MICHAEL MOYSTON is a man with a lot on his mind. So much so that he was prompted to write a letter to the The Gleaner five months ago to get some of the issues off his chest. Mr. Moyston's letter did not only succeed in drawing attention to some of the things that are wrong with Jamaica, it was considered outstanding enough to earn him The Gleaner's Silver Pen Award for January 2005.
With a framed copy of his letter and his silver pen lying before him and a distant look in his eyes, Mr. Moyston mourned for a Jamaica which he said existed many years ago when he was a child.
DOORS UNLOCKED
"People could go to their beds with their doors unlocked. My friends and I could stand under a bus stop in any inner-city community at three o'clock in the morning without fear. I used to go to Trench Town and chat with Bob Marley," he declared.
"My vision is larger than I and my hope is that we can bring a deeper understanding of what we need to do as a society to help the less fortunate, because by helping the less fortunate, we are (going to) help ourselves."
He said the main problems affecting Jamaica's prosperity are crime, poverty, joblessness and homelessness.
"It is very simple ... We have the resources. What we have to do is break down the walls of selfishness that are preventing some of us from understanding that we cannot take (our riches) with us," he added.
HOARDING WEALTH
A businessman, Mr. Moyston said too many Jamaicans prefer to either hoard their wealth or take it overseas rather than invest it in the country so more people can benefit by the creation of jobs.
"I feel an immense burden, almost as though I am carrying around this nation on my shoulders sometimes," he said.
"I pray for my country; I've written to the press about the nation; I've presented solutions, suggestions, recommendations, to improve the nation."
But how exactly does Mr. Moyston intend to fulfil his utopian ideals?
"The pen is mightier than the sword, and I intend to continue to write and be outspoken about those issues that are affecting the nation," he added. Mr. Moyston says the Silver Pen Award is something which he will always treasure.
