God wants to use Jamaica as a model

Steve Lyston, Contributor

The reason our nation is going through what it is going through is that the purpose for which God intended to use the nation is not being accomplished.

When you are blessed as a nation, and even as an individual, you always go through many struggles and fights, but the end result is that you always come out on top.

Wherever Jamaicans go, they always create an impact, oftentimes more positive than negative. There are many people who want to see Jamaica go down.

There is also a certain level of freedom Jamaicans have that must be maintained.

The first thing that we need to do is to speak positively about our own country; death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18: 21).

Jamaica is not more corrupt than any other country. There are a few who have personal motives detrimental to the nation, but they do not represent the majority.

One of the reasons that the nation has not already come out of its situation and risen to a First-World status is its continued disrespect of public officials at every level. It is sad that it is particularly true of public officials themselves.

The prime minister and opposition leader must be respected by all.

All public officials must be respected whether they have made mistakes or not (Proverbs 20: 2; I Peter 2: 17; Hebrews 13: 17; I Timothy 5: 17). We can't disrespect any other nation's leaders and get away with it. Why should we do it to our own?

When we disrespect public officials, a curse is released on the individual, the nation, and if affects the growth of our economy.

God Has A Plan

God wants politicians, business persons, and all stakeholders of this nation to put the nation and its development above their personal agendas. They must be united.

Regardless of the varying internal differences Britain and the United States of America each have, one thing is undeniable: they are united when it counts.

God wants to use Jamaica as a model for other nations. He wants to use it as a financial hub, as well as a health hub for all our natural resources that can cure many illnesses and diseases.

There is oil and also gold in Jamaica. Additionally, Jamaica has herbs and other hidden resources that could bring in billions to boost the nation's economy.

Jamaica can capitalise on the fact that other nations will have serious energy issues. We have coal and ethanol.

Our ports will be in high demand, all we need to do is build more warehouses for storage.

The tourist sector will also experience a significant increase in the demand for the Jamaican tourist experience.

What We Need To Do Now

The time has come for the nation to break the monopoly in the energy, financial, communication, and utilities sectors.

There needs to be more local persons owning banks so that the money can be kept within the nation.

Impose visas for entry to Jamaica. We need to stop saying that no one will come if we do.

We need to give concessions and afford duty-free benefits to doctors and NGOs so that they can bring in equipment to set up hospitals so that affordable health care can be given to the people of the nation, and to foreigners as well.

The stronghold on broadcasting licensing needs to be removed so that more people can have legal access to start their own media houses and host more family and community-related programmes, lifting up our culture, while at the same time reducing advertising costs, particularly to small businesses.

This will allow for new talents to come forth and stay within the nation.

The law which prevents persons who have pledged allegiance to a foreign power from sitting in Parliament needs to be amended so that it will allow all Jamaicans, wherever in the world they are, to come back and help to build the nation.

The problem in Jamaica is bigger than both political parties, and these things need to change, "... so that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship, and prosperity and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race."

Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including End Time Finance and The New Millionaire.