National priorities - we are adrift

Ronald Mason, Contributor

I find it very challenging to do otherwise than acknowledge the achievements of our national health-care system. We are a middle-income country. We have significant economic constraints, yet we control outbreaks of dengue fever, malaria and other communicable diseases.

HIV/AIDS is not perceived as a widespread affliction with some 2.7 per cent of the population at risk. Health care delivers an average life expectancy that is favourably compared to developed societies. The health system delivers on prescription drugs and related benefits.

We have a safety net for the elderly, and the school age population has necessary vaccinations. The health status of the country is acceptable, for now, but with room for improvement.

However, that is not the case with other national priorities.

The economy is in shambles. Productivity rates are abysmal. If you need any reminder of our lack of focus on improving the national economy, let us recall an incident of current vintage. The horse racing stakeholder in Jamaica has been built into the engine of the industry. Caymanas Park is a focal point. Thousands of persons are employed and millions of dollars circulate each raceday.

This industry was to have a race meet today, July 14, 2013. It will not take place. Why? A single employee of the Caymanas Track Limited has died. Condolences to the family and he is incidental to the process. His funeral has been arranged for July 14 as well. This was a voluntary decision made for private interests.

Caymanas Park cancelled a race meet for the entire industry to allow staff colleagues to attend the funeral. What! An industry gives up a productive activity to facilitate a private funeral. Where are the priorities? The country needs the revenue that would have been generated. The owners, trainers, grooms, jockeys, off-track parlours, the betting public, be damned.

Is this the same economy that is moving to flexitime work schedule. People, if we don't work and produce, we are going to suffer much more than we are already.

ECONOMY NOT GROWING

The national economy is not growing. No real new jobs are being created. Prices are increasing. The dollar loses more value each day, a steady march to US$1 to J$110. Dispute this? Then let the Government tell the nation the rate of exchange on which the Budget was crafted.

We should be expecting to reap the benefit from devaluation. However, what are we to expect other than the newly minted tertiary graduates? It is not agricultural produce. It is not an appropriate exchange to export yam and flour. One has value added - the flour; the other is at the bottom of the value chain.

We have been doing a good job of importing. We import more than US$1 billion (yes, 'billion' with a B) of food annually. Our agro-processing is lacking. The Ministry of Agriculture complains about the dependency of the farmer, yet its political backers will not drag their laws and regulations into the 21st century.

The technical support for the farmers leaves a lot to be desired. The incentives are yet to be promulgated, so industrial activity stalls, not knowing what the future holds. This should have been a priority in coordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. But who cares?

The educational system prefers to be a sideshow. The Jamaica Teachers' Association has not acknowledged the terms of the IMF agreement and the Government of Jamaica's undertaking with the multilateral. The teachers elect the person who barks loudest. He will be expected to show that the bite follows. Amid this, students fail. The teachers ask us to look at the homes, not their role, for the growth and development of our children.

Recall Chile. Students have registered their protest at the education system. They took to the streets. Should the miseducated students of Jamaica continue to be underserved and remain passive? I forgot; they have no votes! They will, however, have the blighted future.

The recently released Transparency International Corruption Barometer regarding Jamaica has the population ranking the political parties at 4.5 out of 5.0, representing the most corrupt sector of our society.

No Surprise

No surprise, as the Gangs of Gordon House act true to form. They laboured mightily to produce the 12 legislative acts on the demand of the IMF. They cannot find time to bring DNA legislation to fore. They ban smoking in public places effective tomorrow, yet the regulations were only gazetted last Thursday, at the eleventh hour. But society must implement what it doesn't know. You must do so because the Government says so. What is the difference in any dictatorship?

The Government needs to have a parliamentary debate on national economic priorities. Let us know the current status of the devaluation policy. The growth in the net international reserves. Why are we only going to receive US$350 million over the four-year life of the IMF agreement? Where is the implementation of the logistics hub and related maritime development?

The nation needs comprehensive tax reform, not mere tinkering to increase tax revenue. The justice system and its ability to deliver timely resolution of matters is a disaster zone. Persons are incarcerated for years prior to trial. Justices render verdicts of 12 years for rape and 14 years for the equivalent of attempted murder, but three months for stealing a dozen ackees. The public is confused.

Jamaica's priorities will not be achieved unless we debate their merits. Set the course, provide the enabling environment, and work, work, work. Are the Gordon House gangs capable?

Ronald Mason is an immigration attorney/mediator and talk-show host. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and nationsagenda@gmail.com.