Jamaica"s 9th Prime Minister must confront crime as #1 issue.

Hon Andrew Holness Prime Minister of Jamaica.

Today when Andrew Holness takes the oath of Office at Kings House and become her 9th Prime Minister, This should send a signal to those who have fought for freedom, won Freedom and those still fighting for Freedom it is Possible not easy but Possible.

One of the responsibility that has eluded us a nation since Independence is citizens of Jamaica does not see a personal responsibility in our nation future and this must be addressed. I did not know I had this  personal responsibility until later in life witnessing the release of Nelson Mandela from Prison. The understanding  that Nelson  Mandela at some point of his life made the conscious decision that some one had to make this sacrifice, he did, Black People in South Africa and the wider continent of Africa needed to be free. Nelson Mandela knew that took personal responsibility giving up what he thought was everything, making a massive sacrifice. Every Citizen of Jamaica must be reminded, personal Sacrifice matters.

At Independence Jamaican"s did not either understand or adapt the the idea that for the success of our young Nation to succeed this responsibility belong to every Citizen. After 50 years of Independence as citizens we still struggle with the that fact. Depending on our leaders Prime Ministers, Government Ministers, Members of Parliament and and others elected to lead bears these responsibilities.

Today opens a new Chapter in the future of Jamaica, a young 39 year old takes the daunting task of leading this Nation. This is a most difficult time for most nations across the world stricken in financial turmoil that has caused Economic chaos and civil unrest as a result the gap between the rich and poor widens. In Europe and the United States Conservative Governments see the removal of safety nets to the Poor, children, students and elderly as the answer to the world financial woes if this should continue it would create further civil unrest. This is not be the case because these safety nets were brought about at times when countries were going through the same circumstances as they are now and

there was the need for this kind of protection.

In Jamaica our situation is somewhat different, if Jamaicans today as Prime Minister Holness is sworn as our 9th Prime Minister, each of us recognize he is one man elected to lead our Nation and know he will only succeed if we take our personal responsibility as Citizen seriously we will have a major step forward. This has to be done individually first asking oneself this pertinent questions, what can I do to help my country? or what am I doing to help my Country?. Having answered that question, we must then speak openly in our homes, Churches, social Clubs and anywhere people will listen that we must first take personal responsibility for our Nations success it is the right thing to do, it is the only thing to do.

The greatest hindrance to Jamaica's success is the rampant element of Lawlessness and Crime, this may seem as daunting task but it inst, it is the most serious problem we have and easiest problem that Jamaica as a nation can solve. Crime and criminal activity is measurable, so we know where crime are committed and criminal activity is takes place. Solving crime is the responsibility of our Law enforcement but regardless of how god Law enforcement is it is the duty of every citizen to give information to Police to solve these crimes. If today as we have a new Prime Minister make the pledge to corporate with Law enforcement to get rid of crime in Jamaica, then we would have made the best decision as a Citizen.

Over 7 years ago a study by the world Bank said Jamaicans who migrated between the late sixties through seventies and now retired are finding other places to live other than Jamaica. Some of these retirees have already built homes and created other infrastructure in Jamaica but are reluctant to come home and live in Jamaica because of crime. Jamaicans retiring from UK and Canada are moving to Georgia and Florida to spend their final years because of crime in Jamaica. It was estimated at that time during their retirement these people would spend US$2.2 Billion Dollars and these amounts are growing every day a devastating loss to the economy of Jamaica.

Hopefully today, Prime Minister Andrew Holness will identify Crime as Jamaica's the main problem and call on each Citizens to take a personal responsibility for the nations future and ridding Jamaica of this Cancer. There must also be a collective responsibility toward crime. This collective responsibility will be realized through the constant reminder that we are, "out of many individual citizen we are one people, one nation under God". regardless of our Political or Religious affiliations.