The election is over, what a stress it was!

The country waits for the official counts to verify all seats. It appears the people have spoken and the Government has been charged and changed. Regardless, we the people must ensure that those running Jamaica are capable. The former Administration was acting like a colonial power, arrogant, feckless, and seemingly uncaring, addressing only what matters to their class of politicians and friends.

Now that the election is over, the new Administration needs to act quickly to repair the breach of trust created by their predecessor’s lack of communication between us and them. Communication must be at the core of all activities undertaken by the Government, timely and relevant to the functions undertaken by them on our behalf. We the people are the reason they have a job and they are elected to serve us — not the other way around.

It must be established that from now on every member of parliament regularly meets with residents to develop and present plans for the growth of their constituency, covering every aspect of its resources, social and physical infrastructure, health and economy.

Most people don’t know the relationship between the ministries of government and their environment. The reduction of the size of Cabinet must take this into account. The most important job of the MP is to ensure that the constituency is adequately served by each relevant ministry. This is a lot of work for an MP, and it is best done in developing legislation with fellow parliamentarians so that we can evolve into uniformed development of the entire country. This is also the most important reason for ministers of government to be specifically qualified to head the ministry for which they are responsible, and remove the elected MPs from the heading of the ministries. Most are not qualified in the field the ministry represents. The minister must be at least familiar with ministry functions, and, more importantly, be distinguished in that field.

I believe the growth of Jamaica must be through us, the people. We cannot develop our country if our Government doesn’t speak to us, or trust us in making development happen or in making decisions. We are not multinational corporations or conglomerates; we are the people paying the taxes, fixing the roads, taking our children to school, by any means necessary. We are the ones that make do with little or nothing, and have done so for a long time. We know what it takes to stretch a dollar, we also know what it takes to make one. We need to make the Government aware that we need them to realise that they should be careful when spending our money. It cannot be that what value we create is being squandered by them.

Citizens’ dependence on MPs to provide cash for personal or community improvements must end. Giving MPs money for distribution as they see fit leaves the benefit of our tax dollars subject to the ability of the MP to plan or do business. The fact is that not every MP is able to manage planning or finance. Money represents created value; value by itself does not create money.

This Administration, in its early days, must look to rebuild the lost trust between politicians and the people. I wish them well in this regard. I will have to see what they do, not what they say. The time for green and orange is done, or at least I am hoping so. It is time for Jamaica. Jamaica needs someone (Government) who will bring all well-thinking Jamaicans from around the globe together for the betterment of our country.