This past week Jamaica, generally, and Kingston specifically, had the rare experience of being blessed with the docking of a cruise ship at the Port of Kingston after a more than five year absence. In the same period, the country was greeted with the news that the Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson Miller failed to show at an event scheduled for the signing of an agreement, dubbed ‘Partnership for a Prosperous Jamaica’, because of the Government’s inclusion of the word “prosperous” in the marketing of the event. The significance of the latter when contrasted with the first event could not have provided a clearer demonstration of how the deep political divide that has characterised Jamaica’s politics has succeeded in stymie the country’s economic fortunes over the years. In fact, it was this same attitude that between 1972 and 1990 saw the “haul and pulling-up” of programmes initiated by a sitting administration by an incoming political administration.

It is under these circumstances why the admission, a few weeks ago, by current Finance Minister Audley Shaw that the Jamaica Labour Party Administration was continuing the economic programmes initiated by the People’s National Party provided a breath of fresh air in our political culture. For once in a very long while, it appears that a political party may be serious about Jamaica’s fortunes as opposed to its own political fortunes. More anon.

The arrival though of Royal Caribbean’s MS Monarch at the Port of Kingston is a major development for the islands cruise shipping industry generally, and more importantly the city of Kingston. Cruise ship passengers may not necessarily spend an awful lot of money as they traipse through on their pre-organised day trips, but they do provide revenues; and beyond that, the quality of their experience during their short stops provide the kind of advertisement for such a traveller to consider revisiting as a long-staying guest of the island that no amount of advertising expenditure can garner.

Kingston is without question the cultural mecca of the Caribbean, and the potential for business development is enormous. In fact, five decades ago, Victoria Pier provided berthing space for cruise ships and the spin-off into the downtown Kingston area including the crafts market were enormous. We have come a very long way since then in terms of our ability to provide wider entertainment options for cruisers stopping in Kingston. Potential for gift arcades marketing Jamaican art and craft products built around the National Gallery is enormous. Establishment of a sterile area for cruise visitors in a sidewalk shopping village around the Victoria Pier area would include closing Port Royal Street on those days for vehicular and walk-foot traffic control.

Imagine also the potential for day tours to the Bob Marley Museum, Devon House, an across the harbour boat trip to Port Royal and the potential for economic development is enormous. Sure it will take some doing, but isn’t that what those people with the requisite power and ability to get things done signed up for?

This is my challenge to the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Jamaica Tourist Board, Urban Development Corporation, Ministry of Tourism, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, and all the other stakeholders. Get cracking! Development must be the way to move the economic needle and to cement opportunities for a more prosperous Jamaica, which is only possible if that prosperity touches Jamaicans at all levels.

Let us put aside these petty jealousies that have hamstrung us as a people for far too long. Whether the Jamaica Labour Party has in fact stolen a march on the People’s National Party in the slogan race (yea or nay) is insignificant. Let us all walk the walk, together, and as one, as we seek to build on the opportunities that are making themselves available.

Richard Hugh Blackford is a self-taught artist, writer and social commentator. He shares his time between Coral Springs, Florida, and Kingston, Jamaica. yardabraawd.com Send comments to the Observer orrichardhblackford@gmail.com.