Listen to the 'bawling' and transform it!

THE 'BAWLING' by many Jamaicans recently about the treatment meted out to them by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) reminds us of the National Transformation Programme's (NTP) transformational concept, 'Every Citizen A Peacemaker'. The demonstrations were peaceful and orderly, and though civil-society groups wished for more participants, we believe it is a positive transformational sign that Jamaicans are still peace-loving people.

On June 22, 2010, " ... seventeen police were wounded in Nasiriyah (Iraq) when hundreds of protesters clashed with riot troops outside provincial (electric company) administrative offices ... ." In September 2010, " ... Mozambique's capital Maputo was gripped by violent demonstrations, as residents ... took to the streets to protest sharp increases in the cost of electricity ... ." And in May 2011, " ... riots, strikes and sabotage took place as Pakistanis' protested load shedding ... ."

We are thankful that our peaceful Jamaican citizens, even though distressed and frustrated, "level the vibes" and did not add to the negative world news reports. But let's not take our first class behaving citizens for granted! Let's listen to the 'bawling' and engage a positive transformational response!

The 'bawling' by some Jamaicans about the treatment meted out to them by the JPS, that has forced them to close business places, also brings to mind another NTP concept, 'Every Citizen A Producer Nation Builder and Valued Contributor'! This NTP dream for Jamaica helps us understand that all of us must contribute to the common prosperity of our nation while pursuing our personal prosperity. It's we who are responsible for GDP, not just government or private sector - me!

Transforming service delivery

When a well-known productive, contributing citizen is murdered by an unproductive, non-contributing person, we easily see the need for positive societal transformation. Perhaps it's time for us to see the need for positive transformation of service-delivery agencies like JPS when their actions kill our productivity. This is demonstarted when we have to wait for hours in a customer-service line, or when our produce is spoiled by 'power cuts' or unfair disconnection of service, or when we are forced to close our doors, lay off workers and cease production because of exorbitant bills. Let's increase our productivity by positively transforming our service delivery!

The recent 'bawling' by many Jamaicans about the treatment meted out to them by the JPS service personnel, especially those employed to disconnect electricity, indicates a society crying out for an NTP transformational concept called 'Every Citizen A First Class Citizen'. This phrase refers to the maximum respect desired by all of us, given to some of us and practised by few of us.

Every Citizen A First Class Citizen speaks to giving and receiving fair and consistently good treatment regardless of my status or mood. The allegations and proven examples of unfair treatment by JPS to its customers must serve as a transformational wake-up call to the JPS administrative leadership that something about its company policies and culture must be positively transformed ... even if some of the reports are unfair or wrong! Jamaica will much more quickly become the place to live, work, raise families and do business when we listen and positively respond to the 'bawling' of each other. What do you think?

Comments: transformationjamaica@gmail.com