Leadership-stimulated economic growth

Apostle Steve Lyston, Gleaner Writer

There was a recent report that the Latin American countries are doing better than the Caribbean countries in terms of growth.

There is also a debate in Jamaica about removing the older politicians through the imposition of the age limit!

However, effective growth in a nation has nothing to do with age. What we need are leaders that have been given the gift of leadership by God. Leadership is a gift that has been given by God to lead and to build a nation! (Romans 12: 3 - 8).

From the private to the public sectors, throughout the nation, there is a serious lack of builders. Most of the Caribbean countries choose their leaders based on whether they have studied law, political science or economics. To date we have seen the effects of these decisions.

A builder is a visionary, and a visionary builds from a plan. Both Jamaica and the Caribbean region need a plan tailored for the region. While many may build from a textbook model and from the plans of seemingly First-World nations, the Caribbean leaders must develop plans suited for the Caribbean while relevant to the world systems.

The Latin American nations are developing their own models suited for their nations - their people! Hence, when there is any fallout from the First World-countries they are significantly unaffected.

Some of the poorest nations have some of the most valuable resources to take the people out of poverty and bring prosperity to the nation. But, with the lack of builders and visionaries, the resources end up the possessions of other nations who, in turn, remove the foreign exchange to their countries, sucking our nations dry! This is not progress!

Jamaica and the Caribbean have numerous and varying resources that they can stand on their own, but the leaders need to take a good look at their investment and commerce strategies. Divestment does not take a nation out of debt, it robs it!

A New Model

What are the plans for water, bamboo, bananas, sugar cane, coconuts and all the empty garment industry warehouses?

We need to engage in job creation, particularly with the agricultural products that are indigenous to the Caribbean. We need to reopen the garment factories and create jobs! We need the local clothing industry to be revamped for the benefit of the nation! Jobs will be created and people will be gainfully employed. In a recession, any economics major will tell you that job creation is one of the solutions; but we are not currently taking advantage of this.

Farming should be the number one answer to our problems. (Genesis 26) Farming is a tool to bring the nation out of famine-recession. God told Isaac to farm and keep away from foreign lenders.

If the nation truly believes in cutting costs in energy, why not remove all duties from solar energy items so that that people of the nation can take advantage of it. It is very difficult for small businesses, householders - especially pensioners - to survive with the high costs of utilities alone!

The Joel 2 Economic Model

Any leader-builder that chooses to adopt the Joel 2 Economic Model will achieve great success.

Regardless of the economic model leaders choose to employ or the plans they recommend locally or internationally, there will be no success without repentance or atonement. 'Repentance' means 'to turn and renounce'. Once they truly repent - not as a show or a ritual, then the land will be refreshed and we will begin to see new investments, economic growth and productivity.

There will be a major overhaul, reformation, transformation, fertility, peace and reduction of crime and violence! Then you will see the old and the young come together with plans, not to compete, but to work together for the benefit of every category and sector within the nation and, indeed, the region.

The nation needs builders, will the true builders come forth and lead!

Apostle Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and Author of several books, including End Time Finance and The New Millionaire.