There is substance in the fact that humans can make the future different and possibly better, these

are the inspirational, motivating and if one may add, highly logical words stated by author of Race Matters, Democracy Matters and philosopher, cornel West in his book, Hope On A tightrope. Surely, Americans can hold this man credible in his work in the social United States in relation to race and economy matters, but here in the Caribbean, Jamaica in particular, the problems and successes weve faced since the time of our milestone independence til l now, do in some ways run parallel to that of the Americans. We have had social and indeed economical problems which often attract both external and sadly too, internal criticism on really how much progress we have made since our moment of breaking ties with England. None the less, it is without a doubt that we are not just growing, but progressing as a nation and world-class place to work, do business and raise families. Since the dawn of that black, green and gold flag, flown majestically for the first time on August sixth, nineteen sixty-two, it has been the soul purpose of the government and people alike, to uplift and upgrade this great nation like a child making her first steps on her own, the new country made huge strides in order to keep up with the rapidly modernizing world, and this isnt simply stated on the grounds of our dominating performance on the track. Tourism, for example, being one of our major industries, has seen an impressive build-up of infrastructure, protection of forest reserves and green audits placed on large scale business in order to keep tourists attractions clean and environmentally friendly. In fact, this is seen as a matter of great importance, being that the economy has always been greatly dependent on the foreign exchange received from the three largest countries averaging tourist arrivals, namely the United, States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Indeed, and with the exception of agriculture and bauxite mining alike, tourism has always been the major industry of interest, as such; it stimulates the growth in the country. With the availability of our white sandy beaches, exquisite hotels and resorts, hospitable locals, warm climate, the many recreational activities scuba diving and carnival to name a few Jamaica has proven to be a powerhouse above the rest. Our utilization of natural resources, physical features and most importantly, the skills and talents of the people has afforded the nation great prosperity amongst other competitive players in the region and even more applauding, the world at large. Yes, it is factual that Jamaica, this small island in the West Indies has much to offer, from Negril point to Morant Point, giving life to the well known saying, we likkly but we talawa. Our Blue Mountain coffee is the best and among the most expensive in the world, the fertile soil and extensive farmland yields a kaleidoscope of fruits and vegetables which can be seen in markets island wide, spicing up pots and giving credence to the rich flavors we possess in our cosiness. Next, its from the pot to the music and it goes without saying that here in Jamaica the soul of the people and the land shouts with a mighty and melodious voice that synchronizes well with our definition of life, how we view the world, how the world views us, our dreams and aspirations and ultimately, love. In essence, it all starts with a mere human soul connecting with other hearts with melodies, intricate lyrics and before you know it, you are able to connect with the world! I love the development of our music. How weve trained to develop yknow? It grows. Thats why everyday people come forward with new songs. Music goes on forever, Bob Marley; an icon in Jamaican music. With a career astonishingly stretching over twenty years, he has proven himself to be visionary, one amongst many freedom fighters, a musician and beyond a reasonable doubt, a true independent Jamaican. Beginning as early as nineteen sixty-

four, Marleys work remain timeless and universal. Other artists such as Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, through reggae music has put Jamaica on the map, by speaking out about the rift between the rich and poor working class and even deeper, the hearts of those who heard the lines: One love, one heart, lets get together and feel alright. And yes indeed, the country was to feel alright many other times to come as Jamaica began to shine for the world in the track and field games at the Olympics and other international competitions. When one remembers names such as Arthur Wint, Merlene Otty, Nesta Carter, Asafa Powell, Shellian Fraser Price and Usain Bolt, we see the Jamaican flag and anthem being personified in stadiums and championships across the globe. Our accomplishments in sports, most notably in sprinting, have had the world baffled! Victory after victory, world record after world recordand yet we still continue to produce champions. From as low as the primary school level, youngsters are brought on the track from an early age to get an understanding and basic training of what the games are about, and with stars such as Usain St. Leo Bolt to look up to, it is no doubt that they already see themselves as champions rising to the occasion. This shows what the people are made of, in spite of the many challenges we have faced over the years, and speaking of challenges, there have been many. Even before nineteen sixty-two and which is the case for a large amount of the worlds population poverty has been an ever present issue which face many of our inner cities and country areas with a grim snare. We have had a rise in crime and violence over the years, something no one is immune to these days, and sadly too, and one that has painted Jamaica as one of the bloodiest places on earth! There is also the issue of employment where our youth are leaving tertiary institutions without a job to acquire. Especially in this time of recession, many people, hundreds for that matter, have lost their jobs, being laid off because the money to pay

them is just not there. Again, the country has returned to the IMF (International Monitory Fund) which has put a strain on the already frustrated people. In addition to this already heavy anvil on the nations shoulders, one has to also take into consideration the massive debt we owe to other countries which have offered us financial help in the past. Primarily, poverty is an issue that has to be undertaken from the grass root level where the ministry of education has seen it essential that the youths of the nation receive the best education by any legal means necessary. In an attempt to get them off the streets; avoiding any more positional criminals and more importantly, improve the literacy of the nations people, the ministry of education, under the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) administration, has granted free education in two thousand and eight. However, we still see graduates leaving school with the jobs they trained for being in either very low demand a fault partly on the students part since they should have a previous knowledge of the nature of their careers or simply unavailable. In the inner cities, or what we call ghettos, poverty does not stand alone, as we often are informed by the media that crime and violence has taken its toll on them in unimaginable ways. Children not being able to go to school, people being robbed of the liberty to leave their houses when there are shoot-outs between gunmen and police personnel, civilians often get caught up or injured by the rampant clashing of guns, various businesses have to be closed, the children and elderly remain traumatized and the list goes on. True, one would imply that a better socioeconomic environment would aid in the development of the society in the form of community outreaches and the creation of new jobs in the form of trade workshops where people are employed to not only cater to the community but uplift themselves. And being that the devil will find work for idle hands; with these youngsters and adults alike, being diligently at work, the need for illegal action becomes irrelevant.

Furthermore, Jamaica has always been a country highly dependent on its agricultural exports, interfused with hard labour and timely input. Over the years, less and lesser persons are seeking employment in the agricultural sector primary activities on a whole and shifting their focus to other tertiary activities. Hence, the country has a buildup in those applicants seeking jobs in public and private sector office jobs, science and technology and although their isnt a particular problem with that, one has to take into account that as the demand for food increases, there is a decline in the number of persons wanting to produce the food! A detriment resulting from that, apart from the fact that the country is already importing goods it can produce on its own, is that valuable lands wont be used up and the country will continue to spend well needed money on food imports which we already have the potential and capacity to grow. Eat what we grow and grow what we eat, says former minister of agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, in an attempt to get the nation in the mindset to consume the ground provision and other goods made in Jamaica, and running parallel to that, to start producing those goods we consume. In support of this, the ministry of agriculture at the time, along with RADA (Rural Agricultural Development Authority) has supplied small scale farmers with land and seeds to achieve this. Students have also been given seeds to start their own gardens at school and backyard gardens at home. Although such implementations have been applauded by several groups and societies both here in Jamaica and overseas, it has been unfortunate that a majority has received this new regime with words of negation, stating that such a move wont keep up with the diet of the general public. Consequently, the government has a duty to furnish the needs and complaints of the people and as such, further imports are still being made, meanwhile, our debts stand largely unchanged.

In addition to all this, as if the burden we bear isnt already enough, the country has taken on a stifling dependency on the IMF (International Monitory Fund), a move which has received criticism from both national and international media and nation leaders. With a declining economy and huge debts to pay, many believe this to be a detriment to any economical progress. Because certain criteria have to be made in the form of deadlines and assurances that whatever amount borrowed can be paid back, the country has been pressured into meeting those deadlines, resulting in heavy taxation on simple food items - a further increase on that which has already been a resultant of the economic recession in some countries and an increase in the cost to produce those food items. This has not been received well by the people Jamaica has been warned by previous world leaders who made negotiations with the IMF deals which, as they would expect, would aid in the development of their countries. However, because of the strict rules and regulations put upon them by the IMF, they end up suffocating themselves, bounded with hopes that an IMF deal will be their ticket to economic stability. In the end, the burden is placed on those developing and third world countries where unfavorable factors such as unemployment stand in the foreground; questioning the ability of a nation, such as Jamaica, to obtain and maintain a strong economy when we are still borrowing. Subsequently that begs the question, what kind of country will our children and our childrens children grow up to lead if we today are already creating burdens for them to carry? As the old quotation says, While the ship is sinking, the band keeps playing. Indeed, many persons who hold administrative posts in the government are fully aware of the state of the economy and the downward direction the country is headingbut they keep quiet. As with any developing country or any country for that matter, there are those pros and cons in leadership. Some will speak their minds and let the people know whats going on even if they would receive harsh

criticism. On the other hand, there are those who will give us only a fraction of the information, which begs the question, are we to assume or believe that it all boils down to th at paycheck at the end of the month to feed only ourselves and our families. Whatever happened to loving the people as well as leading the people? Dont those two traits we expect our leaders to have run parallel anymore? As many would have it, politicians only care about themselves, claim to represent and care for the people when they want to be elected, and once they do, they feed on the one common thing they all have; the very same thing we the people gave them, power