Dennis Minott | What a drastic decline in the ways of Jamaican state!

Jamaica, up to recently, a symbol of hope, newfound macro-economic stability, and resilience, now teeters on the brink of a profound crisis in governance, ethics, and equity. From the hallways of political power to the corridors of commerce, the Jamaican state appears to have lost its way. Trust, the bedrock of any functioning society, is eroding under the weight of systemic failures, exposing a nation caught in the grip of state capture, financial exploitation, and institutional decay.

The spectre of ‘state capture’ looms large over Jamaica as private interests hasten to manipulate public institutions for personal gain. Revelations of rigged contracts and unexplained wealth have shattered illusions of integrity in leadership. These developments evoke troubling parallels with South Africa’s Gupta Brothers, and recently that of India’s Gautam Adani https://apnews.com/article/adani-india-bribery-tycoon-modi-cd1ee53edee0d..., where alleged cronyism and corruption flourished unchecked. Is Jamaica on a similar trajectory? Policies and decisions seem too often tailored to serve the privileged few, while the majority are left to grapple with activities widening inequality and a crumbling social contract.

Meanwhile, the ‘banking and financial sector’, including the likes of SSL, etc., once a symbol of economic stability, has become another front in the assault on fairness. Predatory lending practices, sky-high banking fees, and opaque policies have transformed financial institutions into barriers rather than facilitators of economic progress. For the average Jamaican, securing a mortgage or simply maintaining a savings account is increasingly burdensome. The stark contradiction between record bank profits and the financial struggles of ordinary citizens deepens resentment and accelerates the breakdown of trust.

EXTEND BEYOND GOVERNANCE

But the failures extend beyond governance and finance. Jamaica’s tourism sector, long celebrated as a pillar of the economy, shows many signs of implosion. Labour unrest, allegations of exploitative practices, and declining profitability are red flags. This vital industry, already vulnerable to global shocks, cannot survive if mismanagement and exploitation persist. And while gleaming resorts may grab the spotlight, the ‘rural road network’, vital to agriculture and rural livelihoods, remains scandalously neglected. Such disregard for rural development undermines national productivity and entrenches economic disparity.

The dismal state of Cornwall Regional Hospital encapsulates the dysfunction. Let’s talk about it. Will there be a commission of enquiry into how this repair project turned into such a protracted and dismal cost-overrun debacle? What oversight, or lack thereof, allowed this essential facility to spiral into chaos for years, leaving western Jamaica in healthcare purgatory? And please, Dr Tufton, spare us the platitudes about how “it was well worth the wait”. This nation, though cowed, still has intelligent and enquiring minds. Bluffing and deflection will not suffice. A commission of enquiry seems warranted.

Adding to these woes is ‘crime’, the grim backdrop to everyday life in Jamaica. Despite billions spent on states of emergency and targeted interventions, we remain a (or the) global leader in homicide rates. What is the return on this investment, Dr Chang? These “solutions” seem to gloss over the root causes: inequality, poverty, lack of compassion, and hopelessness.

TRUST DEFICIT

At the core of all these failures lies a catastrophic trust deficit. Jamaicans no longer believe that their taxes will translate into better roads, safer streets, or accessible healthcare. Parents question whether schools are preparing their children for meaningful or violence-free futures. Workers, disillusioned, wonder whether they are cogs in a system designed to enrich only a few smilers, applauders, and backway kickers.

Jamaica is at a crossroads. To avoid a legacy of inequity and despair, we must confront these systemic failures with urgency and resolve. Leadership must prioritise transparency and accountability. Financial institutions must operate ethically. Citizens must demand answers, refuse deflection, and insist on equitable policies.

To conclude, I cite verbatim the latest I’ve read from most credible ‘Citizen A’ whose identity must be protected in the current environment:

Dr Minott,

Money, power and related influence compromise and manipulate the political system and generates economic distortion to the detriment of the people of any country !

It matters not what the colour of the leadership is, as it is not race related by any means. I agree with Clinton Miller ‘ the corruption of power for personal gain”. You too are so right as far as Jamaica is concerned, there have been too many instances “where political elites and business magnates have colluded to enrich themselves at the expense of the public”.

It may be that the level of corruption in African countries is more widespread because of a lack of oversight or, perhaps, a lesser educated population, or even a lack of transparency in the awarding of government related contracts. Private sector entities have used their wealth as power for years with the benefit of personal gain, and we see it shaping its ugly head again to pervade the US economy following the recent election outcome.

The tourism industry hits me straight in the heart as an ex-hotelier. I knew it was only a matter of time before the Spanish hotels would implode, as I was told of the mass benefits they were awarded, I was suspicious of kickbacks galore, and I heard many stories of staff mistreatment, but on the surface, it appeared that it was a huge investment in our economy with massive job creation. The deeper question is at what cost to Jamaica?

I am not an economist, but I fear for the future of the next generation in terms of how they will be controlled without even being aware.

Sorry to go on so much, but I am deeply disturbed by the ‘new ‘ Jamaica. I think I would agree with anything that you write!

The Jamaican state was once envisioned as a shield for the vulnerable and a ladder for the ambitious. Let us reclaim that vision before it slips away. The choice is stark: to act decisively or to consign future generations to a nation where trust is a relic, and hope is a distant memory.

Dennis Minott, PhD, is the CEO of A-QuEST-FAIR. He is a multilingual green resources specialist, a research physicist, and a modest mathematician who worked in the oil and energy sector. Send feedback to a_quest57@yahoo.com or columns@gleanerjm.com