Once, when I was interviewed about why I chose to be a politician, I said: “Remember, politics is not made for the weak nor faint-hearted; neither is it perfect, but it works, and is far better than the indignation of resignation to do nothing.”

I also said: “Like anything else, people should plan their entrance and exit to the political arena.”

Reflecting on my political journey, I question whether my “original sin” of suggesting politics works in Jamaica was true then or even now.

I entered politics to add value by improving the lives of all Jamaicans and helping to shape our trajectory towards a First-World nation, where our people’s per capita income and passports would be weighted against international benchmarking metrics.

Next year I will serve 18 years as a parliamentarian in the Lower House. That is an entire generation of people born and grown up now who will be of age to vote in the 2025 general election.

Suppose I was running as a Member of Parliament (MP) again next year in St Ann South Eastern, or anywhere else for that matter. What would I say to that 18-year-old who, for their entire lifetime, has not seen anything different, whether in their road infrastructure or the quality of their life or that of their family?

Why would I expect them to vote for me or the political party I represent?

Why was I not able to get their road rehabilitated, not patched, for 18 years?

Why is there still no running water in some of the same areas?

Since I have been an elected representative, I feel as though I fix the same roads over and over, fight for the same water issues that never get fixed, and have only menial resources to implement small welfare and infrastructural projects.

Why? The system is slow and, in some cases, broken.

In the grand development scheme, $20 million for annual constituency development is inadequate. Yet each MP is allocated this amount under the rubric of ‘development’. Failing which, we are at the mercy of a government minister who determines their priorities and whether, as an Opposition MP, they should be gracious to you.

These are the issues that are important to people — not the fact that I have brought special economic zones to the area with businesses that create employment, and implemented other long-term policies to help with value-added agriculture and water.

People want changes, and they want them now. This is perhaps why we have not sought to change the way we campaign as political parties, as the proverbial “vote for change” or “we will make it great again” messages will always resonate.

Having served in Opposition for three of the four terms I have been elected, I have developed good relationships with many of my colleagues who sit on the Government benches. However, the system for people receiving assistance or improvements to their community roads, schools, and overall way of life should never depend on whether our colleagues like or respect our personalities, but instead on policy towards measurable objectives.

In my political lifetime, I credit Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips, between 2011 and 2016, with the courageous move to fix our economy and our first fiscal surplus. Dr Nigel Clarke continued the direction, and he has my gratitude.

But what new industries have we created to make us globally competitive?

What is our big picture for catapulting our economic growth and giving our people more?

What is our long-term plan to fix our crime and violence?

I want my country not only to survive with anaemic economic growth, but also to prevail as a global titan competing with the best economies on the world stage despite our small size and population.

I am convinced it can happen if we all work together and cooperate across the aisle. Our responsibility, as policymakers, is to create the economic climate and mindset that will grow the Jamaican economy in a way that increases the per capita income for all our citizens. In the close to 18 years I have been here, we have not moved the wealth needle for our people significantly, and my impatience with inertia is frustrating.

Our objective should be to move our grass roots to the middle class, and the middle class to being internationally wealthy in this term. This will not happen with speeches. And, what’s more, raw talent alone is simply not enough to monetise the opportunities available. We need a structured plan that is specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-bound to take us there.

The way we showcase, practise, and implement our politics is painfully divisive. Within an increasingly bureaucratic system of governance we are creating dysfunctional policies that simply don’t work and perpetuate continued inequality.

These are the issues I hope the next generation of representatives will tackle.

They should make their first priority a fixed consensus between both parties regarding the minimum percentage of the budgets allocated to health care, education, and national security, regardless of who wins the next election.

My household staff is representative of both political sides; one is a strong Labourite, and the other is a strong Comrade. When I asked them if they were voting in the next election, they said no, that they were tired of voting because they hadn’t seen the benefits. They said that it is only when an election is coming that they see their MP or councillor. And, when promises are made to them, after the elections they see neither the representatives nor the promises.

It is time politicians realise that the people are tired of the broken system. They perceive Jamaican politics today as only “bait and switch” practices to solicit their votes. It is time for some MPs to leave and make way for others with more energy and fresh ideas. It’s also time to stop using campaign slogans and populist narratives. The people are tired of them.

We need a paradigm shift in our politics that communicates nationally with our people about our vision for improving their lives, the systematic plan in place, our timelines for implementation, and how they will participate in it.

For this to happen, bold and disciplined leadership that is amenable to bipartisan collaboration will be required. Failing this, we are doomed to a broken system.

Lisa Hanna is Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, People’s National Party spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade, and a former Cabinet member.

Lisa Hanna