The year 2024 was not a good one for Jamaica’s development. 

Taken from any angle you like, all of the branches of progress shelved leaves that could have held on for much longer, had they been nourished better.

Growth was flat; crime, despite the soundings of national security officials, continued to be way out of line; the health sector remained in shambles; the island’s road surfaces stood in the lane of ‘worst state possible’; and in so many other areas, nothing happened to offer hope.

The reality of a general election which must be held by September, unless there is a national disaster of monumental proportions, faces a nation whose populace seems increasingly turned off from politics, at a time when they ought not.

Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness’s Jamaica Labour Party is in a hot spot. Its leader must make crucial decisions if the objective is to push for a third straight five-year term in office.

In 2024, Holness shifted some of the players to occupy what he expected to be a more effective Cabinet. It did not work, for not one member who either changed position on a seemingly confused aggregation, or came off the ‘bench’ posing as worthy substitutes, lit the place up during the period.

Ed Bartlett held his own at the tourism ministry, backed by a team that includes the energetic Delano Seiveright; ‘Babsy’ Grange fought off illness to remain pretty much in charge of matters to do with women’s affairs, sport, culture and entertainment; but there were muted shouts coming from the grandstand when other ministers were thrown into the spotlight and asked to do their ‘dinky mini’ display as a way of demonstrating their performance.

Crime under the man many of us like, Dr Horace Chang, remained a tangled web. People live in fear, except for Cabinet ministers and other officials who are well-guarded. Murders remain high, even when the lower numbers submitted by the Commissioner of Police are looked at … and the killing of people whose contribution to the development of Jamaica is without question, continued unabated.

Health is still sick. The antidote seems far away and Minister Christopher Tufton just does not understand how serious things have become, despite an elaborate marketing plan.

One of the only ways that the minister could get to the depth of the situation is by doing a face change and entering one of the public hospitals as a stowaway. He would then realise that to become a patient at Kingston Public Hospital, Spanish Town Hospital, May Pen Hospital, Mandeville Hospital, St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Cornwall Regional Hospital, Annotto Bay Hospital and some others would amount to making up one’s mind to check into the morgue instead.

Why in God’s name has there been no attempt to effect policy changes at the level of minister, in national security, and health?

If Holness does not start with those two early into 2025, then there ought to be a national conclusion that he does not care.

More work needed at Works

Running a ministry of Government demands not only commitment, but knowledge of the subject area under which one ought to be appointed.

But it appears, more and more, that that is never usually placed under consideration when ministers are being chosen.

The above choices of Dr Horace Chang at the Ministry of National Security, instead of the Ministry of Health and Wellness where he would no doubt be more effective, and that of Dr Christopher Tufton at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, where he has no clue, are as puzzling as how the world was made.

There are others too, like one Robert Morgan as minister with responsibility of the Works portfolio under the prime minister’s fantasy ministry – Economic Growth and Job Creation.

Now, most should know by now of the closeness of Morgan to Holness, but it’s never a good thing to insert your friend into a job if he knows nothing about the area that he is to be pushed into, or is woefully incompetent. That is the case with Morgan – a misfit as minister of information, and even a greater liability now at fantasy land.

He continued to make statements that do not suit the occasion, and when he cannot find solutions, he blames the Opposition for whatever is going wrong.

One of the things that I found amusing was his emphasis on the road patching that he has been singing about… emphasising how the potholes that have been causing mayhem and destruction on our land, are being fixed. Now, maybe Morgan’s road has got priority treatment, but the process of attacking those craters has been as slow as how the Government operates generally.

I have seen in the prime minister’s constituency of St Andrew West Central, where potholes have been filled, and within a week they have shown signs of wear. Wah can go suh?

And elected members of the House of Representatives on the Opposition side have been complaining that they have not received a $22-million grant that they should have got from early in December to spruce things up. What’s happening? It smacks of sheer incompetence to me.

The prime minister was clear in his mind that someone with a background in finance should replace Dr Nigel Clarke at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service when he demitted office last October, hence the coming of Fayval Williams. Would it not make sense if someone with an engineering background is appointed to have policy control over the Works portfolio?

Beenie Man in business again

Information from arguably Jamaica’s top dancehall star over the last 30 years, Beenie Man that his United States work visa has been reinstated, is welcome news, following its revocation almost a decade ago.

It is no secret that most of Jamaica’s reggae artistes make more money from tours in North America and the United Kingdom. Parts of Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and sections of Asia also come into the mix. Not having valid US visas though, tend to choke them and force their economic vehicles to veer off course. 

Beenie Man does not enjoy legendary status like Bob Marley in lands that I have visited near and far. However, his name, like that of Bounty Killa often rings out many times, even in places that you least expect it to.

His work has brought positives to Jamaica and the renewed ‘break’ will serve him well.  

A lesson in food security

It was a torrid time in agricultural food purchasing for the inhabitants of Jamaica during 2024.

The prices of agricultural products rose astronomically, in particular during the latter part of 2024.

Hurricane Beryl, which wreaked havoc in many parishes, among them the top producer – St Elizabeth – was blamed for the rapid jump in food prices, but she was not the only responsible party.

It was ridiculous when vendors quoted prices at the cheapest outlet in Jamaica – Coronation Market in west Kingston, for items that have become popular on Jamaica’s tables over the years.

Beryl aside, the stealing of crops, known as praedial larceny, continues unabated, despite sweet words of encouragement by the policy man responsible for agriculture, Floyd Green, last week.

As one who has suffered at the hands of thieves, in particular three longtime two-legged seasoned practitioners in one St Mary community, it is not a nice feeling to lose what you watched grow almost to the stage of maturity.

It will continue if Green, in his dispatch last week, does not put words into action, by awaking the security forces from their slumber.

I know of one case in which a farm crook works as a janitor at a certain police station. The police personnel there need to be conscious of that fact and proceed with caution, lest they too, be labelled in a way that they will not appreciate.