The Editor, Sir:

Our national anthem asks the Almighty to grant our leaders wisdom and vision to our leaders. We know that He does not answer our prayers until He determines that it is opportune. Often times, when He responds, it is in mysterious ways. Some folks would describe those times as "opportunities knocking at the door."

Over the past 44 years, our leaders have not always shown the wisdom and vision required to seize opportunities presented to our nation. One reason may be that our leaders spend so much time planning how to divide, rather than to unite us to deal with the harsh reality of being a sovereign nation.

It was not the design of man that so many of our people have been scattered throughout the world. It was neither wisdom nor vision of man that propelled us out of 'paradise' into strange lands.

Presently, our overseas presence is guesstimated as equal to or larger than the population at home. Our leaders know this now, yet are still without the vision and wisdom to seize the opportunity presented by the Almighty in positioning Jamaicans outside of Jamaica in such numbers.

I am mindful of the recent establishment of the Jamaica Diaspora and applaud the attempt, however belated, to connect with us abroad to assist with the building of the nation. However, there is an inherent weakness in the effort which should be addressed in order to attain the goal of uniting the overseas and home communities.

Again, I wish to acknowledge the unsolicited efforts made by groups and individuals abroad to send funds, equipment and other materials to Jamaica. I hope that those efforts will continue, despite the absence of a programme in Jamaica to capture more. It is the 'more' that concerns me.

Government initiative

The weakness that I have identified in the diaspora structure stems from the institutionalised divisiveness of our community at home. The diaspora movement is viewed in many areas as a government initiative (meaning the present political party's effort). Now, that might seem normal because the government is the body to handle foreign affairs on behalf of the nation. But, by and large, our community abroad remembers the partisanship that is chronic in our community at home. There is an arguable suspicion, that funds solicited and handled by one party are not going to be properly distributed within the community.

To allay this fear, I do believe that the government can inject into the programme an element of co-operation with the political opposition and the private sector. In other words, pleas from a united Jamaica for assistance should dispel any concern about the utilisation of any funds transferred for nation-building. This alliance of the sectors of our community would, in my view, have a strong impact on communities abroad; sufficient to provide the glue for the overseas communities to pool their investments.

Right at this time, Jamaica is fortunate to have two former prime ministers, representing both major parties, alive and able. I am proposing that steps be taken by those influential in the community there, to persuade these two individuals that they can unite for the purpose of solidifying the appeal to the overseas community. Add to that duo an independent individual outside of the political struggle, and we have the element presently absent in the diaspora structure.

I ask that our leaders look seriously at this opportunity to accelerate our nation's progress towards less dependence on others who have their own fish to fry.

I am, etc.,

ALLAN ALBERGA

allanalberga@aol.com

174 Trinity Avenue

Atlanta, Georgia

Via Go-Jamaica