THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHILE READING the on-line version of The Jamaica Gleaner on October 1, 2003 I came across the usual news of the constant senseless murders in Jamaica. Specifically, it was the triple murder in the Temple Hall area. I was deeply moved by this tragedy and am now convinced that the constant downward spiral of my homeland has been going on for far too long.
In his commentary on October 1, 2003 titled, "Crime and the Economy", Delroy Chuck pointed out that "no doubt, we must improve policing, strengthen prosecution, increase punishment, and engage in a myriad of other social goodness, but until we get our economy right, it will be impossible to control the proliferation of crime and violence." I cannot agree with him more. Crime is definitely negatively correlated with the economy. That said, the Minister of Finance who is in charge of the management of the economy is held responsible for the major failures of the economy of Jamaica.
What we need is a Pro-Poor Budget Strategy which focuses on the economics of poverty to help us move forward since it is clear that it is the poor and the forgotten ones who are murdering each other.
A Pro-Poor Budget Strategy is one that reflects the needs of society. In order for the budget to address these needs, it requires meaningful input particularly by constituencies which have historically been excluded, and the representatives of the people in parliament.
The unfortunate reality is that the current conservative bureaucrats in the Ministry of Finance are primarily concerned with what they regard as the imperatives of fiscal
discipline.
If development gets trampled in the process, they probably would not be able to recognise this, let alone make the necessary adjustments. This is why we should insist on the introduction of legislation to implement the constitutional obligation to give parliament oversight of the budget process.
I am, etc.,
BARRINGTON GOLDSON
e-mail: bstegold@aol.com
Pennsylvania
Via Go-Jamaica
