbour. The neighbor now becomes the materials and tools across the fence. The relationship in these situations oftentimes becomes strained. The onus is clearly on those who have come into the neighbourhood to try and be neighbourly. A good neighbour is one who is tolerant and provides assistance when necessary or standing by one another when facing difficulties. A neighbour is not only in reference to that individual who lives directly besides us. Finally, Neighbourhood Watches can be a first line of defense against crime and keeping communities safe. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., the good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #GoodNeighbours