LAST week I quoted the following from the Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework 2009-2012:

At the heart of this vision for Jamaica is the transformation of the society. This transformation will only take place if there is a change in the mindset of the nation which addresses those traits that are likely to inhibit progress towards development. This change is vital if we are to significantly reduce crime and violence, improve education and training outcomes, advance the development of our infrastructure, increase productivity and manage our national debt.

Vision 2030 lists 15 desired national outcomes and the items that are “fundamental to the development of our society” under National Outcome #6. Effective governance is a clear indication of some of the traits that must be attacked if Jamaica really is to change for the better. The plan calls for Jamaica to have:

Strong and accountable institutions; political commitment to effective management of the State; transparency in government; a justice system that is accessible and accountable; equity in all spheres of society; and tolerance and respect for human rights and freedoms.

The document even speaks to a vibrant civil society that balances the power of the Government and holds it accountable for delivering better services and improving the well-being of all.

I would not be surprised if a number of Jamaicans think that this is usual talk that will never be acted upon, especially based on what they see happening in our country. Such an attitude will not help to make these visions a reality, I therefore encourage each person to play their role.

On Facebook and Twitter a number of individuals told me what traits they would like to see changed:

Teri Ann Brown said that the “get-rich-quick mentality” was a major problem. She also felt that more people need to try to elevate themselves and use their circumstances as a motivation instead of as an excuse. Andrew Davis felt that “instant gratification” and “waiting on a hand to give them something” were other bad traits. Kevin Sproul, a loyal reader, pointed out “they will do it for us”, “party before country” and “everyone with wealth got it in a criminal way” as negative traits that need to change.

On Twitter, @ryanapsmith singled out partisanship and the “orange and green” approach to life as a priority; while @biancawelds highlighted the “get weh wid it” and the “freeness mentality where the highest goal is to get as much as possible for as little work as possible”. Judging from the damage done to Jamaican roads by the recent rains and flooding, a number of people did get away with it and managed to get contracts for work, then clearly sought to provide sub-par service and keep as much money in their pockets as possible.

@DeeJayTopGun pointed out the “crabs-in-a-barrel” mentality that exists, while @shaxis rightly pointed out that the belief that “dons are the country’s saviours” was a major issue.

Most people would have all of these traits on their list, but the following three issues really stood out because they don’t often make the list.

@majrfootballfan: “The first I would say is the way we think and our selfishness towards others.”

@kMcDiva: “The idea that the power is not in the hands of the people, but solely in the hands of the corrupt gov’t.”

@persephone101: “… believing nothing can change. Accepting everything, challenging nothing, saying “that’s how it’s done”.

These three all relate to people and their capacity to cause change to happen. kMcDiva simply called it “personal accountability”. I was not surprised that she said this because she has been part of the I Am Jamaica campaign being championed by Marlon Hill in the Jamaican Diaspora that specifically calls for each Jamaican, no matter where they are, to “encourage a sense of personal responsibility” and calls for a Declaration of Positive Action and Accountability. You can read more about it at www.iamjamaica.org.

It is very easy to blame our problems on someone else; the contractor did a poor job with the road and it’s their fault; the politicians are too close to the dons and it’s their fault; the country is not progressing and it’s not my fault.

We cast blame but do not stop to think that the contractor that cheated taxpayers is a person in Jamaica and someone else knew that they cheated; there are people who know which politicians are close to criminals; some of us turn a blind eye to sub-par service and some even try to get away with it.

A culture that accepts corruption cannot progress and frankly does not deserve to. We must aim higher, we must demand better, and we must play our role as responsible citizens. If each Jamaican decided to take some personal responsibility and speak up when they know something wrong is taking place, it would make an immediate change in our country for the better.

If our police force chose to first treat people with respect, no matter where they came from, it would spark a change in attitudes towards them. If all of our politicians simply placed honesty and integrity at the forefront, then Jamaica would certainly be better off.

If every Jamaican, regardless of their position, chose to support the “transparency in government” that is given such prominence in Vision 2030, we would have no need for commissions of inquiry because no one would be trying to hide anything.

The change that we seek as Jamaicans will not come just because we demand it, we have to actually work towards it. If it was not hard, it would not be worth gaining.

Last week, a friend of mine lost his wallet and happened to have my driver’s licence in it because he needed to get a certified copy. I then received an email from a Keisha McIntyre at the Urban Development Corporation saying that the wallet was found and she was planning to return the wallet and contents but wanted to know if my driver’s licence was supposed to have been in this person’s possession.

I was pleasantly surprised at this and had to ask how she had gotten my email. She explained that her son, Demetri Smith, had found the wallet and she used Google to search for me then contacted the Jamaica Observer to get my email address.

A Jamaican really went through that much to ensure that a wallet was returned and even refused money that was offered to her as a reward because she was just doing the right thing.

Clearly, more of us need to be like Demetri Smith and Keisha McIntyre; doing the right thing no matter what and going the extra mile for our fellow Jamaicans.

I commend her for doing a great job raising an honest son. Some traits we do not want to change but instead amplify.

Thank you both for setting a great example for other Jamaicans.

David Mullings is the Future Leaders Representative for the USA on the Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board. He is co-founder of Random Media and Kaizen Interactive and has an MBA with concentrations on International Business and Marketing.

He is on Twitter at twitter.com/davidmullings and Facebook at facebook.com/InteractiveDialogue.