EDITORIAL- Embolden Dr Phillips to drive economic reform

If you were a passenger on a jet moving at the pace, and on the trajectory, of the Jamaican state, you would be pardoned if you thought the captain had taken a snooze as the plane nosedived towards destruction.

For that's the status of the Jamaican economy, more than 10 months after the Simpson Miller administration rode the wave of an electoral landslide and pledged to chart a path to recovery.

This newspaper has consistently argued that the new Government has not presented a clear vision of economic growth and development that inspires investors and consumers and around which the nation can coalesce. Big ideas demand big plans. But instead of a coherent, expansive vision, Jamaicans have been offered a scattershot potpourri of plans which will not be the rising tide to lift all boats.

Despite the depressed state of the economy and gloomy forecasts, the Government has not acted with urgency. The net international reserves are evaporating. The Jamaican dollar is sliding to record depths. Joblessness is still perilously high, especially considering that underemployment is a twin problem that manifests in social fracture. The fiscal crisis is dire. Growth is minuscule.

RELUcTANT PM

In all this, the prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has not projected herself as the transformational leader who can change Jamaica's fortunes. Though she is uniquely gifted with the emotional intelligence to make the bold reforms needed, she has been reluctant to expend her political capital for the national good, even though she has the cushion of popularity sufficient to soften any potential backlash.

Mrs Simpson Miller has chosen, instead, to invest her popularity in initiatives like the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme, or JEEP. Quirky name and pun-laden headlines aside, the ad hoc job programme is not the kind of game-changer that will turn Jamaica around. Reinvigorating the economy requires scope for permanent jobs, and not only low-skilled manual labour but those which would drive production and exploit the talent of out-of-work university graduates.

With an International Monetary Fund deal in abeyance and Jamaica in the midst of an economic bind, the Government must secure citizen buy-in. The prime minister's unwillingness to own and energise pension, taxation and public-sector reform is unfortunate, as such initiatives could redefine Jamaica's legacy.

GREATER AUTHORITY FOR PHILLIPS

We suggest that to take the hard decisions necessary, Dr Peter Phillips, the finance minister, should be endowed with greater authority and muscle to drive the reform programme. Elevating Dr Phillips to the post of deputy prime minister would help in two respects.

With the imprimatur of Mrs Simpson Miller, it would convince the public that the prime minister has confidence in, and endorses, Dr Phillips' tough talk and pledge for action. Second, the stature of deputy prime minister would, we feel, embolden the finance minister to take the hard decisions needed now to restore health to the economy.

Within this context, the prime minister should appoint a core team to shoulder the reform programme, including herself, Dr Phillips and one or two other members of her Cabinet. This corps should not be a mere talk shop; it should be an action committee dedicated to pressing the growth imperative.

Jamaica must be serious about fixing its economic problems, creating the environment for greater levels of investment, and facilitating job creation, fundamentals which are crucial to deriving growth and development.

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.