Some of our leaders are an embarrassment - Custos Stair

Custos of Hanover Dr David Stair says the lack of integrity by some in leadership in Jamaica is doing great harm to the country and embarrassing the nation.

"Today our nation is crying out for leaders with integrity and high moral values," said Stair, who was speaking at a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at the Bethel Methodist Church in Hopewell, Hanover, on Thursday.

"Leaders who can rise above narrow partisan political agendas and self-enrichment schemes, and get on with the task of building a better place for all of us to live, work, raise families, and do business," he added.

The custos went on to lament the general breakdown in family values; the allocation of inadequate resources; the lack of sufficient job opportunities; and the paucity of role models to inspire young people to embrace good values and attitudes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, frankly speaking, I feel embarrassed by individuals who think it is ok to eat US$1,000 cakes and erect multimillion-dollar signs to tell people what they already know, when we have to drive on veritable goat tracks to get to and from work; when our water supply is intermittent; the power still goes on and off several times a day; garbage is collected once weekly, if we are lucky, and our health and education institutions are grossly underfunded," added Stair.

The custos went on to question the nation's priorities, pointing out that financing remains the biggest impediment to tertiary education, although tertiary education is essential to nation-building.

"Education is critical to nation-building and it needs to get priority attention," said Stair, who questioned the many impediments that sometimes impact education. "Why can't we get it right the first time?"

Stair also questioned what he described as the glorifying of criminals and rogues, which he said has allowed criminality to flourish in Jamaica.

"Is it that we have grown into a society where nothing is important except the pursuit of dollars at all cost?" the custos asked. "We need to decide on the type of society we want to live and raise our families in, and take the necessary steps to make that dreams become reality."