Each year at this time, I usually put some of my greatest desires down on paper and pray that they somehow come true in the New Year. This time as I write, I do so with a sense of desperation.

This desperation has come about because I see my country on the brink of a great precipice, and if we happen to fall, there is no coming back. But as long as I believe there is hope, I will continue to hope and pray that we can find our way back.

So here, once again, I will document some of the things I wish to see happen in Jamaica for 2014 and beyond. And I hope that this time you all pray and work with me to ensure that at least some of them become reality.

My first wish is that we finally see the value in beginning to accept reality. Whether you are PNP, JLP, NDM or whatever, let us all resolve to accept that Jamaica is in trouble and that no politician is going to be the one to turn things around. We have to do it ourselves.

When all is said and done, no matter what your political persuasion, it has become difficult. There are some PNP people making money, and there are some JLP people making a killing, but for the majority, things have been dreadful. For most of us, the future is uncertain. Among other things, we need investment, we need honesty and integrity; we need dynamism and innovation.

Where will those things come from? It doesn't matter, but here is what we have to do - we have to rein in the crime monster. We are the ones who know where the criminals are and what they are doing. We are the ones who can provide the authorities with the evidence they need to put them away.

If you are one of those people who believes that saying nothing is the way to go, think about this - if crime continues unabated, don't expect anybody to invest money in the country.

Two fish farms closed this year because of praedial larceny. That means more people are out of work. If we don't fix crime, more businesses will close and more people will be out of work. Is that we want? I don't think so. Let's unite in the fight against the criminals and make Jamaica safe once again for everyone.

Let us also unite against the politicians and let them know they have to do better. It doesn't matter who is in power, their bungling affects all of us. Tax after tax, silence on key issues, and the general ineptitude has to stop. Let's face it, if you owned a company, and these politicians were employed by you and performing the way they have been, I am sure you would fire them. With that in mind, why do we tolerate their rubbish now? People have a thing to say 'it's not my money they're wasting', but ask yourself this, who is paying back the money they're wasting? When you discover the answer to that question, you might start having a different outlook on things.

The bottom line is this - we need to stop being PNP and JLP first, and start being Jamaican's first. Once we start doing that, I believe you will see things from a different perspective. As I have said before, of the thousands murdered over the past decade or so, of the thousands going broke daily, of the thousands giving up hope and fleeing to Canada and elsewhere, there is a good chance that an equal number are supporters of each party. Jamaica is ours, let's take it back and make it right.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND TRANSFORMATIVE NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

Send comments to levyl1@ hotmail.com