Jamaica requires visionary leadership

Steve Lyston, Contributor

NOW MORE than ever, there is a need for visionaries with a vision to bring the necessary solutions to deal with the local and global economic problems.

The reason we are having so many problems throughout the nations is a lack of visionaries. Instead, many are attempting to resurrect past visions. Meanwhile, others are using gambling and immoral activities to grow the economy.

Many economists and great thinkers of the day are saying that the solution to this economic problem is job creation - but what kind of jobs, and at what expense? Is the nation willing to pay the price for engaging in immoral and/or questionable activities in order to grow/improve the economy? Is it really just about the money?

Over the past decade, numerous resources have gone to waste, while the poor - who have very good ideas - are seldom given any attention or opportunity for development. There was no genuine focus on developing human resources regardless of their station. The real focus was on power for self and making profit.

We can't put all the blame on our politicians; all the stakeholders in the nation are to be blamed, and that includes the universities, the Church, the business sector and the people of the nation who vote in the politicians.

If we are going to solve the problems that exists, we have to begin looking at our children from the age of three years. Therefore, there needs to be a revamping of the entire education system.

There should be a focus on increasing the number of community basic schools and comprehensive high schools.

We should also focus on identifying the gifts and talents that exist in each child, recognising that some may not do well academically, but their gifts and talents lie in practical areas.

Most of the long-standing companies in Jamaica and the world were each the brainchild of individuals who were not academically inclined, but they each had a vision.

A vision is a function of the heart. God puts in the heart of the visionary what He wants them to build. A visionary is a builder and must see ahead in order to build for what is ahead. Recognise that there will always be problems ahead, but a visionary puts the necessary structure in place to deal with whatever problems arise.

Lately, the meanings of the terms 'sight' and 'vision' are being confused by many. Sight is a function of the eyes, but a vision is a function of the heart.

Vision goes beyond sight. It sees in the future, builds for the future and deals with the potential issues.

Over the past 22¹/² years, throughout most sectors, we have had sight-oriented leaders - not visionaries. This is why we have an employment problem and a rising debt problem. We have created the problem and then turn around to try solve the problem we created and call ourselves geniuses.

What the nation needs is a visionary/builder to rebuild the economy with the right materials; one who will see ahead.

Most politicians select people to win an election, but they don't select a visionary/builder - and, as a result, the instability has continued.

A visionary does not try to recapture the past, they deal with the future. A visionary builds to weather any storm and any global issue

A vision is such that if you try to bury it, it will only come back up again. A vision must be long term, not short term.

Even when there is no funding for the vision, it will still speak for itself.

There is much talk about the youth. So, there should already be plans in place for their development, to the point where it actually makes an impact on the nation.

We should begin to see the youth - fifth- and sixth-formers upward being commentators on programmes that deal with political analysis. Others should be involved in sports analysis and business forecasting, and analysis of the stock market.

They should probably be the ones writing the manifestos.

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