As the sun sets on what has been an explosive Kiwanis year, preparations are well underway for the dawn of the new year. We may transition to new roles and responsibilities, but the service train never stops. As Kiwanians, we have a great duty to lend support in ameliorating the abysmal conditions for our most vulnerable in society. We voluntarily took up the charge for service and must now seek to fulfill our mandates to the best of our abilities. COVID-19 halted many plans we might have originally intentioned, however, time marches on and with it the ever-increasing need for our assistance. Some of us have also been elected to lead in the new administrative year for our club. This too is an enormous challenge, one which we should approach with much sincerity, focus and diligence.
As we contemplate leadership and the expectations that run with it, the recent elections lurch sharply into perspective. On September 3, 2020 the Jamaican people elected the Jamaica Labour Party to the helm of government with a record-breaking number of seats (albeit in a record low voter turnout). Having secured a greater than two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives, what then can we expect of our newly formed government?
It would be great to see the Bills on Sexual Harassment, Disability, and on the National Identification System reviewed, perfected and submitted to the Senate for consideration. The Sexual Harassment and Disability Bills have the capacity to move our country forward, by developing a more robust anti-discrimination environment. The National Identification System Bill as it stands is not without its flaws. There is great and justifiable concern over the measures that would be in place to secure the data obtained. Nevertheless, the ease and convenience this system could afford when interacting with government, medical and banking agencies are not to be discounted.
On the matter of social welfare, most if not all would agree that more needs to be done in order to balance the scales of social justice in Jamaica. Wealth, opportunities, and privilege in our society are terribly disproportionate. As a step in this direction, basic amenities in rural and urban areas alike should be top of the list! Public Wi-Fi connectivity, as well as greater access to healthcare and education, are high priorities for our country especially in light of the challenges COVID-19 has presented these past few months.
Surely, with all of five years in office, the government can also take steps to significantly reduce our imports while increasing our capacity for exports; properly resource the police to allow for efficient and effective investigation of matters which would steer us away from the repeated use of ZOSOs across Jamaica and work towards fulfilling those promises outlined in their manifesto; all this while exercising sound fiscal responsibility. Indeed, the biblical verse rings true, to whom much is given much is expected.
In the final analysis, my only hope then is that our leaders in government and those of us in Kiwanis, will take action, get involved and continuously seek to exceed ourselves in service of others.
Yours in service,
Romona Morgan
Co-chair BUG Programme 2019-20
PE Designate 2020-21
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