Vision precedes provision

Tony Williamson, Guest Columnist

"Where there is no vision, the people perish." - Proverbs 29:18, KJV

Three thousand years ago, the above words were uttered by one of the wisest men of all time - King Solomon. It is interesting that Solomon did not say, "Where there is no money, the people perish." Yet the Jamaican cry is "no money", among many other expressions of anguish. But Solomon knew something that our country needs to understand. Vision comes before provision.

When we concentrate on provision, we are putting the cart before the horse, for if Jamaica has a clear vision, as one so magnificently expressed in the document 'Vision 2030', its provision will follow the pursuit of that vision, as surely as night follows day. To put this in farming terms, vision is the extent to which we sow; provision is the extent to which we reap.

But how do we achieve the grand goals of Vision 2030? How do we reap the provision, the harvest, the fulfilment of our hopes and dreams as a country?

Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". The executive summary of the 'Vision 2030' recognises this when it says:

Recovering from our past

"The present status [in Jamaica] reflects the accumulation of choices we have made in the past. To change the past, we have to make new choices." (p. xxii)

Some say Jamaica, as a result of these 'choices', is in a great mess. But proper implementation of the goals of Vision 2030 can take us from "great mess" to "greatness". There are many steps outlined in the Vision document, but I shall comment on just two imperatives that must be different.

First, we must adopt a fiscal policy that moves us from constant borrowing to freedom from unmanageable debt. You may wonder why I am starting with money, but money is tied very closely to our destiny and viability as a country. How we use it can either save or sink us.

Hear again the words of the wise King Solomon:

"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is the servant to the lender." - Proverbs 22:7, KJV

Jamaica is in a vice grip of debt, a death embrace with a Frankenstein of our own creation. One of the classic signs of financial poverty is the consumption of 100 per cent of all we earn, then borrowing from other countries to finance our shortfalls. Jamaica has to do something differently. We must find a way to live within our means, reduce debt, and designate a percentage of our net earnings as a country to investments that will multiply.

Wise investments

One does not generally achieve prosperity by spending. Prosperity is achieved by saving and investing. One such investment could be government policy to incentivise the use of solar energy, because the heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy is a sword of Damocles hanging over our national head.

We are a servant nation because we have borrowed too much. That we are being ruled by the rich is plain to see in the stringent International Monetary Fund targets we must meet in order to receive more loans. This is sad, but it can and must change. Borrowing for consumption is a culture, a culture of poverty. Prosperity is also a culture, of living within our means and investing the surplus.

Second, crime must be collared, and justice must not only be done, but must manifestly appear to be done - and quickly! Let the words of James Russell Lowell be never true in Jamaica, land we love, "Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne ... ."

The terror of armed thugs rampaging and raping, the brutal and savage murder of our children, have made Jamaica a blood-drenched land of evil and wickedness. Solving this problem is exceedingly complex, but if it is not solved, our vision will perish.

Jamaica's destiny does not dwell in the dark dungeons of degradation, but should repose in the exalted light of a country of civility, prosperity and purpose. Each one of us has a part to play.

Tony Williamson is an author, counsellor and motivational speaker. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tonywilliamson_57@yahoo.com.