The Editor, Sir:

I have always argued that countries classified as 'third world' or poor are the direct beneficiaries of leadership that lack vision. This lack of vision usually lends itself to poor decision making and the consequent wasting of scarce resources needed to liberate those countries from the mess they find themselves in.

Jamaica, in this regard, is a poor country, despite an over-abundance of natural resources. We are blessed with an island of uncanny beauty and, peoples who are culturally bestowed with the iconic stature of international reggae ambassadors. Our brand Jamaica is nowhere near its leveraged potential and, despite the poor leadership styles and decision making that have polarised the society along garrison lines, our country has still managed to emerge as a tourist destination of some repute.

Transformational leadership

This is our competitive advantage, and the liberation of our people can begin at any time but must begin with enlightened and transformational leadership. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore has demonstrated what can be achieved with the right kind of leadership.

Jamaica is now at the centre of very hostile exogenous factors such as spiralling global food and oil prices, while having to contend with equally hostile endogenous factors such as unparalleled crime and rates of inflation. The convergence of these global and local challenges we expect, would stretch the limits of even those countries better prepared to handle them than Jamaica. To survive, therefore, without receding into chaos is now our greatest challenge and for that we need leaders and thinkers who will both inspire, transform and who can elicit the creative potential of our people.

Take it back

Let us 'dare to be different' by standing in the outcome of our possibilities. We must begin to accept that our country has been hijacked and we must, therefore, endeavour to take it back. We must get to the point where we acknowledge that much of our rights and freedoms have been taken from us by the lawless factions among us, and that to recover these rights and freedoms we must devise strategies that might, in the short term, make us uncomfortable.

For some of us, the possible mandatory finger-printing of every citizen over the age of 16 might be viewed as unconstitutional or a human rights issue, but let us recognise the simple truth that at this very moment, we are already virtual hostages in our own homes with curfews that have been imposed by the criminal elements among us. We must be prepared to be inconvenienced if we are to redeem this country and return it to its rightful and deserving owners.

I am, etc.,

JOHN KARR

jts90@hotmail.com

Mandeville, Manchester

Via Go-Jamaica