The Progressive Agenda explained

Winston Davidson, Contributor

I write in response to a Public Affairs article in The Sunday Gleaner (September 26) contributed by Claude Clarke. The essence of his article, as I understand it, is expressed in his broadside at the Progressive Agenda policy document of the People's National Party.

I quote: "The PNP's Progressive Agenda is no different. Sadly lacking are the macroeconomic, strategic, and structural changes needed to transform Jamaica's lifeless and chronically uncompetitive economy into one of vitality and competitiveness. There is nothing capable of producing the economic output required to pay our way in the world and provide our people with economic opportunity and an acceptable quality of life. Regrettably, (although we are told there will be further consultations), so far, the long-awaited 'Agenda' gives no sign of anything remotely resembling progress in terms of a new economic policy direction for the country."

I must express my disappointment in Claude Clarke's dismissive response to the Progressive Agenda document but, to be fair, it seems as if he has not read the document as carefully as I thought he would have. For if he had, I am sure he would have given a more thoughtful response as others more competent to speak to national policy initiatives have done.

failed to understand

In the first place, he has failed to understand the difference between a 'policy' and an 'implementation plan'.

For Claude's edification, 'policies' are written statements or sets of statements that describe principles, requirements and limitations, and are characterised by indicating 'what' needs to be done rather than 'how' to do it. An implementation plan, essentially, identifies the 'how' to do it.

The method of developing the Progressive Agenda is fundamentally different from any other document produced by any other political party in the history of this country. I am confident that this is true, Claude, since the policy review exercise which was done included every area of human endeavour and is properly documented and referenced by the most rigorous scientific data available in the country.

In that respect, I know that you are incorrect in your assertion that "the PNP Progressive Agenda is no different". I can confidently state that if you had read the document carefully and thoughtfully, you would never have dealt with such an important document, which embodies the views, ideas and suggestions of thousands of Jamaicans, in such a dismissive, arrogant and contemptuous way. Let us now proceed to the essence of your bone of contention.

"Sadly lacking are the macroeconomic, strategic and structural changes needed to transform Jamaica's lifeless and chronically uncompetitive economy into one of vitality and competitiveness."

How many times have you made this point in your articles on the economy? I certainly have read with great interest the depth of your concern in quite a number of articles on the economy. Another concern of yours is the question of decreasing labour productivity and the un-competitiveness of our cost of labour. The agenda has all the data and more which have informed the formulation of a policy framework and principles addressing the very concerns you have articulated.

However, the Progressive Agenda, in all its iterations in the two years of consultation in formulating its policies, has consistently made its position crystal clear that:

Macroeconomic stability and structural changes in the economy are necessary but not sufficient to develop and rapidly grow a modern sustainable economy that is vital and competitive in the 21st century. The Progressive Agenda reference document explains why this is so, and what new thinking and principles underpin the development of a new approach to achieve a globally integrated sustainable economy which is the desired outcome of Vision 2030.

There are no quick fixes or prescriptive measures which can pull us out of the deep economic hole that we are now in.

Building consensus is the best way to ensure successful implementation of any policy measure identified to produce a modern sustainable economy.

In the final analysis, the only viable option open to us as Jamaicans is to build consensus in every social, economic and political endeavour.

Party President Portia Simpson Miller has made it crystal clear in her foreword of the Progressive Agenda document: "My political leadership has been marked by an insistence that all Jamaicans must be part of any new thrust for development and that this must involve the middle class as well as the poor and marginalised for this development to be sustainable."

If one accepts this statement to be true, then the methodology of consensus building of the Progressive Agenda must be correct, however painful and tedious the process may be.

Bypassing the process of consensus building and stakeholder participation for some expedient way of producing an implementation plan, even before the stakeholders know what the polices are, as some influential persons have suggested, runs counter to any semblance of good governance or best practice in building a modern, 21st-century sustainable national economy.

That is why the Progressive Agenda is placed in the international forum for the kind of dialogue and input from members of our Jamaican Diaspora family to enrich the mix of policies necessary to begin the long march on the road to recovery.

What is it?

Finally, for the readers of this article, I wish to answer the question 'What is the Progressive Agenda?'

The Progressive Agenda of the People's National Party is a modern expression of the core ideals of the party's time-honoured philosophy of democracy, equality, freedom and justice.

It restates the core principles and values of the party around its first principle of equality that is attainable only if allied principles of democracy, human rights and justice are scrupulously incorporated.

It seeks to define a broad coalition of stakeholders committed to the values of democracy, equality, human rights and justice for nation building.

The Progressive Agenda is also a process which seeks to involve the participation of the members and supporters of the party as well as all the Jamaican people in their business associations, trade unions, churches, communities, women and youth organisations and other social groupings. The process so far has been iterative.

The Progressive Agenda takes account of global developments in its introduction of the 'I/we' paradigm which arises as a result of the rapid growth of the culture of individualism, especially among our young people whose alienation from traditional social organisations is explained by the increasing relationships being built on the social networks of the Internet.

The paradigm introduces the concepts of progressive collectivism in opposition to possessive individualism which these social networks engender, and argues for the need to cultivate a progressive collectivism built on the traditional social organisations, such as party, community and non-governmental organisations together with the modern social networks. These developments have also had profound and far-reaching implications for the role of the state in nation building in the 21st century.

At present, political parties of all tendencies have had to face new challenges arising not merely because of globalisation but also because of the emergent domestic political, economic and social crises. Indeed, all other social organisations have had to make necessary adjustments. Specifically, the development of information and communication technologies has profoundly transformed the way we live, work, play, study and relate to each other. ICT is at the centre of the social, political and economic revolution transforming societies, political parties and economies across the Caribbean region, the hemisphere and the world.

I welcome further dialogue with Claude Clarke, or anyone else who may wish to participate in this open and public exchange of policy ideas and solutions.

Professor Winston Davidson is chairman of the Technical Review Team of the People's National Party's Policy Commission. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.