Delroy Chuck
LIMITED, NARROW, and inadequate thinking has impeded our nation's progress and well-being. Since Independence, no political leader, or anyone else, has crafted a unifying vision to pull Jamaicans together, or carved on the Jamaican landscape a compelling direction to inspire our people to be their best, or created well-defined national goals to which the ordinary Jamaican can fully commit his time, effort and life.
Instead, our leaders have acted divisively, seeking support for selfish, partisan and deficient causes when support is needed for larger, captivating and/or national purposes.
Even now, as we assess and listen to our leaders from every sphere of national life, we easily discern the 'we against them' mentality, the perennial partisan consideration in significant decision-making, the commitment to preserve inferior and mediocre goods and services, the justification and protection of corrupt practices and the failure to think beyond narrow self- interests. Yet, in a world that has become extremely small, Jamaica will slip even further behind unless we start to see the bigger global picture and improve our thinking to lift the nation from its present perilous course. In virtually every field of national life, it is time to take stock and determine how much better and more efficient we can deliver goods and services, remove the delays and inconveniences that frustrate citizens daily and, generally, improve the quality of life.
DISTRUSTING THE PEOPLE
In truth, the government and its bureaucracy distrust the people and, thus, have not acted in their best interests. A simple example will suffice. At the international airports, it appears that Jamaicans, unlike foreigners, cannot be trusted to go through the NOTHING TO DECLARE exits and, oftentimes, the lines are longer and more delayed than in the other customs lines. When Jamaicans return home, they feel quite unwelcome and are treated as second-class citizens, in their own country. In fact, this example multiplies in different ways, everywhere. In the courts, the hospitals, the tax offices, the social services, the government ministries and agencies, etc., Jamaicans are treated with disdain and made to suffer for government services that should be provided promptly, efficiently and courteously.
On the big screen, the compelling picture must be to produce and export. Export or die is a cliché but it is reality. With a national debt of over US$12 billion and growing, we cannot depend on grants, remittances and more loans for survival - we have to produce and grow out of our economic mess. When nine out of 10 containers that come into our ports fully loaded actually leave empty, it is an economic tragedy, which reveals how the skewed and ill-conceived economic policies have destroyed the productive sector. For the near future, every container coming here should leave with Jamaican produce or manufactured goods. Even now, in the land of wood and water, bottled water should be produced cheaper and better, packed into every empty container, and shipped to the rest of the Caribbean or Latin and South America.
NATIONAL CRUSADE
Sadly, the crusade is not to export, save and except for those who argue we should train and export our people in order to earn remittances. The national crusade of our leaders in agriculture and manufacturing is to buy Jamaica or in its latest form - Eat What We Grow and Grow What We Eat - which, with due respect, are simple-minded labels masquerading for economic solutions. Our thinking, and demands on our farmers and manufacturers, should be to grow and produce for the world, which means our products must be sufficiently attractive to everyone, including even the most reluctant and discerning Jamaican. It is wrong, in my opinion, to encourage Jamaicans to buy Jamaican goods however unattractive and expensive they compare with imports, which only encourages uncompetitive and poor products.
Jamaica, with its natural beauty and quaint rural life, the undulating mountains and picturesque valleys, the inviting coastline and beaches, the climate for a wonderful holiday, is a tourist dream. With the potential for five, perhaps 10 million tourists annually, we seem satisfied with two million and lock them away, mainly in the all-inclusive hotels. Surely, one crusading vision that would cost little, lift the tourism product, and could easily embrace everyone is to make Jamaica the cleanest, nicest and healthiest paradise, anywhere. The Anti-litter Act could be strictly enforced, towns and districts beautified, unsightly scenes cleaned and improved, and our decaying inner cities rescued from their dilapidated appearance. But, who amongst us are prepared to put Jamaica first, above everything else?
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
