Dear Editor,

The history of our world is replete with dreamers from near and far. Such dreams are not of late night feastings or induced by alcoholic spirits; rather, they originate deep within the mind of one who is burdened with a burning desire to effect change on an individual, a community, a nation.

Mahatma Gandhi, dreamer of the 20th century, envisioned an India of universal brotherhood. The repetitive traditions of neglect had drained his country of human value. Seemingly, the country was lacking in any motivation to repair the broken systems of caste discrimination and dire poverty among a large portion of its population. Gandhi envisioned an India devoid of the caste system, one in which all human life was equally valued, a country vibrant in its service to its fellow citizens and with an improved standard of living.

Martin Luther King (MLK) dreamt of a United States of America where hundreds of years of racial inequality could be reversed, and repressive laws and policies rewritten to benefit not just the privileged but all of society: blacks, whites, and all minorities. He could see in his mind’s eye a United States wherein the constitutional guarantee that “All men are created equal” could be demonstrated in the everyday lives of its people, a country where the humanity of Americans, of blacks and people of colour, would be judged “not on the colour of their skin but the content of their character”.

Psychologists tell us that we are all dreamers. We all dream, but we do not always act on or even remember our dreams. All dreams are not realistic; however, many dreams are doable, possible, achievable.

In the Jamaica of today, the dreams of Gandhi and MLK point us to another dream. Unlike others, whose dreams came later in life, this dreamer has been given his dream as a child.

This dreamer is Ackeef Nugent by name and by fame. He is still a child, but he has big dreams, and these dreams have the potential to amass huge benefits for Jamaica and its society at large. Gandhi and MLK had the audacity and the fortitude to act on their dreams, to dedicate themselves to making the dream happen. What is amazing about Master Nugent is that he has the same fortitude to make his dream a reality, and he has been acting on his dream, putting his dream into effect, since the age of seven years.

Whereas Gandhi and MLK had midlife dreams, Nugent has his dream as a child and, therefore, has the capacity to drive his dream throughout his lifetime. This could reap great rewards for his native land of Jamaica, if adopted nationally.

Under Nugent’s plan, the minds of children in his community are being directed towards peace and not violence. Under his plan, already in place, crime and violence would be substantially reduced. Education will have new attraction for the children. This will lead to more determined learners and more graduates from elementary, secondary, and tertiary schools. His plan will see an outgrowth from his community to sister communities and engulf the whole island of Jamaica like the COVID-19 pandemic.

All the research has shown that whenever the population is more educated, the standard of living is improved, crime and violence is depressed, and the nation is lifted up economically and socially.

Why will Nugent’s plan for his dreams be successful? It is a bottom-up plan, which begins at the community level, the most common layer of society and yet the most supportive. That’s where Gandhi and MLK’s plan began and grew to great success. Nugent’s plan is not a top-down plan. It is not a trickle-down plan, but rather a potential tsunami rising up from the bottom ranks of the community to permeate the island life of Jamaica.

Wise men with an interest in the future of Jamaica have sought Nugent as a person of action who is making the effects of his plan known. The media has been doing its job to tell of this young man and his dream, his passion, his plan.

What pride it must bring to the heart of the family to see a young man who, with his bravery, could have gravitated to vices instead of aspiring to the sunlit peak of success. The two political party leaders have discovered him and I hope they will help him finance his education and other needs so he can self-actualise and become a role model. This is the right age and stage to cast a vision.

So what can Jamaicans do in light of his plan? It’s quite simple: support his plan, encourage his plan, promote his plan, and adopt his plan in your community, wherever you are, and watch the positive results impact our communities, our island.

Nugent, budding social activist, social scientist, social engineer, is doing his best for his community and his country. He is on the right trajectory and I really pray that he will not be derailed.

What is your dream for your community, your country? When will you act on your dream?

Ackeef Nugent: Watch him go. Watch him grow. Watch him show his plan and engage his community, his island.

Burnett L Robinson

Blpprob@aol.com