Extraordinary measures needed for social change
Published:Saturday | October 17, 2020 | 12:12 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
I must laud Dudley McLean for his call for the dismantling of the political garrisons in Jamaica in his letter in The Gleaner on October 13. He reasoned that this ingrained malady in our political system is a prime determinant factor in election victories and opined that this is likely to be the deciding factor if Mark Golding beats Lisa Hanna to become the leader of the People’s National Party. It would seem to me that it will take extraordinary measures to bring about a change.
I am sure that despite such a tragic reality of Jamaica, like the proverbial phoenix, with all its human potential, geographical position, natural resources, and soundness of the world-class brand that we possess, we can rise to greater heights.
This requires a national social and political renaissance spearheaded by the Church speaking with one voice insisting to chart the following:
1. Convene a national ecumenical conference preaching equality and justice for all mankind.
2. Galvanise the powerful Public Sector Organisation of Jamaica to chart a plan for a social, economic, and political renewal, engaging the banks to remove the services charges levied on clients.
3. Create a national investment fund geared towards the support of micro and small business to exploit new indigenous products and services with emphasis on generating foreign exchange and local employment.
4. Use the prison population as a catalyst for economic growth to provide abundant food, meat, milk for local consumption for export along with skills training services such as construction and building maintenance etc.
5. Exploit Brand Jamaica by producing sugar cane, coconut water, and fruit juice for export.
6. Provide a resolution to the protracted water problem.
7. Restore Kingston, the capital city. This should involve the segmentation of the area with a polytechnic built on the grounds of the present correctional centre; the provision of low, medium, and upper housing, offices, and commerce; an entertainment park; and a new multistorey state-of-the-art market.
8. Systematically and gradually remove zinc fences using the resources of the National Housing Trust and private-sector land swapping to restore and renew dilapidated housing by carrying out a land census to reallocate land by compensating developers.
This would certainly transform Jamaica into a paradise.
DR J.D. WOOD
Director Jamaica Foundation
for Natural Medicine