Beverley Anderson -Manley
REX NETTLEFORD constantly reminds us that as human beings, we are gifted with creative imagination. This is an area in which artist-like, we utilise our skills as creators and innovators. Hence, as with the painter, for example, we face a blank canvas and allow a painting to emanate from us, to come through us. It is unfortunate that for many of us this capacity to use our creative imagination is not within our awareness. However, for others, this is a way of life.
Bringing our creative imagination into our awareness allows us, apart from anything else to begin to see the world differently and therefore to get different results. This is essential for leadership at any level and we can choose to exercise leadership wherever we are. This is a precondition for citizenship and helps to illuminate our individual and collective roles and responsibilities.
FRESH VISION NEEDED
These are particularly challenging times and perhaps the least that we can demand is a critical mass of citizens who can see beyond current reality and into a vision that can stretch us so that we achieve results that are unpredictable. This is directly related to our roles and responsibilities. For example, what if Jamaicans could accept that we have a right to create an environment that is healthy and clean. One of the points that Lew Kuan Yew makes about Singapore is that when that country got involved in the 'greening of Singapore' - the citizens of that country had to make a decision about how they saw themselves first and then, secondly, how they wanted others to see them.
This campaign involved removing age old practices like spitting. Hence anti-spitting campaigns were organised. The success of the eradication of this old habit encouraged the leaders of Singapore to alter other habits. What was important at the time was that Singapore wanted to distinguish itself from other Third World countries. Hence, the need for a clean and green Singapore. They started at a basic but challenging level, knowing that when they succeeded, as they did, the way would be made clear for other things to be possible. The leaders of Singapore had to be able to see a Singapore devoid of a spitting habit. How do we want to distinguish ourselves in Jamaica?
BEYOND THE GARBAGE
Looking beyond the garbage and mess that exists in Jamaica towards a Jamaica that is 'clean and green' could begin by our taking a decision, for example, to stop the habit of making a mess. This includes something minimal like not throwing garbage out of vehicles. When we succeed at that, then we can move up to something else. There is absolutely no reason Jamaicans should not be able to take responsibility for cleaning and greening our environment.
The use of our creative imagination is what will allow us to see what a clean and green Jamaican environment looks like and the kind of different results, including the impact on our health that this would give us. Do we dare to try? How can we make this sustainable? Is our leadership, at all levels, willing and able to inspire and mobilise us in this basic area. I grew up, like most Jamaicans on the adage that "cleanliness is next to Godliness" in an atmosphere where 'yards' were scrubbed clean so that they had the appearance of tiled floors.
SHARE THE VISION
Visionary leadership involves the capacity to take people where they have never been before - to have the faith to see things differently. Critical in all of this is the capacity not only to inspire but to actually get something done. Leaders and followers must utilise their creative imagination; take responsibility and be accountable for the implementation of the vision that is shared by the country.
This is what makes the difference. This is what allows us to move from a downward spiral, that is a vicious cycle, within which we feel trapped, unfulfilled and frustrated in the use of our creative imagination in order to build continuous upward spirals - virtuous circles. It is within these circles that the possibility of making a difference exists.
Beverley Anderson Manley is political scientist, transformation trainer, broadcaster and gender specialist. Email: bmanley@kastnet.com.
