Letter of the Day | Leadership in a state of flux
Published:Thursday | July 19, 2018 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
On the 100th birthday of Nelson Mandela, we can do a quick survey of leaders across the world.
His leadership provided many unique elements in the history of his country, South Africa, and so did the coming of Barack Obama in America.
We are indeed in a state of flux. In many cases and places, we are in world of flux. Leadership theorists have to go back to the drawing board as we see the leaders in the USA and the UK undertaking gymnastics to survive. These countries have often been dictating what leaders should do and be. So concepts like transformational and transactional leadership have to be reviewed and the idea that businessmen and women are somehow uniquely able to lead nations and institutions beyond self-interest is in question.
Here in Jamaica, I would encourage our leaders not to promise what they cannot deliver or do not intend to deliver. It is time to stop fooling the people who have experienced corruption, mendicancy and lack of forward thinking that have virtually crippled the country.
When will we advance beyond what the other party did? If it is wrong, it is wrong.
Arrogance and Contempt
The arrogance and contempt displayed by some of this generation of leaders is appalling. So while we the citizens experience the bully Rhygin behaviour of our leaders, we are saddled with taxes and meaningless rhetoric.
We need to intentionally mentor our young people and be people of integrity. Otherwise we will continue to be the laughing stock of the international community, especially those from whom we constantly beg money by the way of loans and grants.
Jamaicans have to fix up their country and demand higher levels of probity and decency from our leaders.
HILARY HICKLING