Kenneth Russell | Reclaiming communities: A call to action

Before he founded the People’s National Party (PNP), Norman Manley led the creation of Jamaica Welfare Limited in 1937. Jamaica Welfare aimed to empower communities by organising councils, developing local industries, and ensuring that economic progress was driven from the ground up. At the heart of this initiative was the belief that sustainable national development must begin within communities.

Fast-forward nearly 90 years, and this vision of structured community development has all but faded into obscurity. The Social Development Commission (SDC), which evolved from Jamaica Welfare, exists in name and mandate but struggles in execution. Across the country, communities that should be thriving hubs of self-reliance and collective progress are stagnating instead, left to fend for themselves without strategic support.

This is a national failure. The most severely affected are our young people.

Over the past two years, I have spoken with hundreds of young people across South Eastern St Ann and the country. One thing is certain: they have big dreams. Some want to start commercial farms, some want to start shipping companies, some want to own real estate companies, some have innovative small business ideas, and still others want to research and innovate solutions to daily problems. Some just want to be able to play sports and express themselves in their communities, and others just want “a break”. What usually starts as a basic plea soon deepens to frustration with the absence of systems to support their development. They lament the lack of mentorship, the absence of structured community programmes, and the feeling that outside of migrating, they have no real path to success. They don’t want handouts; they want opportunities. They want a system that works for them.

Jamaica, like most developing countries, relies heavily on informal community-level arrangements to keep communities organised and ensure access to basic services. In Jamaica, this is fuelled by a deeply held view that the best way to make change is through involvement in the community. In fact, according to the 2023 LAPOP Americas Barometer survey, when asked how best they thought they could influence change, 29 per cent of adult Jamaicans cited participation in community boards or associations as the best option.

On the other hand, young adults under 25 are the least likely to believe that community groups can be effective in driving transformation. Meanwhile, those aged 46 to 55 – the generation that benefited from stronger community organisations – continue to believe in their power. This generational divide is a warning sign: if we do not reinvest in community-driven development, we risk creating a nation where young people see no viable future in Jamaica.

YOUTH-LED COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS

Imagine the young people working through their communities to solve climate challenges, reduce violence, create new technologies to build houses, or solve perennial issues like access to water. This is not just wishful thinking. We have seen it happen many times. Here is one example.

In 1992, a group of mostly young people formed the Pedrovian Community Club in my home community of Pedro River. I had just left Ferncourt High School and I banded with others to start the club. I made up the name to reflect both the community and the ability to overcome obstacles. As with most of these groups, it struggled with changes in leadership and community interest. I left for studies abroad, critical members passed away or migrated, and many others joined and left. But the group survived. One of its major achievements is the construction of a community water system that stores, treats, and distributes water to the households in the community at a flat rate. The system is completely community-managed – treatment, repairs, and yes, even disconnections.

The Pedro River experience highlights what is possible when young people are engaged in structured, community-led development. When given the space, resources, and support, they can build lasting solutions that address real problems. The problem is that we have not scaled up or institutionalised these successes. Instead, we have watched them flicker and die, one by one.

Countries like Singapore have shown that strategic community investment leads to national success. In Rwanda, the last Saturday of each month is Umuganda – a mandatory community-service day that fosters civic responsibility and collective action.

Jamaica Welfare provided a good starting point and for many years was building a framework for community, and invariably youth, engagement in development. However, instead of strengthening institutions like the SDC to guide and support communities, we have let them drift. A cursory glance at the SDC’s Business Plan reveals a mix but no cohesive national strategy. At a time when we need robust community building centred on youth, the SDC’s budgetary allocation remains heavily focused on keeping the lights on.

It is time for a radical shift. If we are serious about empowering young people and transforming communities,

• Each community must be facilitated to establish and maintain a registered group with a structured governance model and development plan.

• Ensure that groups like Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Parish Development Committees (PDCs) have dedicated resources and authority to drive change in substantial ways at the community level.

• Create space for young people. Every public board should have a structured youth representation system similar to what exists for school boards. Youth, in turn, should have an entity at the community level that they represent.

• A public review of the mandate, budget, and impact is overdue. Guaranteed funding should be provided to ensure that community-based organisations can effectively fulfil their roles.

We cannot afford to let another generation grow up believing that Jamaica has nothing to offer them. Our people, especially the youth, deserve better.

Community development is not a nostalgic idea from the past. It is the foundation of our future. The question is, what are we willing to do to reclaim our communities?

Kenneth Russell is the PNP candidate for member of parliament, South East St Ann and the deputy shadow minister, education and community development. This article is dedicated to the memory of the late Frances Jeanne Barnes, former head of Kingston Legal Clinic. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com