My discussion tonight is with 5th Element a humanitarian, activist, community advocate, motivational speaker, writer, and a dedicated voice for the voiceless.
Her commitment to service spans decades. She brings a disciplined, mission-driven approach to leadership, organization, crisis response, and community action, with experience working across diverse communities and participating in hands-on humanitarian efforts.
Her journey began long before her current public advocacy. Through motivational speaking, youth mentorship, radio and television, writing, and stage productions, she has created platforms addressing self-worth, family relationships, peer pressure, and challenging social issues while helping people recognize the power of their own voices.
If we really want a New Jamaica — what will it take?
For decades, Jamaicans have talked about change. We have talked about crime, poverty, unemployment, corruption, poor infrastructure, housing, education, political division and communities that sometimes feel forgotten.
But tonight, I want us to go beyond simply identifying the problems.
What are we actually prepared to do about them?
Because a New Jamaica cannot simply be a new slogan.
It cannot simply mean changing the faces in Parliament.
And it certainly cannot mean waiting for one political party or one political leader to come and rescue the country.
A New Jamaica requires new thinking, new leadership, stronger institutions, greater accountability and, perhaps most importantly, a new relationship between the people and those who govern them.
Tonight, we are going to look particularly at Coopers Pen — not simply as a place on a map, but as an example of the challenges facing communities across Jamaica.
What happens when ordinary citizens feel that their voices are not being heard?