D.K. Duncan 'COCK MOUTH kill cock' was one of many themes effectively utilised by the People's National Party (PNP) during the course of the last two General Election campaigns. Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies, in a recent response to some issues raised by Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, seems intent on reaffirming the relevance of this proverb to himself.
THE RESPONSE
In an article published in The Sunday Gleaner the Finance Minister observed: "The fact is that this blaming of everything else but one's own actions is indeed a national problem..."
Dr. Davies, among other things, noted that "..there is a growing recognition that these (the fiscal challenges) can be overcome if each group subsumes narrow sectoral interests for the national good."
The Minister concluded his response by asserting that "the old modus operandi of seeking to create panic and chaos in order to achieve political power has not only become outdated. It is simply boring."
THE RELEVANCE
The lack of acceptance of responsibility by the Government for the actions which led to the significant slippage in the fiscal deficit in the election year of 2002 continues to be a major bone in the throat of the Jamaican electorate.
The inability of the PNP, and specifically Dr. Davies, to subsume the 'narrow sectoral interests' of the PNP 'for the national good' will haunt many political careers for years.
'Creating chaos to achieve political power' is an understatement of what took place in the economy as a direct result of the Government's inability to contain the fiscal deficit during the election year of 2002.
To rub salt into the wounds of the Jamaican electorate, all of this was taking place while many were asked to 'Log on to progress'. Most were soothed by the magic words: 'The economy is on track' or 'We are headed in the right direction'.
THE WRONG DIRECTION
In 2002 it took 48 Jamaican dollars to buy US$1.00. By 2003 it took J$60.00. In 2002 the inflation rate was measured at six per cent. Now it has run to 14 per cent. In 2002 the Net International Reserves (NIR) stood at $1.9 billion. It has now 'logged on' to $1.2 billion. In 2002 the ratio of debt to GDP was 133 per cent. We are now seeking to correct an unsustainable rate of 150 per cent. Interest rates were on track at a decreasing 15 per cent in 2002. It was derailed to over 30 per cent in 2003. The target for the fiscal deficit was almost doubled in financial year 2002-2003.
Now that we are being asked to 'correct it' the Jamaican public should insist on some conditions.
CONDITIONALITIES
At its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, the PNP reaffirmed their decision not to resume a borrowing relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF's traditional orthodoxy aside, one aspect of its operation is the requirement for accountability through its use of conditionalities. When these are breached, a new programme with more stringent conditionalities is devised. This approach could be explored by the various sectors of the public now engaged in dialogue with the Government.
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) in leading the 'Partnership For Progress' team appears to be logging on to the task of debt management and interest rate reduction to correct the fiscal deficit which was 'allowed to run'.
The trade union leadership appears to be logging on to wage restraints or a freeze as the contribution of workers to the correction of the runaway fiscal deficit. The unions and the PSOJ leaders should, in the name of transparency, share their ideas on conditionalities.
Other elements in civil society may want to increase the use of opportunities like the Access to Information Act to strengthen their capacity to ensure transparency and accountability.
The nation will expect some guidance from the Parliamentary Opposition as to which policies they think are bad for us and should be opposed. The Jamaica Labour Party should take actions to present themselves as a viable alternative one that can command the confidence of the majority of the electors in a General Election.
After the largest tax package ever, prior conditionalites for continuing to 'log on' should include the Minister and the Government publicly taking responsibility for their actions. Methods to prevent the creation of chaos in order to achieve political power should be devised. Subsuming the interest of the nation to the 'narrow sectoral interest' of the party should attract the maximum penalty electoral sanctions. One love, one heart.
A dental surgeon, Dr. D.K. Duncan, is a former General Secretary and Cabinet Minister in the PNP administration of the 1970s.
