Dear Editor,
I have been thinking about these long and hard and I do believe that, if they are implemented, within five (5) years Jamaica will see a drastic turnaround in fortune:
1. A proper justice system must be implemented, where those who are wronged and those who are convicted of wrongdoing both know and feel the results of justice.
2. Serious penalties must be dispensed to leaders who hold high offices who are found to be inept and corrupt.
3. Cut the size of the Cabinet drastically, and govern by parish in the same manner the US has independently governed states. If the PNP is the governor for the parish, then the JLP or an independent person is the deputy for balance and oversight.
4. A coalition government should be considered and instituted to uproot the divisive political evil of the partisan culture in the country. On each parish ballot a maximum of five or so candidates can run for office to include persons independent of a political party.
5. Utilise the army to monitor prisoners and put them to work in the country in areas such as agriculture, painting, roadwork, drain-cleaning, etc.
6. Use monies slated for social development projects to build factories for sustainable development. Teach persons to fish instead of giving them a fish constantly, by doing this we will get rid of the "freeness" mentality and engender a culture of hard work for a just reward.
7. Ensure students do not move to the next grade level until they have successfully mastered their current grade. Mediocrity must be eliminated.
8. There should be a separate ballot for citizens to vote for the prime minister. This means the party has no say in who leads the country.
9. Have a separate court to deal speedily with public corruption. No bail should be granted in these matters, the proceedings should be live on national television, and if convicted the official should lose 50 per cent of their assets. It should be forfeited to the State.
10. There should be more stringent laws to deal with the possession of a firearm, after all it is what is wrecking the country's prospect.
11. At least one creative centre needs to be instituted for each parish and it should be located in the capital. The purpose is to keep a record of all the skills of persons registered in that parish, which can then be used to spawn industries, create training plans and provide a database to pull from when personnel are needed for large projects.
12. All able-bodied students leaving school should choose from four (4) options: i. Go to university or get vocational training. ii. Commit to three years internship in an established organisation. iii. Be drafted into the army for a mandatory 5 -year period of service. iv. Get a job.
13. Merge the TRN and National ID information so as to create a nationwide database with information and photographs of each citizen. This should then be made available to the financial, legal, educational, health, and public sectors. The two main purposes of it are to be able to locate citizens and to track their involvement.
14. Place a limit on the number of children each family can have in order to secure the State, curb potential criminality from unwanted and neglected children, also to ensure citizens can provide sufficiently for their family needs.
15. Institute term limits for politicians, acknowledge the axiom "power corrupts".
16. Do a study of all parishes and seek out which crops do best in each parish and is needed for the international markets. Implement a three-year plan to increase production of those crops on a parish level by at least 500 per cent. Employment will be increased, export will be increased, foreign exchange inflow will be increased and idle government lands will be put to use. Overall the nations GDP will be positively impacted.
17. Implement a substantial special users tax on all items and food stuff imported by distributers that could be grown or made in Jamaica. The aim is to regulate the marketplace so as to encourage local production.
18. All Jamaican superstars -- persons who have become very rich based on natural talent -- should be monitored so they pay their fair share of taxes from their yearly income. Some of the money will go towards the consolidated funds for the overall development of the country, while the other portion will go towards the development of the specific field in which the person dominates.
Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any man. -- Proverbs 14:34
Joseph Edwards
Spanish Town,
St Catherine
seraphins_arch@yahoo.com
18-point plan for Jamaica's success in 2014
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I have been thinking about these long and hard and I do believe that, if they are implemented, within five (5) years Jamaica will see a drastic turnaround in fortune:
1. A proper justice system must be implemented, where those who are wronged and those who are convicted of wrongdoing both know and feel the results of justice.
2. Serious penalties must be dispensed to leaders who hold high offices who are found to be inept and corrupt.
3. Cut the size of the Cabinet drastically, and govern by parish in the same manner the US has independently governed states. If the PNP is the governor for the parish, then the JLP or an independent person is the deputy for balance and oversight.
4. A coalition government should be considered and instituted to uproot the divisive political evil of the partisan culture in the country. On each parish ballot a maximum of five or so candidates can run for office to include persons independent of a political party.
5. Utilise the army to monitor prisoners and put them to work in the country in areas such as agriculture, painting, roadwork, drain-cleaning, etc.
6. Use monies slated for social development projects to build factories for sustainable development. Teach persons to fish instead of giving them a fish constantly, by doing this we will get rid of the "freeness" mentality and engender a culture of hard work for a just reward.
7. Ensure students do not move to the next grade level until they have successfully mastered their current grade. Mediocrity must be eliminated.
8. There should be a separate ballot for citizens to vote for the prime minister. This means the party has no say in who leads the country.
9. Have a separate court to deal speedily with public corruption. No bail should be granted in these matters, the proceedings should be live on national television, and if convicted the official should lose 50 per cent of their assets. It should be forfeited to the State.
10. There should be more stringent laws to deal with the possession of a firearm, after all it is what is wrecking the country's prospect.
11. At least one creative centre needs to be instituted for each parish and it should be located in the capital. The purpose is to keep a record of all the skills of persons registered in that parish, which can then be used to spawn industries, create training plans and provide a database to pull from when personnel are needed for large projects.
12. All able-bodied students leaving school should choose from four (4) options: i. Go to university or get vocational training. ii. Commit to three years internship in an established organisation. iii. Be drafted into the army for a mandatory 5 -year period of service. iv. Get a job.
13. Merge the TRN and National ID information so as to create a nationwide database with information and photographs of each citizen. This should then be made available to the financial, legal, educational, health, and public sectors. The two main purposes of it are to be able to locate citizens and to track their involvement.
14. Place a limit on the number of children each family can have in order to secure the State, curb potential criminality from unwanted and neglected children, also to ensure citizens can provide sufficiently for their family needs.
15. Institute term limits for politicians, acknowledge the axiom "power corrupts".
16. Do a study of all parishes and seek out which crops do best in each parish and is needed for the international markets. Implement a three-year plan to increase production of those crops on a parish level by at least 500 per cent. Employment will be increased, export will be increased, foreign exchange inflow will be increased and idle government lands will be put to use. Overall the nations GDP will be positively impacted.
17. Implement a substantial special users tax on all items and food stuff imported by distributers that could be grown or made in Jamaica. The aim is to regulate the marketplace so as to encourage local production.
18. All Jamaican superstars -- persons who have become very rich based on natural talent -- should be monitored so they pay their fair share of taxes from their yearly income. Some of the money will go towards the consolidated funds for the overall development of the country, while the other portion will go towards the development of the specific field in which the person dominates.
Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any man. -- Proverbs 14:34
Joseph Edwards
Spanish Town,
St Catherine
seraphins_arch@yahoo.com
18-point plan for Jamaica's success in 2014
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