Ja: Patriotism the best national security strategy

WE ARE about to follow in the footsteps of the United States of America by developing a National Security Strategy (NSS), our own brand of Homeland Security. A team headed by retired Jamaica Defence Force Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, is to develop the NSS. The aim is to protect the country from threats both here and abroad by incorporating and networking the activities of a variety of government agencies, departments and ministries allowing them to better collaborate with one another and achieve synergism. The organising team will seek technical assistance from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Dr. the Honourable Peter Phillips (Minister of National Security), said that terrorism, the international narcotics trade, and organised crime are three of the main threats to our security. However, I submit that our greatest threat is our lack of true love for and devotion to our country. Unpatriotic attitudes like aggressive, selfish and boorish behaviour towards one another, corrupt practices, anti-social criminal activities, extortion and murders (we recently had 28 murders in just seven days) will ruin our nation. On the other hand, patriotism can foster peace, defeat any enemy and surmount all challenges from within or without our borders.