THE EDITOR, Sir: ONE OF the elements about free trade and the myth about fair open trading is the underlying view that everyone will
be forced to increase productivity and
efficiency to an economic level that will enhance free trade across the globe. This concept, in essence, means that everyone is responsible for their own success or
failure. The idea promotes division in the form of protecting and looking out for your own as much as possible.This is not about racism, but it is about cutting ties with how business was being conducted traditionally with preferential trading partners.
In contrast, our government's responsibility to simply sensitising the public on a timely manner on issues with respect to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
is slow and they seem helpless in assisting our local cane farmers morally or
economically. The sporadic outbursts
by different groups, namely, the sugar industry, trade unions, and the banana
producers indicate, in my mind, that all is not well within those industries with respect to WTO arrangements and indicate the necessity for urgent implementation of an action plan in our primary industries, i.e., sugar and banana.
ECONOMIC BLOCS
The people of the world are dividing themselves into economic blocs. They will strive to protect their individuals, institutions and business, hence free trade is not creating one border-less world, but promoting the formation of economic blocs. This, in essence, is a larger area with people sharing a common interest and often geographically close.
The concept of free trade is indeed unsurprisingly hypocritical, as the selfish world in which we live and do business today comprises individuals, organisations and governments who rely on the kindness of others or wait for handouts, become
vulnerable when the philanthropist decides to cut their ties, and being so dependent, our economy and its people will suffer the consequence.
WTO arrangements are not new
developments that have occurred overnight. The government in collaboration with leaders in the relevant industries have had time to assess the situation and come up with possible solutions for implementation. With such callous disregard for the WTO arrangement, in my opinion, one gets the impression that nothing
tangible will be done in light of the
pending change in government due in 2007. The new administration will have the wrath of the people to contend with and it is advisable that the opposition (JLP) takes a role in ensuring that steps are being taken in implementing changes in response to WTO arrangements, in the best interest of the Jamaican people, the economy and thousands of sugar and banana workers who will be directly affected.
I am, etc.,
CLAUDE RIDDELL
Caretaker East Central St. Andrew
claude@angel.com
TAKEN FROM THE SATURDAY GLEANER, JULY 9, 2005
