EDITORIAL - Address addiction to waste now!

This newspaper is urging Justice Minister Mark Golding not to allow too much procrastination over whether or not the ministry should shun expensive rental premises in New Kingston and move into government-owned property in Half-Way Tree.

Diverting the flow of public money from private coffers and into government hands sounds like a good business idea, and during times of austerity it appears even more urgent. Unnecessary rental commitments should be recognised as one of the wasteful strands in the management of the country's affairs.

It is lamentable that the last People's National Party administration took the economically foolish decision to abandon several government buildings in downtown Kingston and start the trek uptown with the result that the taxpayers have been shelling out many billions of dollars in annual rental ever since. As if that is not bad enough, the Government also pays maintenance and security charges for these abandoned buildings, as well as the thousands of square feet of space owned by the seemingly comatose Urban Development Corporation.

To its credit, the JLP government mooted the idea of restoring some of these buildings and returning staff downtown. Faced with a billion-dollar-a-year rental bill, Bruce Golding slapped a moratorium on departments moving from downtown and announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was heading back downtown. But it did not happen.

Time will show, given government's record of foot-dragging and indecisiveness, whether our hope is misplaced in thinking the ground has shifted a little and that other ministries will be moved by the justice ministry's example to find viable actions that will result in further savings, given the increased burden of debt repayments.

Mark Golding also announced in Parliament that the Hagley Park Road premises would also house a new Traffic Court. The current location of the Traffic Court is desperately unsuitable. Sessions are disturbed by the bustling traffic, the cacophony of motor vehicle noises and blaring horns. Besides, the courtroom is cramped so that persons cannot find seats and have to huddle outside. A move to Hagley Park Road would better serve the public and officers of the court.

Jamaicans are growing weary of government waste. Sentiments of outrage over government waste and disregard for taxpayers' interests can be heard in any public forum these days.

The Government's spending addiction has to be curbed, says Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips, as he added his voice to the debate. But examples of wastefulness and extensive duplication are evident throughout the country.

For example, this newspaper reported in January that office space owned by the Government in the Bay West Shopping Centre in Montego Bay has been locked up for 12 years, while the taxpayer foots a monthly maintenance bill of $150,000.

These figures tell a woeful tale. Did the recent Cabinet retreat even consider how an outrage like this could be addressed urgently? Yet, our leaders talk ad nauseam about scarce resources.

The Government should seize the moment by assigning one of its many ministers the task of identifying areas of duplication and overlap so that it can halt the crippling spending and waste and free up resources for capital projects.

One determined member of the Cabinet could positively effect the change we so desperately need. Mark Golding, with his background in business, could be that man.

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.