THE EDITOR, Madam:
IT IS clear that our government's approach to business in recent times has concentrated more on finance decisions and less on investment decisions, which has contributed to a national debt of US$9 billion, a severe trade deficit, a weaker economy and crime to a point where the law-abiding citizens live in fear instead of criminals. What is also frightening is that if it weren't for our robust underground economy, Jamaica's problems would be substantially worse.
Without investment our solutions to problems will remain as fixing potholes instead of building superhighways, as wealth is generated by making sensible investment decisions, not by continuous refinancing. Creating investment must be initiated from the top; our Prime Minister, or CEO of Jamaica, needs to concentrate more on selling Jamaica to the world and slowly replace our borrowing with 'new' money from foreign investment. At the same time the red tape needs to be removed so that investors don't always have to resort to dealing at the 'highest levels' in order to get fast results.
Once this is taken seriously, with a view to solving problems for our grandchildren's sake and not just ourselves, the rest of the country must follow. Various charity groups and good-hearted citizens across the island do make a difference, but a meaningful, radical, long-term solution focusing on sensible investment policies will provide the stimulus and confidence needed to achieve this goal.
In the meantime, we as citizens need to play our part as well and get rid of our hostile and aggressive nature not only to our visitors, but also to each other and especially our children. Children need to be nurtured and guided by their parents until they are adults. Parents should not only rely on the educational system in order for their children to succeed in school.
The government in turn should pay more attention to family planing and education. Wealth created from investments should be prioritised in these two critical areas. Earlier this year it was reported that the fate of the family planning programme was waiting on a technical review by the Ministry of Health. This programme is a critical ingredient to discourage indiscriminate pregnancies by young people. Regarding education, new schools are being built, and existing ones renovated, but what about the quality of education? Are our teachers being trained and paid appropriately? Are our children being taught in schools about tourism, or biggest income earner?
The list is endless, but we need to start somewhere. We have the foundation because Jamaica is blessed with an abundance of beauty and attractions compared to other Caribbean islands and there is no better person in the world than a true Jamaican, one who is warm-hearted, humble and free of prejudice.
Our dilemma therefore should really be how to spend our foreign exchange surpluses, not covering our tracks with constant borrowing.
Leaders in their respective positions whether it be in government, businesses, or households, need to work harder and try to focus on how we would like to see Jamaica 20 years from now.
The above is obviously not the only remedy, but it is simple and it costs nothing to have a vision for investment. Prosperity and growth is staring at us what are we waiting on?
I am, etc.,
BRUCE BICKNELL
Director
Tank-Weld Metals
