YEARS ago, I met a broker scouting fast food locations in Havana and I helped her with footfall data. Later, I had nightmares of golden arches in the night sky, but why deny Cuba supersize doses of salts, sugars, and fats we enjoy?

Freedom carries responsibility. We eat badly, accept the lifestyle diseases, and now the European Union has classified obesity a disability: Mr Fatty can sue if the bus seat is too small — weird!

So Christ is born and Cuba born-again, a quinela! Can our leaders stop the self-serving crap and be happy for Cuba? Friends do not pat themselves on the back for helping friends. Cuba’s rebirth is a step to our manifest destiny as their democracy grows; as we repudiate what Ronald Thwaites calls the “tyranny of English” and embrace Spanish; as we avoid neo-colonial divide and rule, Jamaica will prosper.

Is Pope Francis Santa Claus? Last Wednesday the Pope was 78 and kept a secret, which, along with the Nativity, is a trifecta. Obama and Castro ceased cold wars and eased restrictions. Some will take years to sort, but the paradigm shifted. The Pope was the fixer, says Paul Vallely, the Pope’s biographer: “At least seven of the secret meetings that thawed frozen relations between the US and Cuba took place in Toronto…it was the Vatican that assembled the intellectual and diplomatic scaffolding for the historic deal.” The Roman Catholic church had property expropriated, 2,500 clergy suffered, some died, yet il Papa forgives Cuba — he delivered. The Communist state is no angel but the people are wonderful. The “Ladies in White” must march as the fate of minorities is a test of a democracy. Is there a “Truth Commission” ahead? Popes play the long game; Cuba is 70 per cent Roman Catholic and a South American Pope stops the mouth of the Catholic Cuban Republicans, got sign-off in October, and peace came to the hemisphere. Pope Francis should be given Jamaica’s highest honour. Selah.

Obama’s legacy was fragile. It was the worst of times — both Houses Republican; policies in the boneyard; a lame duck? Black Americans disgruntled; is he an African chief to dole out sops or the president of all Americans? Their cause is just but the cure requires them to grasp the nettle-education is the new “40 acres and a mule”. Obama ends 54 years of blight in the New World, but the Old has Russia, North Korea and China to coax to democracy. Obama’s legacy is now secure. It is now the best of times for him!

Jamaica is happy but Scrooge is alive. Our first response to Cuba’s good news was negativity about tourism. God give us generous hearts. We had 54 years of no Cuba; did we reach 10 million tourists? No! Cuba was a tourist Mecca; they came even by seaplane to Havana harbour to gamble, nightlife yet were at work in the US next day. Havana was greater Las Vegas — warm beaches, hot women! We had Adastra, Glass Bucket and Havana night clubs with Cuban and Colombian women — no Miss Prudence from Hilltop. Men said of Esmeralda, “her future is behind her” and smiled — me, small boy, did not understand. Still, we need a world-class club for tourists and the new Nat “King” Cole in cabaret. Cuba’s Copacabana is iconic, not fixed-up office space but purpose built — form fits function. Cuba’s big secret is now the Cubanacan complex of plastic and performing arts; inspired by young Fidel and Che in the 60s, designed by creative geniuses but it went to seed under clunky Russians who marginalised art, design for function. The rich, famous, gangsters of the Prohibition era gamed in Cuba. Friends, do not compete, cooperate; share, be open and honest, there is more for us than meets the eye. Cuba will rise. Viva Cuba! Selah.

Cuba is our ticket, but not selfishly. It is our manifest destiny to be a single economy with free Cuba and all our neighbours. The unintended consequence of this rapprochement is good for us as we have a long history with Cuba. Our ancestors cut cane, built infrastructure, and were in the revolution. I met many grandsons of Jamaica as a consultant flying via Mexico, Prague, and Tanzania, and we had respect before Michael. Cuba is some 70 per cent mixed race — all shades of brown and the haunting Gauntanamera melody is our conjoined Jamaican /Cuban soul. Cuba will thaw slowly as Obama may use presidential orders to get action. For us, this is a deal with neighbours we know, love, work with that’s good for our economy. Charting the future is a job for young MPs and a few wise men. Let’s grasp it firmly and look smart!

What do we do? We sacrificed for years, yet have little to show. So let’s dream a bit for 2015. We need no feasibility to validate a single economy with our neighbour and friend; a market five times ours thirsty for consumer goods, telecoms, transport; our business savvy is value. Cuba saved us for decades despite sanctions. Cabinet must now empower a team to ponder this 360-degree opportunity. Offer Cuba “most favoured neighbour” status and open borders so we immerse in Spanish, they English; local firms as Grace, Sagicor, Musson, Sandals; boutique hotels, etc will now get Module 101 — “How to access the 550m Spanish speaking market.” We need a massive North Coast Freezone (NCF) of say 700 acres for goods, services; with internal transport, banks, insurers and 200 acres for in-bond vehicles as an entrepõt to serve Cuba and tempt all regional diasporas to place orders here so we fulfil them for Cuba, Haiti, Domincan Republic, Caricom, and others — we are closer, cheaper, more efficient. As Amazon, Costco, Alibaba, DHL see our growth Kingston Logistics Hub will rise. We have a seven-year window to gain market dominance as US politics fumbles with how to realise Cuban issues-step on it. Long live! Viva Cuba! Selah.

Logistics and transport are crucial to the NCF. China invests US$12b in Nigeria’s railway, so let’s ask for some. Kingston’s port, with cargo vessels from China, Japan, India, will triple its TEU in five years by a rail spur line to the port; tracks upgraded; stock modernised with locomotives; ambient and reefer freight cars for grain, liquids, gases, vehicles, basic and luxury foods, etc on JRC tracks to terminate in the NCF. Mobay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio will welcome boats across the Cayman Trench from Mariel, Trinidad, Santiago ports. The north coast will teem with foreign wholesale and retail shoppers and tourists. Boscobel will cater high-end general aviation from Cuba, Haiti, Central America, Puerto Rico, Domincan Republic and short-haul luxury goods cargo flights. Demand for high-density short-stay motels will rise; jobs in air and water craft R & M, chandlers, berths, dry docks, transport, recreation; housing starts and more jobs. We need commuter and car ferries, RORO craft, seaplanes to take people, cars and freight across the trench and beyond. Our economic centre of gravity will soon shift to the north coast close to our new markets. Spanish now powers the Caribbean, and our future is in our backyard. Merry Christmas, Jamaica!

Dr Franklin Johnston is a strategist, project manager and advises the minister of education. franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com