Checking the Journey to Prosperity
Awakening
The 25th March 2016 concludes month one of the journey of the Andrew Holness led Government since the National elections of recent times.
Expectations for change are very high as “business as usual” has to be the furthest thing from anyone’s mind. In expressing congratulations and sending good wishes to the Hon. Prime Minister and his team for a successful tenure we advised that comprehensive strategic programs need to be the basis of his developmental approach and suggested the first of such program to be that of a re-socialization program to impact and change the “mindset” of Jamaicans for a more morally inclined society where respect for self, others and the environment were the hallmarks.
At the start of month two of the first 100 days we implore the PM and his team that now is the time to present the overall program plan for taking us from poverty to prosperity. The manifesto was a mere teaser or pre-cursor of possibilities, intent and a wish list for stimulating emotion and support.
It is now time for us as Jamaicans to “buy in” to the overall program and get an idea of the projects which will be intend to sustainably support that overall program. It is time to start setting the tone and making the pronouncement in a context that will send us all a clear message and signal of the direction in which we will be heading.
We are cautiously advising that this is not the time to be advertising and making "one off" announcements about "ad hoc" projects..We do not need unsustainable projects which are not somehow reverberating with an overall program concept. It is very important that the planners ,managers and consultants join in one accord and be new and different and lead from the front with a clearly defined mission espoused in a program.
For too long our leaders have waved “projects” before us and implement them without a clearly defined sustainable end game. The examples are numerous and need not be expounded on here, suffice it to say that as a people we have and continue to pay dearly for those blunders and missteps.
The program that we are requesting must expound the vision clearly and it must show us how our country and people will benefit from its implementation and then show us the projects in context that we will be undertaking over time to achieve that vision.
To concretize the vision program we would hope that by now all stakeholders in the country would have been consulted to ensure that this is a program based on consultation and that the needs have been validated to see it as productive, advantageous ,socially palatable, economically viable and will result in prosperity for all.
As tax payers who are already over burdened we do not need any projects imposed on us "out of a hat", we know very well the end results of those.. We need to come to that point of maturity where things are done based on credible plans which are carefully analysed and efficiently implemented on our behalf.
At the end of the 100 days of the administration we are expecting to see a structured and systematic roll out of the projects which will support the program. We are expecting to start feeling the ground move and the train start going forward all over the island.
We are expecting to see the unemployment numbers start going in the opposite direction, We are expecting to see the growth numbers start inching up and we are expecting to see and feel a new attitude and behaviour from our neighbours and fellow Jamaicans.
We cannot be new and be the same and we must warn you Prime Minister Holness that if you fail to create a momentum within the first few months of this administration you are almost guaranteed a tumultuous tenure for the life of the administration. We must have credible sustainable achievement early in the game to set the tone and lay the foundation for the long term success for which we all yearn.
Pronouncements
We are noting carefully that a few Ministers of Government have been starting to announce “projects” and we are somewhat concerned as we try to see the context in which those projects are being announced outside of a more guided and comprehensive program.
Be reminded that despite similarities, programs and projects have stark differences in roles and functions however, they must complement each other.
Finally, please be assured that as Jamaicans we understand the issues and recognize that every transition is unique so flexibility will be important and the strategies must match the particular situation, however, whatever is being done we expect that credibility should be built and protected while bridges of unity and consensus is being built.
It is also extremely important to ensure that systems are put in place to thwart corruption, create value and improve the quality of life for every single Jamaican.
