Regular readers of this space know well that we welcome and encourage big ideas.

Thinking big and acting on the ideas that flow from those thoughts in responsible ways more often than not combine to form the recipe for success.

We accept that not all ideas will yield positive results, but the true mettle of humans comes to the fore when they encounter challenges. Those who cower at the first sign of difficulty usually fail, while those who face difficulties with a never-say-die attitude are the ones most likely to make a difference.

This country has been blessed with such individuals, who, by dint of hard work, perseverance, and a deep desire to make life better for themselves and their fellow Jamaicans, have transformed vision into reality.

Respectfully, Mr Robert Miller, the Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Eastern, has not yet achieved that status, but his vision for a transformation of the infamous Port Henderson Road, more popularly known as Back Road, is indeed a big idea worth serious examination.

Mr Miller, a first-term legislator, told this newspaper that his vision includes the road being paved with bricks; bright lights; walls going into the area laden with art; a hall of fame with stars for famous individuals from Portmore; as well as a ferry to transport people, including cruise ship passengers from Port Royal and Kingston, to experience the new-look Port Henderson Road.

His intention, he said, is to make the area “the fine arts Mecca of the Caribbean”, modelled off the famous American city Las Vegas, known for entertainment, gambling, fine dining, shopping, and nightlife.

Essentially he hopes to have the area developed as a tourist destination and he appears to be down the wicket as the Tourism Product Development Company, he said, has helped to develop a master plan which is likely to be tweaked as things progress.

Owners and operators of businesses on the road, who have spoken to this newspaper, have corroborated Mr Miller’s statement that they support the idea. They pointed to the entertainment and dining offerings on the strip, insisting that the area is more than a de facto red-light district.

Mr Miller has said that his plan has no accommodation for prostitution, pointing out that such activity is illegal. Instead, he said efforts are being made to expose sex workers to opportunities to earn a living outside of prostitution.

However, church leaders in the community, while welcoming the idea of transforming the strip, believe that the Las Vegas model is inappropriate as the activities associated with that model could increase prostitution.

Pastor Cornel Shaw from Portmore New Testament Church of God argued that because many of the sex workers are making large sums of money nightly, they might not be interested in lower-paying jobs. Getting them to give up that life, he said, will take more than just training. “They need some kind of reformation of their minds,” Pastor Shaw suggested.

Getting to the point of implementation of this idea will require a lot of consultation with all stakeholders, majority agreement, hard work, and, crucially, adequate funding.

It’s the kind of thinking that should excite the country as it holds the potential to increase business and improve lives. We intend to keep our eyes on it.