I, like many others, have been a voice crying out for the building of a ‘new Jamaica’ for the last 40 years. That cry must now be intensified for Jamaica’s social, moral, and economic conditions have steadily worsened over the years.

The indicators are plain to see. Crime, though trending down now under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake, we have not fixed the root causes of our high violence and murder rates?

Are the current strategies being employed sustainable? Will they address and fix the root causes?

Economic performance tells a similar story. Jamaica has transformed from a nation with high debt and low growth into a recognised success story for fiscal discipline and economic resilience. Thank God for the good economic and fiscal leadership started by former Minister of Finance Dr Peter Phillips and exemplified by Dr Nigel Clarke.

But any economist worth his salt will tell you that Jamaica continues to perform way below its potential based on its human and natural resources. We continue to be far too reliant on our service industries, particularly tourism, finance, and, more recently, business process outsourcing.

THE PAIN IS COMING!

Hurricane Melissa recently showed us how vulnerable we are by hitting us where it hurts. Our food and tourism pillars were heavily impacted. Our Government has done an excellent job in attempting to shield us from the reality of what the long-term impact could be. But, like a kick to the groin, the pain will eventually sharply manifest itself.

One leading politician’s recent remark that any food shortfall caused by the impact of the hurricane will be fixed by increased imports is a scary statement. For, despite its improving economic health, Jamaica cannot afford a widening trade deficit.

For those readers who may not understand, a deficit in trade occurs when a country imports more goods and services than it exports; meaning it spends more on foreign products than it earns from selling its own. This could lead to significant economic disadvantages, including increased foreign debt, job losses in domestic manufacturing, and a weaker national currency.

A wiser statement — and one that I hope he aggressively pursues — is the one made by Prime Minister Holness on January 13, 2026 at the official opening of the Wisynco Brewery and new manufacturing facility in St Catherine:

“The only way for us to come out of this is to grow our way out of it. There is no international aid that can rescue us. The days of us looking for a country or a benefactor to come and assist, those days are over. We must stand on our own two feet and recover by ourselves.”

We must all aggressively respond to his challenge.

THE CHALLENGES

Two other challenges that we must reset is our brain drain or migration and our scamming. Approximately 15,000 to over 20,000 Jamaicans legally emigrate annually, with the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom being the primary destinations. These numbers do not include those who have left by underground or illegal means.

The resulting brain drain reflects a painful reality: Too many of our people see no hope and no future in their own nation. Increasingly, both youth and older citizens are searching for a way out, driven by the hope of a better life elsewhere.

Come on, people, let’s make the saying true! “No weh no betta dan yaad!” Let’s make Jamaica the place to live, work, raise families, and do business… for all Jamaicans! Hmmm… Haven’t I heard that somewhere before?

Speaking of doing business, scamming has emerged as a substitute business for honest labour, but it offers no real hope, no dignity, and no secure future. We must transform this. As much as scamming has uplifted the financial and social lives of many Jamaicans, it is wrong and dishonest. I am reminded of saying learned in preparatory and primary school: “Honest labour bears a lovely face.”

The general voter turnout in our elections fluctuates in the 30-odd percentiles. This means that about 70 per cent of us citizens, allows 30 per cent of citizens to determine who leads 100 per cent of us. This is a stark sign that many have lost faith in the political system and the processes of governance. We must halt this voter disengagement and national apathy.

Yet, I don’t believe most Jamaicans really want to leave their island or disconnect from the electoral process. They love their country deeply. What drives them away is the painful reality that their hopes, dreams, and aspirations cannot be realised at home. We must help all citizens to view themselves and each other as first-class citizens, producers, nation-builders, and valued contributors. Then let’s not forget, every citizen must become a peacemaker and conflict resolver.

If this could ever become a national effort by Government, private sector, Church, and all citizens, what a Jamaica would we have! All of this affirms the cry rising from the belly of the nation for a new Jamaica — one that restores hope for all.

The life skills manual which I wholeheartedly promote contains a statement made by the Prime Minister of Egypt Zaphenath-Paneah (Joseph) many millennia ago. Joseph, referring to an evil action by some said: “What you have meant for evil, God meant it for good, so that many could benefit and be saved…”

What seemed to be one of the worst things that could have happened, through Melissa, has — to discerning and spiritually alert eyes — revealed something far deeper. What the enemy of humanity meant for evil, the God of the universe has answered as a cry for a new Jamaica and meant it for good.

The short-sighted “judgement destruction proclaimers” blinded by ignorance and narrow thinking fail to see the opportunity embedded in the loud voice of Melissa — the death of old, negative systems and structures that have entrenched division, suppression, and oppression — and the moment to birth a new Jamaica founded on righteousness and justice, the only true basis for sustainable success and shared prosperity.

Fellow citizens, this is our greatest opportunity since Independence. Out of societal breakdown and devastation lies the chance to shape and build the new Jamaica — our sure inheritance for the next generation. We owe it to them.

The leaders of the 1970s through the 2000s have failed. Now is the time for us to arise together, seize the opportunity to fix what is broken, reset our course, and build the new Jamaica.

The new cannot be built on an old, failed platform. We must relay the destroyed foundations laid by our founding fathers with new paradigms and a renewed leadership mindset — one firmly committed to putting Jamaica first.

This is the kind of leadership that can galvanise the nation around a shared vision; one that restores hope and inspires collective commitment to turn vision into reality.

Mek wi dweet! Old Jamaica out. New Jamaica is now!

Al Miller is senior pastor at Fellowship Tabernacle. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or pastormilleroffice@gmail.com