THE EDITOR, Sir:PLEASE ALLOW me to congratulate you on your recent success in becoming the new president-elect and most likely the next Prime Minister of Jamaica. I wish you great success. I would also like to submit a wish list. I do hope that you have time to read and think about executing accordingly.
I wish that you will engage yourself to be a righteous leader. That's the only way a nation can be established. A righteous leader is not just one who prays to God, but is one who engages in the establishment of systems of justice, truth and equality for all.
I wish that you will rule your party members with a firm hand, irrespective of their loyalty to you or the political party in the past. The party leader and Prime Minister must lead by example and put the country before party.
I wish that you will insist that systems are put in place to take the unnecessary hassles out of life in Jamaica, especially for the ordinary folks like myself. Simple tasks like renewing a driver's licence, getting a few potholes patched up in a reasonable time, or the processing of a petty court case in a timely manner, can become living hell for simple, ordinary folks who do not 'know someone' or who do not have any money to splash around.
I wish that you will revive the values and attitudes programme but this time, please state exactly which values and attitudes are being promoted. If we know what they are, then we can all participate in holding our govern-ment accountable and we will also have a clear understanding as to where you want to take the country.
And, finally, as far as crime is concerned, I know that this is a massive problem, and I do not think that it is the responsibility of the government alone.
However, I wish that your government will play its part in cutting off the supply of human personnel to criminal enterprises by providing our young people, especially the young men, with opportunities to be productive otherwise.
There are persons who turn to crime because they are just plain evil at heart, but the majority of young persons who are in crime have been pushed in by the harsh economic realities.
Give them some options of making a living in a clean way and I want to believe that many of them will choose correctly.
Spending money on English police officers at this point is very much ill-advised. Instead, let's break the power of the dons and their gangs. Let's invest in our young people.
I am, etc.,
WESLEY BOYNES (pastor)
boynes@cwjamaica.com
#5 Milford Road
Ocho Rios, St. Ann
