The Change Jamaica Needs - From The DR Monologue Series

Changing mindsets and focusing on results coupled with an adequately/appropriately communicated, realistic yet ambitious vision of a better Jamaica, lies at the Centre of the challenge facing the country. 

A Plan already exists

We need to look no further than Vision 2030, which was designed to make Jamaica 'the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business'.  

However, is it on the lips, in the mind, or driving the actions of Jamaicans everywhere? Has it been consistently communicated and internalized by all?  If a problem, could be easily solved by simple reallocation of funds and use of existing resources.

Accountability for results must be the driving force. Let me hasten to add that accountability does not mean finger pointing or blame finding, as is the case in Jamaica. Instead, the changed thought process must evolve to responsibility and “answerability” for the outcomes, not only at the end point but throughout the process. No doubt, consequence management is a component to be attributed to abject failure.

However, where failure occurs, we must be blame tolerant, particularly where the occurrence was not caused, for example, by incompetence or corruption.  There are several reasons for failure, including inadequate resources (financial and skilled human resources), external economic factors, global changes, unpredictable weather and so on.  For example, COVID was a 100-year event that caught us all off guard.  Can you really allocate funds to the 100-year event all the time?  It is not practical.  However, a plan can be put in place for execution. 

Logically, there is in fact a case for scenario planning.  Ultimately, we must be genuine in our search for solutions for challenges which exist and those that may occur.  This approach would encourage preventive action, support improved response and lay the foundation for building back better.

The Change Jamaica needs must be associated with competent, trusted and transformational, leadership at all levels.  In addition, resourced action plans, access to talented and prepared Jamaicans will be necessary.  A private sector that can see that it has skin in the game is also essential as Government may make policy but can only deliver on the public component and influence private action.  The talent required must come from a prepared population. It bears mentioning that the citizenry must play its part but more importantly must be prepared by the State and wider society on the basis of shared values and vision.

It is not impossible

Jamaica has done it over and over. Let us look at a few successes to determine whether they provide a basis to understand the change required.  The work involved was far more complex than can be covered here so i trust you will forgive the summary approach.

Here are 4 examples

Sear Belt law- Jamaica moved from the wearing of no seat belts to adherence to a new law with smooth implementation. 

How? 

Massive communication of the benefit to the individual and wider society. It became the driver’s responsibility to ensure all persons were buckled in the car.  Implementation of fines took effect 6 months after the passage of the law to get the citizens accustomed to wearing seatbelts.  The Police instituted helpful stops and checks to remind passengers to be bucked, encouraged and praised passengers and provided information on the fines to be imposed when the law took effect. 

 It worked!

Citizens began to comply before the law took effect.  The approach utilized required thought, policy planning, implementation and involvement and commitment of the citizens.  It was accomplished by Jamaicans caring for Jamaicans.

Road to France 98 – In 1965, Jamaica started well in the first qualifying round of the

Road To France

qualifiers to World cup 1966 but was eliminated because of poor performance (or superior opponents) in the second round.  I believe that started the strong belief within Jamaica that we could get to the WORLD CUP. That belief was further buttressed by the fact that Cuba had qualified 1950 World cup. Haiti would do so in 1974. In 1966, the Commonwealth games were held in Jamaica.

 

By the 1990s, after several “unprepared” attempts, Jamaica through better management led by Captain (quite likely the best in recent times despite the many revealed flaws) and with a solid vision to France 98, a reasonably good coaching staff led by Rene Simoes, a team that was built around core players that. in the most part, stayed and developed together among them Warren Barrett, Tatty Brown, Tony Baddas, Peter Cargill, Winston Anglin, Dean Sewell, and the UK based contingent including Fitzroy Simpson, Robbie Earle, Theodore Whitmore, and Deon Burton. I know I have left out important players but I believe you see the point.

There was strong support from the citizenry who bought into the vision.  Citizens whether knowledgeable or not about football began to believe and had high expectations for the team. The fans made the National Stadium aka 'The Office' (everything in Jamaica has an alias) a dreaded place for opponents to visit. If you ask me all the ingredients came together for a successful outcome.   Jamaica qualified. Jamaica arrived at the World Cup in France and had the World at its feet with supporters from every corner of the Globe (some old some new).  The novelty of Jamaica shone through.  I suppose this came on the heels of Cool Runnings (1993) the movie and made people think … What can’t this little country do?   

Beijing Olympics 2008 - Jamaica won many medals, set new records, and breathed new

life and purpose into global top-class athletics. How? Some say it was almost 100 years in “home-grown” making.  From early in the 20th Century, School Boy athletics was a highpoint in the school and social calendar. Girls Championships would become as important many years later. 

Through ongoing development over almost a 100-year span, Jamaica produced coaches and athletes of good quality.  Maybe Herb McKinley is best known, but we sometimes forget that he was beaten in the sprints by other Jamaicans. He was no doubt a well-rounded sprinter competing in the 100, 200 and 400 metre events.  I think that team in 1948 enhanced the belief in modern day Jamaican sprint possibilities.  Those guys in 1948-52 were in the most part from average Jamaican families (they didn’t know they were poor) but had a vision for themselves and what they could accomplish.  Later other athletes such as Lennox Miller, Donald Quarrie, Merlene Ottey and Vilma Charlton and Carmen Smith would arise and make their mark regionally and internationally.    Colin Bradford ran 8th in an Olympic final in the 70s.  It did not matter to many that he was last… he had made the final and Jamaica was there.  These guys captured the imagination of Jamaicans and put more medals within the mindset of a new generation.

By 2008, the team that appeared on the track were competent or exceptional, well prepared with a management arrangement that performed well.  The rest is history. Furthermore, they believed they were just as good or better than most.  They were not primarily accountable to Jamaica. Instead, they were accountable to themselves, and the hard work put in.  Again, Jamaican talent prepared by Jamaican coaches under Jamaican execution.

Economic Reform Programme – 2012 -16 (ERP) - Despite the economic pressures from the global financial crisis, rapidly depreciating currency and approaching debt default that would make Jamaica a pariah in the international financial arena, Jamaicans came together.  The economic response was home grown with support from the international development community.  A Minister who rose to the task led a team of public servants to spearhead the reconstructive agenda. The Cabinet supported the difficult but necessary actions. 

Wide societal consensus was achieved for the Economic Reform Program (ERP). Everyone had skin in the game.  Private sector, financial sector, civil society Unions were convinced to support and that they did. Unprecedented communication was executed by the Government to raise awareness of the program.  Although more should have occurred, the extent of the communication delivered was much larger than many had seen or heard for a very long time. 

The ERP was successful.  Jamaica met all targets.  You may recall that by 2016, interest rates and inflation were the lowest in 50 years.  The fiscal deficit was all but eliminated and the debt stock which had stifled the use of public resources had been reduced significantly over 4 years.  Jamaica became an example for the developing world and has since been quoted in many studies. Again, led by Jamaicans and supported by Jamaicans …. and of course, with support from the international community.

 

What are the lessons for me from the few successes mentioned above?

1. Good communication of the vision is needed to raise awareness and secure support
2. We must have a well thought thru plan and an overwhelming focus on results.  The ERP and the focus of Bolt/Shelly/Elaine, for example, on results are similar in this regard.
3. Trusted, competent and transformational leadership is required
4. Change takes time and will occur if we stay with the process.
5. Ordinary everyday Jamaicans can achieve exceptional outcomes if they are properly prepared.
6. Societal support is required to ensure motivation and bolster performance
7. But most of all we must believe in ourselves and liberate ourselves from mental slavery and stop behaving as if though we serve a Lesser God than peoples elsewhere.

Note: This Article was contributed by a guest writer who plans to write other articles in the series 'From The DR Monologue Series'