Vision 2062

We have now settled into Jamaica's 50th year of Independence (50th, since just as our first Independence Day marked the end of our first year of Independence, our 50th will mark the end - not the start - of our 50th year). I've recently read several columns and letters that lay out magical visions of our next half-century. These pieces paint an enchanting portrait of Jamaica as she might become.

It would be remiss if I failed to add a few strokes to this emerging sketch of our nation's future. So, without further ado, I present my vision for Jamaica's next 50 years.

The United States of America recently shelved its space shuttle programme. Launched in 1981 during the height of America's Cold War with the Soviet Union, the programme quickly became a burden - in both financial and human terms. Projected to cost roughly US$43 billion (in 2011 inflation-adjusted dollars), the price tag for keeping up with the Gorbachevs skyrocketed to nearly US$200 billion. The deadly 1986 crash of the Challenger shuttle and, more recently, the 2003 Columbia disaster, further soured the public's appetite for the one-time symbol of American hegemony. In July, 30 years after first taking flight, the remaining fleet was permanently grounded.

Fantastic Achievements

What in the world does the US space shuttle programme have to do with Jamaica's future? It's quite simple, actually. The US has propelled men, women, and even monkeys into space. If America can manage such a feat, why can't we? We've grown accustomed to beating the Americans on the track - the apparent measuring stick of our national potential - so why can't we beat them at this space thing? In fact, it shouldn't be too difficult, considering they're no longer even in the race. My grand vision, then, for 2062 - our nation's centennial - is for Jamaica to place a man (or woman or monkey) in space.

Year 2062 is a long time from now. I envisage this great nation achieving other significant milestones by then. Vision 2030 - Jamaica's national development plan - appears a credible starting point. Both political parties have endorsed this remarkable scheme to achieve developed-nation status by the year 2030 - less than 19 years from today. To place that into perspective, a child born tomorrow in a garrison community, surrounded by hopelessness, joblessness, crime and poverty, can expect that shortly after he graduates (or otherwise leaves) high school, he will comfortably dwell in a developed nation - without migrating. Our wayward approach to national development hasn't changed, yet, in 19 short years, our economic fortunes will dramatically improve. Perhaps, in this magical nation where unlikely dreams come true, the aforementioned child will also become the pilot of our first space shuttle.

I foresee other remarkable achievements for Jamaica. Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller will form a successful coalition government. To reduce costs, they will share a little, two-bedroom flat in Papine. David Smith and Carlos Hill will be appointed joint finance ministers - instantly propelling GDP growth to a world-leading 10 per cent per month.

LA Lewis will stun the music world by winning a record 11 awards at the 2012 Grammys. During that show, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer will perform a riveting gospel duet that will bring the audience to tears. At the London Olympics, Usain Bolt will not only solidify his spot as the world's fastest man, he will literally lift off and fly - becoming the first human being since Superman to do so. Yes, indeed, the next 50 years has great things in store for Jamaica.

Overwhelming pessimism

Fantasies aside, though, nothing will change. Year 2012 will roll in with tremendous fanfare, followed by Independence festivities and Olympic euphoria and then a general election filled with platitudes and promises of wondrous things to come. When the smoke clears, the same people and institutions that have failed us for the first 50 years will be set to fail us for 50 more.

My sincere dream for Jamaica is that, this time around, the truly unthinkable might occur: independent-minded Jamaicans will begin to hold our so-called leaders accountable for their failures. If these leaders continue down the ruinous path, maybe we will declare the cost of their ineptitude too great. Perhaps we will then pack them into black, green, and gold spaceships, and fire them off into oblivion. That would truly be a noteworthy accomplishment.

Din Duggan is an attorney working as a consultant with a global legal search firm. Email him at columns@gleanerjm.com or dinduggan@gmail.com or view his past columns at facebook.com/dinduggan and twitter.com/YoungDuggan.