Senator Kamina Johnson Smith has officially launched her bid to become secretary general of the Commonwealth. This is a prestigious post and her ascendancy to it would be a signal honour to not only her, but also the people of Jamaica.

As minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Johnson Smith has distinguished herself in the post she has held for the past six years. With quiet dignity she has represented Jamaica in various world fora and has earned the respect of compatriots in different parts of the world. She comes with impeccable credentials as an international diplomat and seems to possess the kind of personality, temperance, and competence which would make her an effective secretary general of the Commonwealth.

She deserves the support of the Jamaican people.

We do not need to be sidetracked by the posturing of other Caribbean islands whose leaders seem to have more of a nostalgic commitment to Baroness Patricia Scotland, the present holder of the office. Apart from questions which hover over her tenure, it is clear that she has not distinguished herself in the office. When she is not even being backed by the British Government for a second term, one needs to question the unswerving loyalty of those who would want her to continue.

President of the People’s National Party (PNP) and Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding has spoken glowingly of her impeccable qualification for the job, yet one does not get the impression that the PNP is supporting her candidacy in a fulsome or full-throated way.

I would like to be disabused of this position, and will only be when I see more robust support being given to her by Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition.

I would hate to think that our tribal political instincts take precedence in this important matter for which all hands should be on deck to ensure that Jamaica attains this distinct honour.

It would do us proud on this 60th anniversary of our Independence to know that one of our own sits at the top of the secretariat of such an important body, of which the main country — Britain — was once our colonial overlord.

Wow!

I challenge the Opposition to throw its full weight behind her candidacy.

We wish her well in the pursuit of this post.

SHORTAGE OF SKILLED WORKERS

In a recent address, Prime Minister Andrew Holness bemoaned the lack of skilled workers in the country. He opined that we may have to import labour, though this is not a prospect to which he was looking.

What is clear is that this is not a new problem. The absence of a good cadre of trained, skilled workers is a problem that has bedevilled the Jamaican workforce for far too long.

In my view, the first real attempt to methodically and systematically address the problem was done by former and now-deceased Prime Minister Edward Seaga when he introduced the Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) programme.

Through this initiative academies were built where young people could be trained in various skills. We need a great deal more of these academies throughout the island. But, like everything else which starts off with a bang in Jamaica, the HEART programme appears to be needing a stent if not open-heart surgery.

There is absent the kind of enthusiasm and vision that was present at its birth.

The answer to the shortage of skilled labourers does not reside in importing personnel, though I admit that this might have to be done in the short term. The Government must take another look at HEART and identify ways in which the programme can be broadened to deal with this burgeoning shortage.

As I understand it, money is not the problem for HEART. But, even if this is the case, ways must be found to get the work done. I strongly believe that the time has come for an overhaul of the programme with a view to expanding it and the courses offered to better meet the needs of a dynamic, digitised work environment.

Of one thing I am certain, time is not our friend here.

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life’s Storm and Your Self-esteem Guide to a Better Life. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or stead6655@aol.com.