Wendel Abel
THIS COUNTRY has great potentials. The major challenge is to unlock the creative spirits and resourcefulness of our people. Here are a few ideas for discussion:
1 A change in attitude and values: Who are we? How do we want others to see us? We need to define who it is and what it is to be a Jamaican. A commitment to some fundamental values and attitudes is critical to our development.
2 Inner-city regeneration: Our inner cities have degenerated into crime-infested communities. The infrastructure has fallen apart. Families are disorganised. Renewal of our inner cities is critical to our development. More support should be provided to community-based organisations and churches in the inner cities so that they can do training in values and attitudes, conflict resolution, parenting skills and citizenship. These organisations, however, should be monitored and held responsible with clear performance targets.
3 Stimulate community development to generate more economic activity. Let us again activate the community development action committees (CODACs); and reorganise the Social Development Commission to play a critical role in this process. Involve communities in the process of development. Give people a sense of hope, ownership and facilitate development in a bottom-up manner.
4 Jamaica has competitive advantage in tourism, culture, music and sports. Focus on these areas.
5 Develop Port Royal in a pragmatic manner. This can be done on a low budget, developing its tourism product around the theme of pirates, probably starting with a pirate's festival. This historic city has the potential to become a great port for cruise ships.
6 The Blue Mountains have great potential for eco-tourism. We should have more attractions for hikers, bird watchers and nature lovers. Train the hordes of young men, who now bother the Blue Mountain visitors, to be polite, well-attired tour guides. Flower and coffee festivals in the Blue Mountains could be possible events for development.
7 Trench Town, the home of one of our most famous sons, Bob Marley, should be developed. Persons should be trained to realise the potential benefits of such a venture and be motivated as a community to reduce the crime and violence. Tours could be developed and souvenir shops opened in this community. A Trench Town reggae festival could be a possibility.
8 Kingston Harbour needs to be redeveloped. Cruise ships need to return to this one-of-the-10 largest natural harbours in the world. The craft market should be redeveloped and the residents of downtown should be engaged in the process.
9 Spanish Town has become the armpit of Jamaica. This once glorious city has tremendous potentials. We note that the Spanish government is expressing interest in developing this town. Again, we need to engage the misdirected youth, who are so obsessed with crime, to see the bigger picture. The Arawak Museum at White Marl needs to be better marketed and the surrounding community should have a stake in this process.
10 Our people are hopeless, helpless and hapless. Our policy makers need to start instilling greater hope. People must buy into the process. Things can change and things will change if we start doing things differently. We need vision, innovation and direction. Without vision the people perish!
Dr. Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer, University of the West Indies; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
