A participant in a recent social media discussion made a telling observation: there appears to be no one left in Jamaica willing to tell the emperor that he is naked. The comment was directed at Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and his frequent comparisons between Jamaica, Singapore, and Dubai.

That observation captures my concern exactly. This is not about tearing down the prime minister, but about asking whether the vision being sold to Jamaicans is grounded in reality or merely political performance dressed up as development.

Singapore was not built on speeches, skylines, or slogans. It was built on people — education, discipline, public order, merit, accountability, and the serious elimination of corruption. Jamaica cannot invoke Singapore while ignoring the foundations that made it possible.