Nations grow by conquest or work; none ever consumed its way to prosperity. Manley tried to instil self-reliance, but we have backslidden. We are poor people in a poor country, habituated to charity, so if General John Kelly speaks on slavery for the Donald Trump White House, America may be off-limits to us, so let’s grow Jamaica and offer our kids an option to migration.

We are too black and proud to be poor. The macro economy is crucial as, after some 10 consecutive quarters of realignment (from April 2013) and nine of growth, the economy may go into recession if Finance Minister Audley Shaw does not sustain the trajectory set by Peter Philips — and farming is key.

While our dollar appreciates, imports and exports are not in sync with the growth path set out as “5 in 4” by billionaire patriot Michael Lee Chin. Prime Minister Andrew Holness makes exports dear and imports cheap; he also gave a few thousand people a ‘$1.5-million tax break’, which means taxes collected are down, thus growth will not reach three per cent. This will not float our boat.

National security is also awry as we head for record murder figures in this year of zones of special operations (ZOSOs). Cabinet is inept and cavalier with our lives. They introduced a security scheme configured around “clear, hold, build” used in Vietnam, the Middle East, and adapted to paramilitaries in Brazil, but it does not fit our crime. With two ZOSOs declared, which gang leaders or high-powered guns are in custody? Post their photos!

ZOSO may work in large conurbations with an identifiable enemy and a community that collaborates, not here as “informa fi ded!” Gangs as Primeiro Comando da Capital and Vermelho in Brazil are open, have tattoos, create mayhem even in prison, and take their punishment — no fear! Our gangs do not scarify body or face and hide among civilians — cowards! We do not have the requisites for ‘clear, hold, build’, so grief was unleashed all around as forces babysit Mt Salem. The travesty is as police clear a ZOSO the criminals do not go to Cuba or Haiti but pop up in a district policed by the same officers who scattered them. Foolishness!

Times change; private security is now more effective at fulfilling its functions than police at theirs. Many go private for dignitary and close security so ex-officers have better success than they did under the flag. Talk to them, Sir! The dean of private security uses management by results and creates teams more effective than the better paid and resourced police. A spend of hundreds of millions and sterilisation of scores of our forces in ZOSO to comfort 3,500 citizens is not begrudged; but what a waste. Murder elsewhere soars as our initial and 30-day appraisal projected. The 60 days ended on October 31 and National Minister Robert Montague must publish ZOSO and national stats now!

Our growth paradox is clear. The by-elections are examples of how not to run a country. We saw a perverse democracy presided over by a young, new and different leader exactly the same way as oldsters — just more vicious. Take three constituencies; two deprived, divisive, down-pressed, dense urban ghettos, and one rural with arable land, good micro climate, and low population density. Hundreds of millions of tax dollars were larded in St Mary to suborn some 30,000 people. But near 90,000 deprived in St Andrew Southern and South Western — conflict-ridden concrete jungles were punished. Cabinet spent zip, as these were not people — no pothole work, gully work; no food, no meds; new leader, same old corruption.

Second, we saw unrealistic expectations and woeful performances. What have governments done to make us proud? We are proud of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and their ilk. These are all private trials and triumphs of family; not Government. What have the 63 Members of Parliament (MPs) in Gordon House done? Yes, some work to analyse, argue, and defend small people, but generally MPs serve themselves and moan about pay and sacrifice.

I was struck by a headline in the Jamaica Observer on Sunday, October 29, 2017: ‘No school in two months’. A handicapped 13-year-old in Hanover has missed school reportedly for lack of a wheelchair ramp. It was a tale of expectation, entitlement and heartbreak. I worked in Africa and people would carry that child to the classroom. They value education more than standing on ceremony over a politician’s broken promise. Wake up, people!

Reality check? Since Independence our needs remain the same — education, health care, water, road, electricity, and a job — none is off the list, but security and land are new. We have 25 elected, paid men and women in every parish. Do you feel them? Holness wants to help, but will not protect us from being murdered; you expect roads — duh? If Minister Ruel Reid can’t ensure kids can read, write and cipher you expect piped water? Minister Christopher Tufton can’t deliver health care, what of potholes? If Cabinet can’t assure nutrition integrity of school kids, who will work after we are gone?

Our economy is shaky; crime and murders rise despite two ZOSOs. Exports are down, imports up, and the dollar revalued to our peril. The sum total of human suffering — congestion, poor housing, health care, environment, street people, crime, obesity, potholes — increases daily for the masses. Holness needs to bring the economy in line, rethink national security, redact his politics style to “one face” and be honest with us. Sir, our febrile nation is fraught, but you have two more years to come good. We will back your lawful plans, but, please, no more almshouse. Stay conscious!

Franklin Johnston, D Phil (Oxon), is a strategist and project manager. Send comments to Observer or franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com.