New approach to beautifying the island

THE EDITOR, Madam:

“Jamaica land of beauty, We promise faithfully to serve thee with our talents and bring our gifts to thee”... We can continue to be beautiful by default, or we can choose to be beautiful by design.

There can be an initiative to landscape, transforming the island into a vibrant canvas of colour with flamboyant, flowering trees.

Imagine a Jamaica where the fiery hues of the Flamboyant mark the seasons, the soft pinks of the Poui, and the regal purple of the Jacaranda. This vision can be realised through a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries with the Forestry Department providing seedlings and seed balls. Our youth, through rural schools and 4-H Clubs, would be at the heart of the planting, fostering a new generation of environmental stewards.

This project is a perfect fit for Vision 2030: Jamaica. What better way to make our island a place of choice than by making it a place of breathtaking, cultivated beauty? A beautiful environment boosts our mental health, reduces stress, and instils a powerful sense of self-worth and national pride.

The private sector, from banks to large companies, can champion this through their corporate social investment. Small hoteliers, tourism workers, and service operators can be empowered to beautify their communities, ensuring the benefits extend to everyone. With the JDF’s help in aerial seed drops for inaccessible areas and the expertise of CASE, we can make this dream a reality.

DREAMING OF

A BETTER JAMAICA