Anthony Gambrill | How to make Jamaica productive in 2019

A recent survey of productivity in the Caribbean put Jamaica at the bottom of its list of productive countries. Clearly, if Mr Holness and his ministers are keen to accelerate Jamaica’s economic growth, we will need to come to grips with this problem.

While to date, the Government and the private sector have introduced a few effective remedies for our productivity shortcomings, it is incumbent on me to make a modest contribution. To start with, we should be wooing investment with the red carpet rather than the red tape for which we are famous for. New investors generally come with new ideas and new solutions to old problems. But, oh, that red tape is the same old problem that only occasionally gets resolved.

Improving productivity means replacing outdated equipment and old-fashioned practices with contemporary technology and more efficient management. Like our attitudes towards LGBT, abortion reform, and same-sex marriage, we are often still living in the 20th, if not the 19th, century. The captains of industry, agriculture, and commerce are responsible for bringing in that breath of fresh air if we are to catch up with the rest of the prospering world.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS

But enough of this ponderous pontificating. Here are a few of my ideas:

- As a start, many half-days and full days are currently given over to training sessions, seminars, team meetings, and even staff functions, when surely, they could be held on a Saturday rather than during the working week.

- The churches could play their part in saving work days for work by scheduling funerals on Saturdays, no doubt (breaking a centuries-old practice). Even if they succumb to this innovation, how about abandoning the standard two hours-plus church service? At least the congregation could use the extra time to think through problems that have been bedevilling their farm or factory.

- We have come a long way in improving our time-keeping since “Jamaica Time”, which, hopefully, added half an hour to our working and social lives. However, I recommend that bosses make it a priority to be the first employee to reach work in the morning and the last to leave in the evening in order to improve their company’s productivity.

It might even mean that some will have to give up their mid-week afternoon of golf. It would also make the aim of becoming more productive if, like the Japanese companies, we began the day with a vigorous session of calisthenics to get our mojo working.

- For employees, it’s time to curb the habit of spending unproductive time on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat when at work. Or you could possibly work from home. Your time would be your own and your income, for better or for worse, would reflect your contribution to the company’s financial success.

- We should look to our health for increasing productivity. Jamaica is currently experiencing an epidemic of 5-K running mania. Not only are they great fundraising social events, but there is every likelihood that the participants come off the road feeling a lot fitter.

Check with The Gleaner as there is always some worthy cause or international day, week, or month attracting editorial contributions, to say nothing of paid advertising (‘National Toilet Week’, ‘Run for Incontinence’, ‘Save the Snow Leopard’, or the like) promoting a forthcoming 5-K road race. Let your organisation be the first to find a cause to support with a 5-K along the Mandela Highway, which might at least slow down the hustling traffic.

- Inevitably, people will point to the problem of traffic congestion as to why they are unable to get to work on time. The number of man and woman hours that could be put to increasing productivity must be mind-boggling. Eventually, the China Harbour Company and the National Works Agency will have run out of major roads to dig up in the Corporate Area and will set their sights on Mandeville or May Pen.

In the meantime, the best Kingston and St Andrew can do, I suggest, is to implore the police to adopt zero tolerance on offenders using the city roads for reckless speeding, overtaking on the soft shoulder, hustling through traffic lights, and ­ignoring stop signs.

It might be a good idea to reduce the number of legal and illegal taxis and introduce motorcycle taxis, which have proven a huge success in the Colombian city of Cartagena. These motorbike taxis get you to your destination faster.

- For now, if you are stuck in nose-to-tail traffic or in a slow-moving bus, why not get a copy of the ubiquitous Daily Word to pass the time? This way, you are more likely to get to your work place with peace of mind.

- Finally – and this is a delicate issue – should we not consider reducing the length of annual holidays that employees are taking? But a warning. Travel, in general, is becoming more stressful and hazardous, with security checks and baggage searches. If you plan on going to the United States, take note of this travel advisory. To avoid risking your life, avoid entering a school, church, mosques synagogue, nightclub, or concert venue. And if you are approached by the police, remove your hands from your pocket and do not hold anything in them. Raising your arm in the surrender position may only be considered a threat punishable by assassination.

No, you will find a week in a Jamaican hotel more restful than a week abroad, and if it’s an all-inclusive, you won’t even know you are in Jamaica.

- Anthony Gambrill is a playwright. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com