Dear Editor,
As another election season approaches, the word “prosperity” echoes across platforms, but for many Jamaicans, especially in inner-city and rural communities, it still feels like an empty promise. Food prices have soared, with items like chicken and flour increasing by over 20% in just two years (JIS, 2024). Despite reports of GDP growth, most citizens still survive on minimum wage or informal work. Yet, politicians roll out the usual “hand-me-down” giveaways during campaign time, offering temporary fixes instead of lasting change.
Meanwhile, women and children continue to suffer under the weight of violence. Between 2020 and 2024, Jamaica recorded over 1,400 cases of rape against children and 168 child murders (Gleaner, 2025). This Child Month’s theme, “Act Now, Stand Against Child Abuse and Exploitation” rings hollow when so many young lives are lost or scarred by abuse. These incidents should not become another “nine-day wonder.” We must remember Mario Deane’s mother, who refused to stay silent after her son died in state custody. Her persistence helped push the justice system to act. This shows that real change comes when people refuse to give up.
Prosperity should extend beyond mere economic statistics or pre-election promises; it must signify a substantial increase in investments aimed at protecting our children, empowering youth from under-served communities, while also enhancing, equipping, and uplifting our vulnerable Jamaican population. According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, over 19% of Jamaicans live below the poverty line, with the most affected communities often receiving minimal support (PIOJ, 2023). It is crucial that prosperity is reflected not just in ‘full bellies’, but secure homes, access to quality education, opportunities for upward mobility, and dignity for all, especially within our inner-city communities, rather than being relegated to rhetoric or political speeches.
If we truly believe in building Jamaica, then we must invest not just in buildings, but in people. Let us make prosperity a shared reality, not a seasonal slogan. And to the powers that be, who continue to flood the airwaves with promises of prosperity: what is being done? Will the people once again buy into these polished speeches and empty pledges? Or will we finally demand a prosperity that is real, lasting, and for all?
I am,
Karen James