It has been said that a country’s culture oftentimes determines its level of economic prosperity. Culture can best be described as the way of life of a people. What really is the Jamaican culture? And is there a difference between the academics’ and those in privileged positions’ perception and definition of our culture, as against the grass roots’ interpretation dubbed “kulcha”?

Whatever views we accept or tolerate, the bottom line is that the Jamaican culture, as it is evolving, is very often out of sync with the Jamaican reality, especially when juxtaposed against Vision 2030, which has the theme “Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business”. According to the Values and Attitudes Secretariat, 2002, “as a society, we will need to have a shared set of core values which will allow us to achieve Vision 2030 Jamaica”.

When these core values are outlined, the goals and aspirations of Vision 2030 may well come across as a quixotic affair. I say this because all of the core values, as set out at this time, appear to be unattainable and cannot be achieved within the next sixteen years if we continue in the way we are now.

For every one of them, it is as if Jamaicans, for the most part, are embracing and practising the opposite. Assess for yourself and determine if these stated core values are now ingrained in the Jamaican culture: honesty and truthfulness, respect, trust, forgiveness and tolerance, discipline, punctuality, responsibility, love, compassion, cooperation, national pride, good work ethic.

One of the four national outcomes, and perhaps the most challenging in terms of accomplishment, is for there to be an “authentic and transformational culture”. The potent question is, however, who will determine what is authentic?. Also, who will carry out the process of transformation? Should it be the leadership or the followership, or both?

It has been posited, repeatedly, that for Jamaica to prosper there is need for transformational leadership. Is this desired characteristic easily discerned among our leaders in various spheres of national life?

According to Changing Minds.org: “People will follow a person who inspires them.” Portia Simpson Miller, prime minister and president of the ruling People’s National Party, and Andrew Holness, Opposition leader and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, please take note. It goes on to say that a person with vision and passion can achieve great things, and the way to get things done is by injecting enthusiasm and energy. Doesn’t look that difficult on paper, but when these assumptions are transposed into the Jamaican body politic it becomes a seemingly gargantuan task.

It concludes that: “In order to create followers, the transformational leader has to be very careful in creating trust, and their personal integrity is a critical part of the package that they are selling. In effect, they are selling themselves as well as the vision.”

During an election campaign much energy and enthusiasm is shown by our leaders, and there is usually much talk about what is “my vision”, but what Jamaica needs now is not just a “vision” but a shared vision and one that is radical. It has been business as usual for too long, and no one is willing to take that first transformational step, which is to constantly sell the vision. After all, everything is “a nine day wonder”. And, alas, in Jamaica, the preferred practice has been to cater to the least common multiple. In other words, it is more expedient to pander to popularism and crass behaviour which ensures that one attains or retains power by any means necessary.

In this vein, the ruling People’s National Party needs to revisit the philosophy and posturings of one of its most revered founders, Norman Washington Manley, when he spoke about “a fixity of purpose”. In its desperate bid to shun its socialist image in a predominantly capitalist-oriented world, the PNP is losing its compass in terms of being the movement that historically has been the one that is willing to take radical steps, unlike the Opposition JLP that tends to be very conservative and overly chauvinistic.

For starters, if Vision 2030 is to be realised then the culture of dependency must be expunged from the Jamaican psyche and our politicians must lead this charge like good parents, being firm but kind. In this context, taking responsibility for oneself must be encouraged through public and formal education. Unfortunately, our education system, emboldened by a self-serving intelligentsia and a media fraternity that is wary of pursuing advocacy journalism, has helped to perpetuate the blame game and “a nuh nutten” culture. Journawiki states that “advocacy journalism is a genre of journalism that, unlike propaganda, is fact-based but supports a specific point of view on an issue. Advocacy journalists might be expected to focus on stories dealing with corporate business practices, government policies, political corruption, and social issues. It is arguable that advocacy journalists serve the public interest in a way similar to muckrakers or whistle-blowers. Most advocacy journalists reject the supposed objectivity of the mainstream press as a practical impossibility, and some others take the position that the economic censorship exerted by corporate sponsors is no different than political censorship”. This area of journalism is impatient of debate and it behoves the leadership of the Press Association of Jamaica to begin this conversation if the Jamaican media in itself is to become transformational.

The culture of indiscipline is yet another “non-value” that must be tackled within a context of zero-tolerance. Disregard for punctuality enshrined in just about every Jamaican that it is fashionable to be late (mea culpa), the “soon come” mentality, and a contempt for law and order are traits that have become so embedded in the Jamaican psyche that is already “laced with larceny” (Anancyism) must be addressed in a radical way. Indeed, we need to take a more serious look at the Singaporean model. I have always believed in the carrot and stick approach because we continue to use slavery and colonialism as stumbling blocks rather than stepping stones.

Finally, Jamaica’s culture of violence is perhaps the most deleterious aspect of our way of life. Murders and the cruel, heartless ways in which lives are being snuffed out in this country, which is not in the throes of a civil war, have reached an untenable level. We must begin at the basic school level to inculcate the above stated core values, even if this means “brainwashing” our youth. There is no other way out. To continue to pussyfoot on such a burning issue will only guarantee that Jamaica’s Vision 2030 will end up being nothing more than a pipe dream.

Enough said!

Lloyd B Smith is a member of Parliament and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the People’s National Party or the Government of Jamaica.

lloydbsmith@hotmail.com

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Jamaica Vision 2030 is premised on making the country the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business.