Jamaica has its priorities wrong and its citizens will continue to wallow in poverty and misery seeking a better life in other countries.

There is plenty of fervour and energy placed in Jamaica becoming a republic and substantially changing its Constitution.

But what is the point of becoming a republic when your people still face the rampant crime and Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world?  Why be a republic which has a failing education system, inadequate healthcare facilities, ineffective infrastructure with an income per capita of less than US$6,000?

The Government has to focus on making a better country for its citizens, a state where its people live well and prosper while feeling safe.

With a general election next year, there is much work to be done and the people of Jamaica must be convinced that progress has been made, it must be tangible not just talk. People want to see better roads, and have access to better water supplies and amenities.

They demand better schools, cheaper electricity rates, and a significant reduction in crimes and murders. Sustainable energy and better-paying jobs must be a priority. At this point in time, politicians have abrogated their responsibilities in this regard, remaining concentrated on republicanism, dual citizenship and a new constitution. They have to be focused and motivated to address Jamaica’s fundamental problems, not ignore them and sweep them under the carpet. 

The argument has been made to remove the yoke of colonialism and do away with the British monarchy. It is important to forge a future with one’s own identity but what gives if you still remain poor in a country that offers no hope of a worthwhile life? It’s one thing to have a life but that has to be determined by its quality.

Certain politicians are anxious to enter the record books, be acclaimed for seeing to it that Jamaica becomes a republic. But does Jamaica want to be a banana republic, a country akin to Haiti? 

Jamaica has vast potential. Its people are intrepid, resourceful, and creative and place great stock in moving up in life. Politicians have to tap into that national consciousness and not go down rabbit holes that will not push the country forward.

Lessons can be learnt from the leader of the UK’s Labour Party, Sir Kier Starmer. Fighting a general election on July 4, he says the number one mission is wealth creation.

Speaking with The Times he said: “ The number one mission is wealth creation. I think you win from the centre ground. The centre ground is where most people are. As a nation, broadly speaking we’re pretty reasonable, tolerant bunch but we are in the centre ground of politics. People don’t like the extremes of the right or the left.

“They are reasonably tolerant. They want themselves, their families and the country to improve and make progress.”

Most Jamaicans want to see their lives improve and the country make progress. Put aside republicanism for now and concentrate on improving Jamaica, making it a better country for its citizens, then you can take on constitutional reform and move away from the colonial past. By focusing on and delivering wealth creation it further legitimises the move to republicanism and constitutional change.

Jamaicans need to see progress in their lives, a country where their children can prosper and do better than they did. 

Efforts have to be made to vastly improve the quality of life in Jamaica.

It is vital to improve productivity and provide adequate affordable housing. Looking to change the Constitution and become a republic will not resonate with the electorate at the polls, people have more pressing issues to contend with. Jamaicans are looking to improve their lot and will punish politicians who are unable to help them with this. All this talk of being a republic is a distraction and again demonstrates the paucity of ideas on how to move Jamaica forward. 

The US embargo placed on Cuba has had a pernicious effect but yet it has managed to put in place an admirable education system and good health over several decades, roughly in the same period Jamaica gained independence.

Other Caribbean countries, particularly Barbados, Cayman, St Lucia have better education systems, and higher literacy rates. How can that be?  Yet Jamaica now finds itself with Republican status practically on top of its agenda and it is now front and centre of political discourse.

Jamaica will require time to debate the implications of becoming a republic and changing its Constitution., There may be a need for a national referendum. Why not wait until after the general election when a government has time to ensure this is instituted properly? 

Growth in Jamaica has been anaemic for decades. The economic prescriptions have clearly not worked. Greater emphasis must be placed on economic development and greater self-sufficiency.

Every time Jamaica takes a dogmatic, doctrinaire approach the country regresses. Going socialist hindered economic development. Mismanagement led to FINSAC and cost the country 40 per cent of its GDP creating a weary, reticent entrepreneurial generation who didn’t want to get punished for investing in Jamaica.

The balance of trade is a yawning chasm. Jamaica imports close to US$8 billion of goods and services while it exports somewhere around US$1.5 billion. What kind of republic will that make Jamaica.?

Sure we can all have a party on becoming a republic perhaps have a national holiday. We can all dance in the streets and say we are no longer shackled to the British monarchy and that we are finally going our own way.

What difference will it really make to the lives of Jamaicans if things remain the same? What good is a republic if the murder rate continues to be high and crime cannot be tamed? How does it better lives when poverty stalks so many citizens?