EDITORIAL - Learning from Matalon and Ewart

The deaths, last week, of Mayer Matalon, 89, and Barclay Ewart, 76, removed two of this country's corporate titans and further underlined the passing of a generation of Jamaicans who were filled with optimism and felt that everything was possible. They had great faith in their country and its future.

The recent passing of several of these stalwarts assumes greater poignancy in Jamaica's 50th year of Independence, with the country in a deep economic funk and a belief that we have failed to make the best use of the past half-century.

The fact, and perception, of Jamaica's underperformance are emphasised in an annual average growth over the past quarter-century of around one per cent; that upwards of 400,000 of Jamaica's young people are either unemployed or have opted out of the workforce; that up to a quarter of our students leave primary school barely literate; that of those who complete secondary education, only around 20 per cent have results to matriculate to university; and that perhaps 80 per cent of university graduates emigrate.

A better future for all

Of course, the last 50 years have not been all bad. The more important issue, though, is how we can make the next half-century substantially better and instil again the kind of confidence that was enjoyed by those who agitated for, and embarked on, the journey of Independence.

Government policy is critical. The new administration, for instance, has to move quickly to control the national debt of J$1.6 trillion, which is around 130 per cent of gross domestic product - and unsustainable. This means taking tough decisions on public finances, which means borrowing less, spending less, and earning more.

But, while Government must create the environment for the transformation that Jamaicans want, the solutions lie not solely with the administration. They rest, too, on a robustly entrepreneurial private sector. In this regard, we can learn much from Mayer Matalon, Barclay Ewart and others like them.

In style and temperament, Matalon and Ewart were different personalities. Matalon was bluff, tough, and forthright. Ewart, his public persona, at least, appeared circumspect, shy even. He was thoughtful and cerebral.

Legacy of tough businessmen

But both were innately bright men with inquisitive minds, who carried power and influence lightly. For them, business, and the creation of wealth, were not ends in themselves. Rather, entrepreneurial activity was part of a process that would lead to the betterment of Jamaica. And they were committed to Jamaica.

Mayer Matalon, the clear leader of the family that developed the ICD Group, was Jewish, with close connections with Israel's political Establishment and powerful interests in the United States. But he negotiated toughly, and with success, in the 1970s for Jamaica's bauxite production levy, when that arrangement was being demonised as a sort of communist grab.

Ewart built the Alkali Group into the leading chemical production company in Jamaica, and up to the time of his death was actively engaged in attempting to find solutions to Jamaica's energy problem.

The experiences of Matalon and Ewart, and those of their generations who remain alive, are worth recording. Perhaps our Government might start with reviving and broadening the memory-bank project that was launched by Edward Seaga in the 1980s.

Correction: In the editorial 'The wits and the Portmore council', published Monday, February 6, 2012, we incorrectly stated that the JLP had the majority in the council. It is, in fact, the PNP.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.