It's time to fix our own mess

Keisha Buchanan, Contributor

As a nation, we need to realise that we have the power to make a positive change. We the people have the greater power, not the Government. Every day, people are crying about the sliding dollar and the impact on our lives, and the rising cost of living. We need to seek out our Jamaican products, not just food items that are easy to get. We need to start encouraging, for example, local dressmakers, tailors and retailers to make and sell locally made clothing. We are importing too much and the clothing industry has been decimated by imported clothing.

We need to revive the garment and many other industries. Goods must be delivered in a timely fashion, as tardiness has plagued this industry. Local furniture and cabinetmakers have also seen a major blow with imports. We need to redevelop our appetite for locally made furniture, which is usually very well built. Furnituremakers need to wake up and realise that they are being replaced by overseas competitors and work faster and deliver goods in a timely manner. To do this, it may involve getting more sophisticated equipment that can do the job faster. If one person cannot afford this, then a group can be formed where several persons come together and get loans or pool funds in order to be able to purchase the required equipment.

I urge Jamaicans to seek out and buy local, in every possible form. There are so many local persons who are manufacturing and need the local support. This includes the local artisans who sell on the roads. Four years ago, I bought genuine leather sandals from a guy selling on the road and they are in good shape and still going strong today. I urge more Jamaicans to enter the manufacturing sector. There are so many things that can be easily made here and don't need to be imported.

Recently, I saw imported crochet pieces in a store. It's unbelievable as there are so many women who do crochet in Jamaica and when we buy imports we deprive local households of income. We have to buy local and support local, as what goes around comes around. When we buy local, more people will have money here to spend on local goods and services. Once the money leaves our shores to buy foreign goods, we never benefit and a foreign economy gains. Let's support local agriculture also. Despite the praedial larceny trouble, I encourage farmers to press on. I believe the more our local industries grow, the lower the crime rate will be. I think Jamaica needs to become fully sufficient in terms of feeding, clothing and providing shelter for its people.

more manufacturing

Hence we need more manufacturing of building materials here. It's sad that we have to import toilets, baths, plumbing fixtures. On a final note, the Jamaican worker needs to be honest also and, when you work with a plant, don't steal. Many manufacturing plants have closed because of extensive theft. When a worker steals he steals from himself, and sooner or later when the plant closes down, it is the worker and his community that loses. If a worker feels the pay he is getting is too low, then he can always feel free to start up his own company or his own business, as this is a great climate for entrepreneurs. I pray that the cost of electricity will go down and also that more manufacturing plants will try to go solar and use wind energy also. The use of LED bulbs can significantly decrease energy costs. We need to buy local and also give feedback to local manufacturers on how to improve their products. We need to do these things. A positive change in Jamaica can only come about from its people.

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