EDITORIAL - A foreign policy hinged on economics

As Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller highlighted in the Budget Debate last week, Jamaica is reaping significant rewards from its decision four decades ago to establish diplomatic relations with China.

The latest example is the proposed US$1.5-billion investment by China Harbour Engineering Company to establish a new trans-shipment port and related facilities in Jamaica.

That the Chinese are seriously considering the idea has the potential of giving real legs to Investment Minister Anthony Hylton's much-talked-about, but until now largely ephemeral, scheme for transforming Jamaica into a global logistics hub.

But for Jamaica, China was, in a sense, something of an ideological and historical accident. Like now, the People's National Party (PNP), then led by the late Michael Manley, was in office. Democratic socialism was still the PNP's credo and Manley had emerged on the global stage as a spokesman for issues of concern to the Third World. Leading Jamaica and other English-speaking Caribbean countries into an embrace of China and Cuba was, in part, a declaration by Manley of his and Jamaica's independence and the right of small countries to assert their place in the world.

Manley was right - in principle and action.

CHANGING WORLD

In 40 years, though, the world - and China - have changed. Beijing may still cherish Kingston for what, in the 1970s, would have been an act of relative political heroism. But these days, global relations are driven primarily by economics, rather than ideology.

While Mrs Simpson Miller alluded to Jamaica's embrace of this notion of the diplomacy of economics, this newspaper has discerned its emergence only in snippets rather than as a cohesive and coherent policy, programme and plan. Remedying this shortcoming, we believe, should be part of the Government's strategy for investment, growth and economic recovery.

In this sense, the foreign affairs and foreign trade ministry must be seen as a key economic ministry, fully engaged in the Government's adjustment and reform programme and intent of getting other countries to put their capital in Jamaica.

SEARCH FOR NEW CHINAS

Jamaica, while it shores up its relationships with existing partners, must seek out new Chinas, but in a context shorn of ideology. And its foreign-affairs technocrats must be clear about how what they do intersects with the gritty world of real economics and business: capital, factories, jobs and economic growth.

Leadership, in this regard, is important.

First, whoever leads the foreign ministry must appreciate the new diplomacy, understanding the growing primacy of economics in the relationship between states, and be ready to embrace and articulate this vision to those whom he or she leads.

Important, too, that person must understand that his constituency and partner in advancing this diplomacy is the private sector - not in abstract fashion.

Put another way, the private sector must be permanently at the table. They must be consulted on what are the best strategic moves to encourage economic partnerships, as well as on the negotiation of bilateral agreements and multilateral trade deals.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller must ask herself if she has such a foreign ministry. If the answer is no, which it should be, the next question is whether its present political head is the best person to lead a transformation. The answer should be no.

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.