By Dr Dennis Minott

Jamaica, up to recently, a symbol of hope, newfound macroeconomic stability, and resilience, now teeters on the brink of a profound crisis in governance, ethics, and equity.

From the hallways of political power to the corridors of commerce, the Jamaican state has lost its way.

Trust, the bedrock of any functioning society, is eroding under the weight of systemic failures, exposing a nation caught in the grip of state capture, financial exploitation, and institutional decay.  The spectre of ‘state capture’ looms large over Jamaica, as private interests hasten to manipulate public institutions for personal gain.

Revelations of rigged contracts and unexplained wealth have shattered illusions of integrity in leadership. These developments evoke troubling parallels with South Africa’s Gupta Brothers, and Southern Asia’s Gautam Adani who ‘Billionaires’ his way (https://apnews.com/article/adani-india-bribery-tycoon-modi-cd1ee53edee0df1bf00de01b044366b4), where alleged cronyism and corruption flourished unchecked. Isn’t Jamaica on a similar trajectory? Policies and decisions seem too often tailored to serve the privileged few, while the majority is left to grapple with activities widening inequality and a crumbling social contract.  Meanwhile, the ‘banking and financial sector’, including the likes of SSL, etc., once a symbol of economic stability, has become another front in the assault on fairness. Predatory lending practices, sky-high banking fees, and opaque policies have transformed financial institutions into barriers rather than facilitators of economic progress.

For the average Jamaican, securing a mortgage or simply maintaining a savings account is increasingly burdensome. The stark contradiction between record bank profits and the financial struggles of ordinary citizens deepens resentment and accelerates the breakdown of trust.  But the failures extend beyond governance and finance. Jamaica’s ‘tourism sector’, long celebrated as a pillar of the economy, shows many signs of implosion. Labour unrest, allegations of exploitative practices, and declining profitability are red flags. This vital industry, already vulnerable to global shocks, cannot survive if mismanagement and state-sanctioned exploitation persist.

And while gleaming resorts may grab the spotlight, the ‘rural road network’, vital to agriculture and rural livelihoods, remains scandalously neglected. Such disregard for rural development undermines national productivity and entrenches economic disparity. 

The dismal state of Cornwall Regional Hospital encapsulates the dysfunction. Let’s talk about it. Will there be a commission of enquiry into how this repair project turned into such a protracted and decency-free cost overrun debacle? What oversight, or lack thereof, allowed this essential facility to spiral into chaos for years, leaving western Jamaica in healthcare purgatory?

And please, Dr. Tufton, spare us the quasi-Shakespearian platitudes about how “it was well worth the wait”—a somewhat disingenuous take on “all’s well that ends well”.  This nation, though cowed, still has intelligent and inquiring minds. Bluffing and deflection will not suffice. A commission of enquiry seems warranted.  Lessons need to be learnt unforgettably by the state and all actors and observers in this CRH matter.

Adding to these woes is ‘crime’, the grim backdrop to everyday life in Jamaica. Despite billions spent on states of emergency and targeted interventions, we remain a (or the) global leader in homicide rates. What is the return on this investment, Dr Chang? What have you been doing, Horace? Your “solutions” seem to gloss over the root causes: inequality, poverty, lack of prudent leadership and compassion, and rampant hopelessness, my erudite old friend.  

At the core of all these failures lies a catastrophic trust deficit. Jamaicans no longer believe that their taxes will translate into better roads, safer streets, or accessible healthcare. Parents question whether schools are preparing their children for meaningful or violence-free futures. Workers, disillusioned, wonder whether they are cogs in an allegedly insidiously designed system to enrich only a few smilers, applauders, and backway kickers.  Jamaica is at a crossroads. To avoid a legacy of inequity and despair, we must confront these systemic failures with urgency and resolve. Leadership must prioritize transparency and accountability. Financial institutions must operate ethically. Citizens must demand answers, refuse deflection, and insist on equitable policies.  

To conclude, I cite verbatim the latest I’ve read from most credible ‘Citizen A’, ‘Citizen B’, ‘Citizen C, and Citizen D’ whose identities must be zealously protected in the current environment: 

Dr Minott, 

Money, power and related influence compromise and manipulate the political system and generate economic distortion to the detriment of the people of any country!

It matters not what the colour of the leadership is, as it is not race-related by any means.  I agree with Clinton Miller, “the corruption of power for personal gain”. You too are so right as far as Jamaica is concerned,  there have been too many instances “where political elites and business magnates have colluded to enrich themselves at the expense of the public”.

It may be that the level of corruption in African countries is more widespread because of a lack of oversight or, perhaps, a lesser educated population, or even a lack of transparency in the awarding of government-related contracts.  Private sector entities have used their wealth as power for years with the benefit of personal gain, and we see it shaping its ugly head again to pervade the US economy following the recent election outcome.

The tourism industry hits me straight in the heart as an ex-hotelier. I knew it was only a matter of time before the Spanish hotels would implode, as I was told of the mass benefits they were awarded, I was suspicious of kickbacks galore, and I heard many stories of staff mistreatment, but on the surface, it appeared that it was a huge investment in our economy with massive job creation. The deeper question is at what cost to Jamaica?

I am not an economist, but I fear for the future of the next generation in terms of how they will be controlled without even being aware.

Sorry to go on so much, but I am deeply disturbed by the ‘new ‘ Jamaica. I think I would agree with anything that you write! By CITIZEN A, a hotelier

Dr Minott

My heart broke as I read your article.  It’s hard to see in words the thoughts and experiences I have had over the past decade which have worsened in the last five years.  

We are hoodwinked every day by social media posts, that are designed to fool us, like buying an old car that was given a clean-up and sprayed but will break down as soon as you leave the lot.

The first and most important victim of this system is our education system.  When we convinced a country that economic growth was happening by taking 18-year-old high school students, and sending them in call centres, no thought was given to the further development of their academic knowledge and skills.  I understand the need for many of these youngsters to work, but this could have been done in a manner that allowed them to work and study.  

But then most of these young people have no one at the top of things to look out for them and they too are caught in this social media fantasy. 

ByCITIZEN B, a college/university president

Dennis, I totally agree with the points you raise in your article in the Gleaner today. It is sad to see such a decline in integrity, ethics and morals in our society. Let us hope we can reverse the trend but…

By CITIZEN C, a prominent person of the OJ kind.

Greetings Dr Minott

Surely food for thought. A very grim picture indeed. 

Thanks for sharing… 

By CITIZEN D,  another prominent person of the OJ kind

The Jamaican state was once envisioned as a shield for the vulnerable and a ladder for the ambitious. Let us reclaim that vision before it slips away. The choice is stark: to act decisively or to consign future generations to a nation where trust is a relic, and decency with hope is a distant memory.