You don't need a better example of how misguided our lawmakers are than what happened this week in Parliament.

Jamaica is in such a state of financial disarray that the next few years are going to be possibly the worst years of our existence. Prices are going to skyrocket, people are going to lose their jobs, companies are going to be facing closure and crime is most likely to get even further out of control as more and more people will feel that criminal pursuits are what will keep them from going under.

So, on one hand there are issues such as the anti-gang legislation, giving the Office of the Contractor General more ammunition to fight corruption, and legislation on how DNA evidence is handled that should help Jamaica shut down the criminal networks here and create a better environment for investment. On the other are issues like taking flogging off the books and decriminalising obeah.

One would think that the former set of issues would take precedence at a time like this. Just like how the Government wants to amend the laws to allow them to raid the coffers of the NHT, they should be thinking of debating and passing laws that will make this country a better place for law-abiding citizens, laws that will protect our children and our women especially. Instead we get votes on flogging and obeah; incredible.

When was the last time anyone was flogged in Jamaica? Somebody please tell me. Also, when was the last time someone openly used obeah as a means to an end that people really care about?

Flogging and obeah are not going to bring investment into Jamaica. They are not going to help the police to fight corruption and violent crime. They won't even stop female police officers from allegedly harbouring criminals in their homes or insecure men from cutting the throats of their children before taking their own lives.

But, these are the issues that our lawmakers have made priority now. Some of the more important issues have been on the back burner for three and four years and we get very little action; a reflection of the absence of will to effectively deal with the more critical issues that affect the lives of regular Jamaicans like you and me. So you would think that these things would be atop the list of things to do.

I guess everything is Jamaica is upside down.

Daryl Vaz hit the nail on the head this week when he called out members of both political parties for their misguided timing in putting obeah and flogging at the forefront of discussions when there are far more important issues to address.

Think about this: you're at home with your family and a fire breaks out and rapidly spreads through the house. One would think that the first order of business would be to call the fire department and then try to rescue as many of your belongings as possible so that by the time the fire engines arrive, everything you own would not have gone up in flames.

This is what our lawmakers are not doing. What they're doing is sitting in the living room of the burning house watching cricket on television and hoping that the house won't burn down. This is the kind of leadership that we have been afflicted with.

Hugh Braham Sherlock must have been a prophet because the words of our national anthem have acted as a guide, one that we have all ignored for so long. We sing the words with an emptiness that suggests that their meaning is lost on us.

Eternal Father bless our land, guard us with Thy Mighty Hand, keep us free from evil powers,

Be our light through countless hours. To our leaders, Great Defender, grant true wisdom from above. Justice, truth be ours forever, Jamaica, land we love. Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love.

Teach us true respect for all, stir response to duty's call, strengthen us the weak to cherish, give us vision lest we perish. Knowledge send us Heavenly Father, grant true wisdom from above. Justice, truth be ours forever, Jamaica, land we love. Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love.

If we had truly been guided by the words of our national anthem, there is no way on God's earth that we would be where we are today.

Levyl1@hotmail.com