Dear Editor,

A get-rich-quick mentality has taken hold of many Jamaicans, with some possibly being influenced by the song, Mi want a million dollar by a mawning. Thus, they are resorting to lottery scams. Both the young and the old are involved.

This get-rich-quick mentality has been around for several years where some adults who should be about their various tasks could be seen joining lines to buy gambling tickets.

From all strata of the Jamaican society, the emphasis seems to be on acquiring quick money, even through dishonest and unlawful routes. This mentality is now affecting students whose main intention is to live a luxurious life, even through unlawful and dishonest means.

Teachers are finding their students’ outlook on life disturbing, as their basic concern is to come of age where they can get an identification card that will enable them to collect their money when they make “these calls”.

They seem to have no interest in academics, and it is even happening in primary schools – some students there say they are participating in lottery scams.

Our children, those who are performing poorly, feel confident that they have a bright future as long as lottery scams are around. These students see the lottery scams as a substitute for acquiring an education and they are assisted by their parents who collect money on their behalf.

What kind of society are we living in, when the minds of our children are focused on stealing and gambling? But can we blame them? Indeed, children live what they learn.

As a society we need to stop and review critically the examples we set for our children. We blame them for their interest in gambling and stealing, but at the same time we are glued to the radio and television, hoping the numbers on our tickets will be called. Ironic, isn’t it? As adults we need to practise what

we preach.

This society has moved from gambling to lottery scams. I wonder where we are going next.

Sherinna Smith

sherrina@stu.ncu.edu.jm