Letter of the Day | Do we really have a vision for the nation?
Published:Monday | June 17, 2019 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Are the leaders of our nation and us, the people, really committed to a vision for our nation? Jamaica’s documented vision is to become the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business. But what does this really mean, and how do we get there? Are we building the right core values? Are we focused on the right objectives, and have we identified the principles by which we need to operate in order to achieve our goals?
Or are we merely following the dictates of others, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and the Chinese, etc? Though they have made meaningful contributions, their assistance should fit into where we want to go as a people.
It is obvious that we cannot continue to live by the current values and still expect to achieve our vision.
FAMILY
Let us look at the issue of family, which is considered to be the basic unit of any nation. How important is the issue of family in this nation? Many would say that the low levels of education and the high levels of crime are related to the breakdown of family and poor parenting.
Have we determined, therefore, the kind of family that we would like to see established in this nation? We celebrate and appreciate the men and women who single-handedly manage their households. However, do we believe and recognise the enormous responsibility of parenthood? In particular, that when in our control, we should ensure that our children have the best experiences? Children are most likely to excel in an environment of committed, quality relationships between the male and female parents who complement each other in the raising of children.
Many more of our women have given up on men, and so they are moving towards single parenting. Will this help to solve our innumerable national issues, crime being the most glaring? Certainly not!
Research has shown that when men play their role their daughters are safer, and less young men get involved in crime and gangs.
Recently, two young men from a ‘garrison’ community said to me, “the children who’ve grown up with both parents go to the better high schools”. The question is, what kind of family unit will we be promoting in Jamaica?
As a country, while we should benefit from others, let us be clear on our vision for our nation; let us establish the values, objectives and goals that will get us there, and let us work together to build this great nation.
B.A. FLETCHER