Kristen Gyles | The 2030 Jamaica starts now

Many of us learnt a valuable lesson this election cycle. It is the average voter’s opinion of the government’s performance that matters most – not that of any international credit rating agency, financial news outlet or political scientist. While many would give the last government a round of applause for its economic management, the average Jamaican seems to have been more concerned with the rising cost of living and their own capacity to survive.

So, what now? Does the next government administration shift its focus away from macroeconomic fundamentals? Of course not. And it is here that many Jamaicans lament not being able to pull ministers from both sides of the political divide to form our very own custom-made cabinet. We look on with admiration at key members of both parties who have varied strengths and areas of expertise, and we wish we could get some semblance of cooperation from both parties, at least on the major issues. Is it wishful thinking? Hopefully not.

In any case, since the government has essentially campaigned as a one-stop shop for the country’s needs, it must now ensure that the country maintains its progress in economic management, and make sure that the progress is felt by the average voter. The government also needs the social sensitivity that drives initiatives that can get young people a tertiary education without breaking the bank, the elderly access to proper healthcare, and generally improved social services. It is also now critical that the government support the police in initiatives that have driven the murder rate downwards and continue along the trajectory of embracing technology within government services. If the next government makes strides in these areas, Jamaica will become a place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business.

Kristen Gyles is a free-thinking public affairs opinionator.