Is the highly touted Vision 2030, with the overall objective to make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business, likely to become a reality within the projected timeline? From all indications and based on recent pronouncements from those in the know, to quote a once popular television advertisement, “That will never happen!”

This worrying situation should be of tremendous concern to the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) as it goes into its 86th conference this weekend. After all, if it is fair to say that the current Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Administration is on a failing path in this regard, then the Mark Golding-led PNP must use this opportunity, when the nation’s attention will be focused on its platform on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at National Arena to present a clear-cut, pragmatic, and aggressive path towards fulfilling what has become an elusive dream.

Then Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who was prime minister in 2009 when that ambitious plan was launched, had this to say, “My fellow Jamaicans, we are now embarking on a path of national transformation through Vision 2030 Jamaica — National Development Plan — a vision of a new society that is inclusive of the dreams and aspirations of all Jamaicans, a society that is secure, humane and just, and a place for which we all take responsibility in owning and protecting for future generations.”

In her contribution as Opposition leader, Portia Simpson Miller stated that “the achievement of the plan and its successful implementation will be seen by future generations of Jamaica as a treasured part of our collective patrimony”. In the meantime, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, for his part, said, “I believe in the ability of every Jamaican to contribute in a meaningful way to the accomplishment of the Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan…But perhaps most importantly, the realisation of the…plan will require the input of our youth, who must have a sense that they are at the centre of our nation’s development. We must engage them and involve them in the transformation process.”

Only six years are left in this trajectory, and from all indications, Vision 2030 is destined to be a dream deferred. To put it bluntly, Jamaica is on the verge of becoming a failing State given the still-too-high crime rate; the crass level of indiscipline; an economy that favours the rich while ignoring for the most part the needs of the poor and oppressed; rampant corruption in high and low places; an education system that at present makes it almost impossible for Vision 2030 to be achieved in a meaningful way; and it is fair to say the average Jamaican does not feel safe, is extremely worried about raising their families in this topsy-turvy environment while the macroeconomic policies of the Andrew Holness Administration is yet to have a sufficient trickle-down effect to benefit those at the lower echelons of the society who are at the mercy of that monster called inflation and a wobbling Jamaican dollar that continues to have a deleterious effect on the cost of living.

For the past four years the PNP has been attacking the JLP in terms of its policies and lack of good governance. The imminent departure of a key link in Prime Minister Holness’s team, Finance and the Public Service Minister Dr Nigel Clarke, and the continuing saga surrounding reports into alleged acts of corruption by the Integrity Commission have so far attracted the attention of Comrades who feel that “time come” for a change of Government, but that is a narrow pathway to victory that in the very final analysis may not sufficiently grab the attention of the Jamaican electorate who for the most part has been turned off from the politics of the day. So, for the PNP, the potent question is: Where is the beef?

Jamaica is at a pivotal crossroads. There is the matter of attaining republican status, which so far has been mired in narrow partisan wrangling. In this regard, former PNP president and Prime Minister PJ Patterson has urged both Holness and Golding to join hands and create a national consensual path towards the attainment of republican status, but from all indications both gentlemen are likely to confine themselves to the usual pursuit of political one-upmanship and petty “politricks”.

Of course, there remains the vexing issue of adopting the Caribbean Court of Justice as our final appellate court and ditching the British Privy Council, which the PNP is insisting has to be part and parcel of the republican status menu (and rightly so in my view).

Let’s face it, it is highly ridiculous, if not petulant, to be avoiding this course of action while at the same time seeking to rid this country of its ties with the British monarchy. In this vein, it can and should be said resoundingly, ‘Time Come!’ Needless to say that a way will have to be found, and soon, to get past this bugbear.

Clearly, the time has also come for a comprehensive review of the National Development Plan, inclusive of Vision 2030, now that it is becoming more than obvious that the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) will have to “rewind and come again” with respect to how best to salvage this project, which is about to founder on the rocks. This will need a concerted effort, and the PNP, which strongly feels that it is poised to regain State power, must seize the moment and help to get the stated objectives fully back on track.

Time is of the essence.

Lloyd B Smith has been involved full-time in Jamaican media for the past 49 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as the Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lbsmith4@gmail.com.