Ronald Thwaites | They ‘canna cross it’

We need to appreciate the inbred factors in ourselves and the structures we have created, which prevent or slow down the achievement of the best plans of any government. Last week, from the prime minister to returning residents, there have been complaints about the cramp on development, the waste of time and money caused by stifling bureaucracy.

QUICKSAND

The lashes being administered to members of parliament (MPs) are largely undeserved because for an MP to offer the most meagre assistance to constituents, the processes are confounding. Listen too to the private sector, bemoaning the cost of delays and the obfuscation in dealing with the State and with one another.

Jamaica’s web of regulatory systems is simply not built to facilitate development. Then in a wrong-footed effort to curb the pandemic of corruption, we erect prison bars of processes to compound inefficiency and increase the opportunities for graft.

It does not have to be this way. Last week, I encountered excellent service from the National Health Fund, the National Water Commission and in one instance, from NSWMA. I encountered very poor service from the National Land Agency and some elements of the Ministry of Education. Servant leadership makes a difference.

RUT OF ABSENT ACCOUNTABILITY

All this means is that the recycled proposals for inclusive growth being trumpeted by the Government are incapable of timely achievement. People know this and it results in spreading cynicism. Who is held accountable for the flop of the census, the costly purgatory of Cornwall Regional Hospital or the leaden response to education transformation? Misplaced priorities, the absence of targets and the incapacity of managers to hold workers and contractors responsible for non-performance; poor planning and cost overruns ensure dashed expectations. So don’t bother telling us what you are going to do. Like Thomas, we will only believe when we see the task completed.

Notice how the tone of our leaders has become increasingly carping, defensive and consequently insipid. Do they listen to themselves?.

WHO CAN CROSS IT?

Mr Holness assures himself that the hugely expensive but insufficient road repair programme will not become “bolo work”. The poor have become astute businesspersons in order to survive. Every constituent is looking for their share, or more, of the $22 million new money gifted to every MP. This is Christmas, hardship stalks the land; the culture of entitlement and the payout for the coming election will very likely result in plenty wasteful “bolo work”.

We keep spoiling our own game. The nation really does need to pivot but the Government’s plans and pronouncements “canna cross it”. Indeed, no single political tendency can lead us out of the miasma, stop-and-start low-growth syndrome. Least of all an administration which is repeating the same prescriptions of yesteryear and has clearly run out of steam to stimulate “five in four”, let alone really inclusive advance. Disappointingly: “Mout’ mek fi talk”!

RESISTING CHANGE

Powerful vested interests erect roadblocks to prevent needed pivoting. Perhaps as many as one hundred deep-rural and troubled-urban primary schools have lost the critical mass of students to be effective, even though they are still staffed to the hilt. Some should be closed or consolidated with another school. Students who are affected ought to receive transportation or boarding grants through PATH to defray costs consequent on their transfers. The Education Regulations will have to be changed to allow for teachers to be reassigned within a Ministry of Education Region to meet student need.

The unavoidable fact is that a significant proportion of the large education budget is spent ineffectively. It is proving difficult but essential to change this. Modernising the contractual arrangements with the nation’s teachers is the biggest hurdle. This is so especially when opportunities to migrate are available. The principal of a prominent boys high school remarked that his school has almost 30 new teachers this year most of whom have come straight out of college. He is relieved to have been able to fill vacancies but depressed at the toll which inexperience is going to take on his students.

EXHAUSTION OF POWER

There comes a time in a political administration when the main actors grow tired, run out of ideas and, to quote James Bridie, “have become intoxicated with the exuberance of their own verbosity”. They speak and listen mainly to their sycophants and ‘die-hearted’ faithful. Criticism becomes treasonous. Soon intellectual rigor mortis sets in. All vision centres around themselves; their survival and their fortunes. Creative change is very unlikely to come from such persons. When this happens, a nation had best look for other choices!

DESPERATE AND DANGEROUS

The clearest example of what desperation causes came from the heart of the very powerful MP Warmington last week. He says he would rather die than live under the ‘rule’ of the ‘British white man’ Mark Golding. The press report said that for this statement, Warmy got a rapturous response from his audience in Edward Seaga’s old constituency. Really?

Was his racist rant not stopped by the conference host or refuted by the other over-paid rulers present? This politician has the reputation of saying things that others want to, but are afraid of the consequences. He has proven that he cannot be bridled. Or is it that his colleagues agree with him?

This time his remarks cannot be dismissed as another instance of his frequent unhinged utterances. The man means exactly what he is saying. And others apparently agree with him. Recall that his denunciations of the Integrity Commission have been largely imported into certain current court pleadings.

Unless and until he is repudiated and sanctioned, it is reasonable to assume that he speaks for his party and that the ‘Massa Mark’ nastiness is part of its strategy.

We are better than that, aren’t we?

Rev Ronald G. Thwaites is an attorney-at-law. He is former member of parliament for Kingston Central and was the minister of education. He is the principal of St Michael’s College at The UWI. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com