Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Very wise and most timely words as the Jamaican people contemplate going to the polls on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

In five years’ time, the Jamaican nation is anticipating the realisation of Vision 2030, an inspirational target set by our political leaders, but will that highly touted vision become a reality or remain a dream deferred? Or, even worse, a nightmare?

The first national goal of Vision 2030 is: “Jamaicans are empowered to achieve their fullest potential.” This suggests that the goal focuses on ensuring that every Jamaican has the opportunity to thrive by fostering social infrastructure, supporting talent and creativity, and ensuring access to quality education.

In this vein, it can be said that successive administrations have failed to focus sufficiently on the above-mentioned areas. This writer may well come across as being cynical, but could these areas have been neglected because they do not cater enough to the pork barrel mentality, whereby there can be sufficient “let-offs” and “bandooloism”?

It is said that the Chinese plan in 50-year cycles, and a close look at that country’s overall development shows without a doubt that it has become a superpower in more ways than one. In Jamaica, unfortunately, every five years or so Government has to “rewind and come again”, so to speak. Already, reports are that the Dr Andrew Holness-led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Administration has been saying that if the Mark Golding-led People’s National Party (PNP) should win the election it will abandon the current JLP’s projects and policies. However, Golding has responded to assure the Jamaican people that it would not do this in a “scorched earth” manner but would examine each matter and make those decisions that are in the best interest of the populace. This is most encouraging, because it is fair to say that there are those projects and policies being pursued by the JLP that are worth keeping.

Indeed, one of the more unfortunate aspects to how we govern in this country is the tendency to throw out the baby with bathwater, all in the name of political one-upmanship and petty “politricks”. For example, the constant rearranging of the Cabinet and the creation of too many ministries in order to provide jobs for the “boys and girls”. Why can’t there be an agreed set of core ministries that spans administrations?

At present, Dr Holness has created a humongous conglomerate dubbed the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, which, in essence, suggests that he must have his finger in every pie. One suspects that part of his reasoning is to create a synergy among critical areas in government and cut down the attendant bureaucracy to ensure that his Administration gets the job done. This appears on the surface to be a pragmatic and proactive approach, but now that a new Administration will be in the making, with or without him at the helm, an in-depth analysis needs to be conducted, because one of the ongoing concerns, in my opinion, is that the prime minister, though being the first among equals, may be inching towards an autocratic form of Government, which does not fit well into the Westminster parliamentary model.

In the final analysis, both Holness and Golding should commit themselves to promoting a shared vision which cuts across party lines and is embraced by the wider population. It behoves them both, therefore, to pursue a Government committed to national unity, notwithstanding narrow partisan interests. After all, it goes without saying that Jamaica’s tribal politics continues to play a deleterious role in this country’s overall development.

Needless to say that it is time for a truth and reconciliation approach to be put on the table. It cannot be that when one side comes to power, the other side must suck salt out of a wooden spoon for the next five years. This vicious cycle of divisive politics will make it almost impossible for there to be a full realisation of the aspirations of Vision 2030, and the Jamaican people will definitely be the worst off as a result of this partisan recalcitrance.

One of the worrying aspects to the campaigns leading up to the September 3 General Election is the lack of a clear vision emanating from both parties. As is customary, the emphasis has been on those “populist issues” that can be described as vote-catching, but it should not be that only the tangibles are peddled. Intangibles, such as character education, which focuses on values and attitudes; creating a kinder, gentler society; discipline; productivity; tolerance; patriotism; and unleashing the creative energies as well as many other worthy attributes of a great nation that can truly make us prosperous must be part of the mix.

Too often some of these issues are placed in the parties’ respective manifestos but are never lifted off their pages to become a glowing reality. Instead, it is business as usual after the election. Now that the country is on that rocky road to becoming a republic, transformational leaders with a shared vision must be the order of the day.

In the meantime, outside of the diehards who will be, in many instances, voting blindly for their party of choice, those Jamaicans who are looking at the bigger picture must choose that leader whose vision speaks to a truly better Jamaica for all. Jamaica needs a mean and lean Government that governs with compassion and integrity. Without such a vision, the people will most surely perish.

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.

Dr Andrew Holness (Philp Lemonte)

Mark Golding (Karl Mclarty)

Dr Andrew Holness (Naphtali Junior)