Communities across the island are being called upon to position themselves to play a greater role in their own future, especially at a time when Jamaica is facing some of its greatest challenges.

The island is struggling through harsh times highlighted by growing inflation, consecutive debt downgrades, more than 1,400 people murdered since the start of the year and an unemployment rate which stands at more than 10 per cent.

Within this context, the call was made by several community organisers during the Kingston and St Andrew Action Forum's first biennial conference held at The Mico University College in Kingston yesterday.

Guest speaker Donna Parchment Brown, chairman of the Dispute Resolution Foundation, said communities within Jamaica must start organising for the future.

"In organising for the future, each of us have a role to play in building the giant of Jamaica."

She said that in her interactions with members of communities across the island, she has seen a resourcefulness similar to that which was present when Jamaicans were coming out of the throes of slavery and relying on themselves.

Inward support

Clinton Aird, a community organiser from Bosha Park, St Andrew, said people have lost patience with the traditional political system and are now turning inwards for support.

"Communities are fed up with the current structure of JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) and PNP (People's National Party) and are trying to get involved in a group 'cause people like to be involved in something. I think we have grown as communities and we are trying to do something different," he said.

Neota Anderson, from Duhaney Park, said a paradigm shift has occurred and people are no longer at odds over political ties, but issues that are affecting them. She believes they must come together to effect change.