“You never know the use of water until the well runs dry.” Well, now we know literally and figuratively, what with our hot pursuit of water truck drivers and coming to terms with the impending sale of our beloved Air Jamaica. In this land of wood, water and frequent flyers, it is difficult to understand how we came to these crises.

Before we were 10, we were making pictures of the water cycle, showing the importance of our trees and soil to regular rainfall. Why then would we not expect that this would have been disturbed by the covering of our beautiful green city with so many square miles of concrete? The single-family homes and green lawns of Liguanea Avenue have given way to rows of apartment buildings with asphalted parking areas. Most of the trees are gone. I remember a documentary sponsored by the Oracabessa Foundation nearly 20 years ago, about the transformation of the Cane River from a sparkling swath to a mere trickle, all because of environmental abuse.

In the case of that “little piece of Jamaica that flies”, we sympathise with the many hard-working, professional members of the Air Jamaica team. However, over the years, there have been stories about some of their unconscionable colleagues. My friend was a passenger on a New York flight some years ago when she noticed that in front of her were several of the airline’s staff members. “First they had the regular meal and then their friends brought them food from first class,” she said. “You can imagine my annoyance when they got to my row and announced that they had run out of food! I was so hungry, I had to beg them for a glass of milk.”

While successive administrations have complained about the drag of the airline on the country’s financial resources, little was done to restructure the airline to keep it viable. Some wonder if it was because of that “golden pass” enjoyed by far too many officials.

If only our leaders of yesteryear had gone to the airline’s staff and their unions and worked with them to map out a plan to stanch the heavy flow of resources, today’s wish of the workers to own the airline might have been a reality long ago. Without the intervention of strong leadership, problems become crises and a dreaded salvage becomes the only option.

This is a time when we are all being called to effective leadership, to take responsibility for our environment and our personal development. At the launch of Ian Boxill’s excellent magazine Caribbean Xplorer, Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton appealed to Jamaicans to harvest rainwater as his and other families in Manchester had always done.

Instead of cutting down trees, we should be planting more. Trees clean the air, provide food and prevent soil erosion. Green spaces around buildings make them 20 per cent cooler, thus reducing the cost of air conditioning. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables provides the body with valuable nutrition, fibre and antioxidants; they cost less and generate none of the non-biodegradable garbage created by packaged and processed foods.

As we look to our personal development, unemployment should never be an excuse for idleness. There is a crying need for volunteers in our communities and employers are always impressed by a record of voluntary work on résumés. Until that dream job comes along, one can use the computer station at the public library to learn such sought-after skills as website building and computer graphics, or gather at a friend’s home and have a “learning party” to better understand how your smart phone can become your mini-mobile office.

Job hunting requires perseverance and resourcefulness. You can’t be asking others to find a job for you, without first checking the employment pages or the job websites. Such lethargy will not impress a prospective employee.

Getting a job is one thing, keeping it is another. Jamaica has one of the lowest productivity ratings in the Caribbean. Managers can help their teams to exercise their productivity muscles by putting in a reporting framework which demands that an hour’s work is produced within an hour and not a day.

USA Today writer Susan Bowles’ has offered these strategies to stay employed:

* Get noticed. Network and volunteer for projects that the CEO will appreciate.

* Generate ideas. Come up with two or three strategies to improve your job or department, and then take these to your boss.

* Dress the part. Dress well – the effort will boost your confidence and communicate professionalism.

* Stay positive and productive. Don’t let job uncertainty cast you as a victim, maintain your professionalism and positive energy.

Concerned employers are also cutting back on other expenses in order to secure the jobs of their workers. One Christian businesswoman says she keeps in mind God’s promise as written in Jeremiah: “I have come to prosper you, not to harm you.” She believes that creating a business and providing a livelihood is her participation in God’s plan. This is a far cry from the plantation mentality that cast the entrepreneur as a self-serving master, depriving both employer and worker of their dignity.

Our fates are too closely connected for any of us to be pulling rank, one over the other. In these difficult times, “teach us true respect for all”, and make us supporters and mentors of those who may become displaced as organisations fight for their survival.

LTM Pantomime Pirate Jack

Our family had an enjoyable evening at this year’s LTM Pantomime Pirate Jack written by gifted colleague Barbara Gloudon. We were particularly impressed with the acting of “Shark”, the beautiful sets, costumes and special effects – no 3-D glasses needed!

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com