The Gleaner Editor's Forum celebrating our 10th anniversary

The Cabinet went into retreat yesterday focusing on job creation and growth. The problem, however, is that some persons may not be impressed with the decisions they make. They do not believe that Jamaica's leadership has the capacity to lead.

At the relaunch of our Editors' Forum last week in which business leaders and the youth leaders were asked to examine the topic 'Steering this ship called Jamaica - how we would do it better', the absence of good leadership at all levels was the most common issue cited.

"We in the business class and in the middle and upper class have abandoned the political process and have allowed it to be captured by people who really do not have the competence to do much more than they are doing," was one argument.

The youth were least impressed with the management of the portfolio that ought to represent them. So given the task of steering the ship, one of the many things that they would do is to immediately return the youth portfolio to the education ministry "where it belongs". They believe that the lack of leadership and resources have rendered it ineffective.

The criticisms were not restricted to the political arena as business leaders were also less than excited about their peers. And some, it seems, would seriously contemplate steering the ship called Jamaica out of CARICOM's waters.