Jamaica can soar with greatness
Dear Editor,
We often hear that Jamaica is poised for development, but for too long our pilots have only managed to keep us on the runway. Our current leaders have an extraordinary opportunity to finally lift this nation off the runway and let it soar to unprecedented levels of progress and development. But this will not happen by generating buzz around mega projects.
We have enough evidence to show that approach to development has never worked. What has worked in other countries and will work in Jamaica is to identity a few sectors or industries that Jamaica has a competitive advantage in and to take massive action. This is the hallmark of strategy and development.
In that case, Vision 2030 needs to be recast. The next step is to have the capacity to articulate a very clear and inspiring vision. This will require having an effective communicative framework that must be driven by leadership and which can restore trust and deliver tangible results.
We should abandon the “poor people” and the “ghetto youth” rhetoric. Instead, the message should seek to instil the values of personal responsibility to self and country, self-reliance and wealth creation. Challenge citizens to get involved in national development to clean up their communities and to help the vulnerable. The so-called “poor people” must realise that wealth creation is not beyond them, but they must take personal responsibility. There is an opportunity to remind our people that purpose, hard work, and delayed gratification is the formula for success.
In getting Jamaica off the runway, the ingenuity of our people must be turned on. Our leaders should lead by example in putting country first and good governance at the epicentre of their actions. But do our leaders have the capacity or the will to lift this country from the runway and pilot it to prosperity and development? For the nation’s sake I hope they do. Failing that, we either need to take the controls or develop an exit strategy.
Dwaine Forbes
Esher, St Mary
dwaineforbes@yahoo.com