IN A RECENT editorial we urged Government to issue a simple mission statement outlining its plans for the future direction of the Jamaican society and the Jamaican economy, a statement understandable to the average citizen and one which, by setting out specific guidelines and targets, would engender resigned acceptance if not unbounded hope.
Government won a fourth term based on promises which, after 100 days in office, are withering on the vine because no proper economic irrigation system has been installed to bring them to fruition. This has resulted in confusion and disillusionment and, hence, the moral imperative for Government to stop beating about the bush (itself beginning to shrivel up) and to tell the people the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
To postpone this until the Parish Council elections or the Budget debate in April is to risk an accelerating loss of confidence and the festering of speculation and rumour which might be even more frightening than the reality. This in turn can lead to an eruption of social protest at the smallest excuse.
After three days of Cabinet retreat, we would have expected the Prime Minister to have taken the opportunity of the post-Cabinet press conference to clear the air and set out the simple vision statement so badly longed for by the nation. Instead, what we got was simply a repetition of old shibboleths or tired reaffirmations of plans which should have been implemented years ago. Mr. Seaga was right to describe the Prime Minister as "drawing a circle around the issues without touching them".
And issues there are aplenty. The Jamaica Teachers Association has rejected the Government's offer of a 6% rise in basic pay over two years. Although the Government may not be able to pay teachers what they deserve, a first year increase of 3% does seem stingy with inflation for calendar year 2002 now confirmed by the Prime Minister at 7.3%. Other trade unions are calling for the salaries of Ministers and Parliamentarians to be de-linked from the salaries of Permanent Secretaries an artificial congress to begin with. Attempts at a Social Contract containing an incomes policy look bleak given the continuing slide of the Jamaican dollar.
The Government has acted sensibly in suspending further parliamentary pay increases and establishing a committee to review how such salaries are adjusted. But other pressing issues need a clear statement of the mission ahead.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
