Donkey seh di worl’ nuh lebel, hill an’ gully yah suh, hill an’ gully deh suh.

— Jamaican Proverb

What do you think of when you hear the term ‘a just society’? Can a society be just? Is there any example of such a thing? Donkey seh di worl’ nuh lebel. He would know, wouldn’t he? Some places are higher than others. Some have smoother paths. Isn’t that the way of the world?

But what if we could have a country where there really was a fair opportunity for all? One of our parties has even adopted the mantra, ‘A Jamaica that works for all’. But do they really understand what it takes to make a Jamaica that works for all?

Would that type of Jamaica be worth our energies and efforts to create? We know that our history is one of vast inequalities — free and enslaved, rich and poor, plantations and subsistence farming. We still have traditional schools and “new” ones. For these very reasons, if we are to create a just society in Jamaica, it cannot be left to chance. We must become very deliberate in creating opportunity for all.

Notice I said ‘opportunity’, not handouts. Neither did I say unfair distribution of scarce benefits. Neither am I talking about becoming a communist or socialist State. What I am talking about, though, is a new Jamaica that provides a place for all. Every man must be able to survive, earn, and be able to take care of his family.

Size matters

We are a small island nation, not a huge, diverse metropolis with the advantage of size and numbers, where economies of scale allow greater possibilities for economic growth. Even in many developed countries it is clear that the poor have been left behind. It is increasingly clear, as well, that their middle classes are being eroded every year. We must therefore be careful that we do not blindly seek to follow the models of economic development that have been espoused by more advanced nations.

The frustrations of many (former) middle-class people in the US and Europe is evident in the rise in xenophobic and anti-immigration rhetoric, and the rise of the new nationalism and the hate groups. In addition, we have seen the erosion in the purchasing power of middle-class families who have not recovered from the worldwide recession. Of course, there are still the mega-companies, the national, international, and transnational conglomerates that seem to be always increasing their levels of profit.

Money over morality

Jamaica must keep her eyes open and see the situation for what it is. The signs are all around us, the money-driven mindset is overriding social justice principles, morality and love for one another.

It appears that the pie of success is not to be shared so all can eat, but only the few strong, vocal and well-positioned. They are securing or placing walls around the pie to keep out others. There is no question that they should have their share of the pie, but neither should they be allowed to also eat what others ought to get.

This is the injustice of which I speak. The new Jamaica must be a just society. A just society calls for us to be our brother’s keeper. We must ensure, as best we can, that all get a fair share of the pie. A so we a go mek Jamaica nice!

Government must regulate

Government has a central role to regulate the order of society in a way to ensure justice for all, so that the strong do not overrun the weak. Might is not always right. The natural tendency of our world, which is so evident in our society, is for the strong to suppress the weak and the poor.

I remind a government of the people that the weak, poor and marginalised must become a major focus of its attention. The Church should be a strong voice for them. This is where Church and State could find alignment to ensure equal rights and justice. The global and national trend, deliberate in many instances and unintentional in others, is to limit or enslave the many and foster the freedom of the few.

In Jamaica, we must guard against this undercutting of the middle and lower classes. It will take a radical approach to our economic modelling. We must place priority on the small and medium enterprises as the drivers of the economy. What we have now is the increasing size and scope of the largest players in industry who, through strength of cash, are able to dominate in every sector in which they participate. This is not to say that prudence and good management should not be rewarded; however, it is recognised worldwide that small businesses are the true drivers of economic prosperity. They provide the best means of creating jobs and spreading economic benefits.

Therefore, Government must do what is necessary to foster a more equitable environment in which all men can earn once they are willing to work. We cannot allow a dog-eat-dog approach to economic development and leaving it to the survival of the fittest. The tendency towards selfishness in the hearts of men will drive them towards greed unless there is regulation.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world

Let me illustrate it in this way. In any litter of puppies, there are invariably one or two that are more aggressive than the others. Left to themselves, they will always reach the feeding pan first and will gobble up everything. They will soon recognise that their superior strength allows them to fight off the smaller or weaker pups. Left unchecked, the two aggressive pups will flourish and get fat. The runts will starve.

As a wise dog owner, you have to arrange the feeding process in such a way that all the pups get to eat. Some start out smaller and slower than others but, given the opportunity to eat, they too can thrive and grow. But it takes management.

Jamaica must set a different pattern. Since we are people and not dogs, we should not arrange our economy in the way that dogs do. We have the ability to think and, more importantly, we have the ability to love and express compassion for our fellow men. The nation should be managed on the same principle as a properly run family or household in which all the children are fed, clothed and educated.

When I was growing up, my father would often say at the dinner table, “Don’t store up the food.” There were six of us children, and the bigger ones would want to put three or four pieces of meat on their plates. But my father wouldn’t allow it. He said, “Let everyone have some first. Then maybe you can go back and have seconds.” You see, as people we do have a tendency to be greedy and, left to ourselves, we may not look out for others, but favour ourselves instead. That’s why our father had to step in and regulate.

Government should practise this kind of ‘family economics’. It should plan and interpret everything in society against its effect on the whole family. No serious, caring politician who understands this purpose, role, and function of government should be content with anything less.

There are too many inequities and inconsistencies that make it difficult for many who are trying to move ahead. The system favours the ‘haves’ and does not make for a just society. This holds true in nearly every sector. A system where only the top 30 per cent can qualify or gain access to channels of growth and prosperity is seriously flawed and needs rethinking.

A Government that cares

The new Jamaica needs a Government that cares and is committed to all the people everywhere, one that has a passion to develop a just society that works for all the citizens. This is so important that it ought not to be left to the hopefully benevolent hearts of politicians, but should form part of the structure of government.

Parties forming the government often say they have this desire in mind going in, but nothing happens because the structure does not provide for it. So no significant change occurs. The structure should give responsibility to a team or committee and hold them accountable to ensure that it happens. Given the deep social problems and level of poverty across the nation, it is urgent to develop an environment that provides opportunity for everyone to create wealth.

Of course, this is not how we have operated, but it does not mean we have to continue the failed and wrong method. It is certainly not too late to correct the errors and move to build the just society in which the interest of all is served. New-era leadership for a new Jamaica must think and act differently than was done in the past if real change is to come and “mek Jamaica nice”.

Jamaica will not be the place of choice to live, work and raise families if there is no equity. If someone willing to work is not able to make a decent living; if a small business owner has no hope of being able to compete with the large companies, then the vision is unattainable.

Economic Bible lessons

It should be the goal and pride of any government to be able to say that no one in the society lacks the means for their basic sustenance. The system of wealth distribution should be structured so that each citizen has equal opportunity to achieve according to his/her capacity, commitment and application. Just as how we are eager and able to get every person on the voters’ list, and soon the national ID, the same zeal ought to be in the minds of leaders to structure the society to ensure that everyone gets a piece of the pie. Everyone according to his or her capacity.

This was one of the profound lessons that God was teaching the Israelites in the wilderness through the supply of manna. Every man was to gather for his household. He that gathered little did not lack, and he that gathered much did not have too much. Those who tried to hoard it found that it rotted on them. Government has a responsibility to see to the provision of the basic necessities for every citizen.

For those who would quickly cry communism, or accuse me of encouraging laziness and unproductivity, on the contrary, it is about constructing a just society. How you do it is the key. God had said to Moses, as leader of Israel, there should be no poor among you. It is how you order society by releasing the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, creativity, and freedom, yet protecting the weak and vulnerable from abuses.

Over the last few years, there is an increasing sense that the big players in a number of sectors of the economy are killing off the small businesses. The truth is that in a small island state like Jamaica, we cannot blindly follow the patterns of the larger economies. We must put in place the kind of regulation that will prevent the big dogs from starving the little ones to death.

Born to lead

We should not follow the rest of the world, but lead the rest of the world. World leadership is part of our national destiny. It is in our DNA. It is what our founding fathers envisioned and wrote in our national pledge with the intent that it might be inscribed on our foreheads and in our hearts: “that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race”.

We must get back to inculcating it in our children; reciting it daily in our schools. Parliamentarians should declare the pledge before every sitting. This would remind them of why they exist, and of the framework of their assignment to work to build.

In seeking to build this new Jamaica it is time for us to decide what a just society should look like in our context. We must define it. Are we and our leaders committed or even desirous of building a just society? I sincerely hope so, as it is only then that the environment can be created for all citizens to be able to fulfil their dreams and to realise the ‘prosperity for all’ that is being bandied about. It is certainly a goal we should have, but the strategy must be in place to realise it. The focus has to be on justice — a prerequisite for a just society.

Our size makes it easier to ensure that every person is cared for. This is how island nations can make it work and lead the rest of the world. With a different attitude, mindset and approach, coupled with the brilliant minds in this country, there is no good reason to explain why we cannot make 2.7 million people live in sufficiency. It can be done. The issue is whether we have the heart of love and care with the strength of will to do it.

Rev Al Miller is pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle. Send comments to the Observer or pastormilleroffice@gmail.com.