PRIME Minister P J Patterson called today for a re-affirmation by Jamaicans of their ability to build a strong country, but Edward Seaga hinted that would only come with a change of government and a return to office of his Jamaica Labour Party.

Both leaders offered their prescriptions for a better Jamaica in separate messages to mark the island’s 40th anniversary of Independence today — an event that has added political significance, given the campaigning for general elections to be held by year-end.

Drawing attention to a recent poll finding showing that 53 per cent of adult Jamaicans felt that the country would have been better off if it had remained a British colony, Seaga said that this view was reflective of “a deep feeling of hopelessness in Jamaica at present”, given the country’s poor economic performance and rising crime.

These are situations, he suggested, that had grown bad during 12 years of government under Patterson’s People’s National Party.

“We cannot allow the historic imperative of the patriotic will of the people to be turned back by temporary conditions of hopelessness,” Seaga said. “We must put all efforts into future gain to overcome present pain so that there will be a brighter future for Jamaica.”

Patterson, on the other hand, conceded ups and downs in four decades of Independence, but argued that on balance, the country has moved forward substantially. Nonetheless there was still much to be done in the building of Jamaica.

“To realise these goals, (we) will need a re-affirmation of a strong belief in our ability to be creators of our own destiny,” Patterson said.

The governor-general, Sir Howard Cooke, highlighted the social advances of the majority black population in the period since Independence.

Said he: “There was a time when we were a racist country, when the whites dominated every aspect of life and determined where we should go. There was a time too, when the best education was for the wealthy, whether it was acquired here or abroad.

“I can remember the grave period of poor social and economic conditions of the disenfranchised majority … We must count our blessings since then.”

(Full text of leaders’ messages Also on the website)