Hilary Robertson -Hickling
I HAD the privilege of attending the installation of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and recognise the challenge facing Jamaica at this time; we need both excellent management and excellent leadership. At a time when there is a new Prime Minister and a new Governor-General there is serious need for critical strategic thinking and action to move the country forward. Thousands of Jamaicans and well-wishers witnessed the event on the grounds, on television and on the Internet and it was a glorious moment.
The function proceeded well and it was very moving, but there were things that could have spoiled the day. The journey from the University of the West Indies to King's House took 45 minutes and chaos reigned along the road. Police personnel and other Jamaicans of all social backgrounds took buses and SUVs into four lanes, drove along the sidewalks and blocked the road.
UGLY BEHAVIOUR
Beautifully dressed and coiffed but exhibiting the ugly behaviour for which we are also infamous I observed leading and lowly citizens engaged in wrongdoing and I felt ashamed. Is this the way that we are honouring Prime Minister Simpson Miller and our heritage? Why were the police not stationed at the appropriate intersections to manage the traffic instead of allowing the indisciplined few to take over? At our ugliest we stop thinking and revert to foolish and impulsive behaviour which is dangerous. Emergency vehicles were stuck and we now realise that a terrorist could have used the cover of this chaos to wreak havoc.
I was distressed to see that the Leader of the Opposition and his wife could not find seats in the appropriate section, and I saw many ticket holders like myself standing for the duration of the function. Where were the people managing the seating and protocol arrangements? Management allows the orderly discharge of responsibilities and leadership expands the horizons for transformation.
ORGANISATIONAL ABILITY
In this country we are having the premier sporting event in the hemisphere which requires tremendous organisational ability. We are having to raise the bar as our desire to host international events indicates. We have held the Commonwealth Games here as well as important international conferences and done it well. As we prepare for the Cricket World Cup we have to ensure that the management is right. Most people in the developed world question our capacity to manage ourselves and our country and the conduct which I witnessed recently really shook me up. Do we have the skills and the will to do the job?
The Prime Minister and the team that she has assembled have received the baton and the race has become more difficult and more competitive, but as our athletes demonstrate we can succeed with the discipline, training, coaching and patriotism that is required. As a colleague suggested there is a cry for integrity in this nation as without it we will perish. There must never be a repeat of the chaos that we saw; it is demeaning and disgraceful.
Hilary Robertson-Hickling is a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies, UWI, Mona.
