Transport Minister Bobby Pickersgill with Lambert Brown, vice-president of UAWU at the Memorandum of Understanding meeting with the Minister of Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Heroes Circle, Kingston on August 12, 2005.The meeting was called to review the impact of the proposed increase in bus fares on the wage restraint pact between government and public sector employees. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE YEAR 2005 can be considered a rough year for Jamaica, with all of its troubles and problems. However, this is the time of the year when we look forward to a much better year and an improvement in both personal and public fortunes.
Next year we can expect an upward spike in electioneering on both sides of the political divide, as the departure of Prime Minister P.J.Patterson looms. I will expect the country's leaders to take the lead in terms of setting the mood for dialogue and conciliation, so that their example can be emulated at all levels. We need to turn the other cheek on many more occasions in the year 2006, as it takes much greater strength to do so, than to fight. Let us bring civil dialogue back into our disagreements with each other.
Next year I would also like to see the Ministry of Finance and its public sector bargaining groups come to an early agreement on the way forward, as this will involve settlement procedures for disputes over salary increases, perquisites/allowances, working conditions, scholarships, leave reduction, flexible working arrangements and a myriad of other industrial issues. We must be able to see a tangible improvement in productivity levels at the end of the year, while meeting the fiscal expenditure wage/salary projections, without sending it up into stratospheric levels. If not, then expect a rough year of dragged-out labour conflicts, spikes in inflation, and additional tax increases.
MORE INTERACTION WITH FATHERS
It may be a small thing, but if the year could see more fathers playing a greater role in their households, the country will do much better in stemming the social disorder that is occurring. It should not only be a monetary contribution as fathers need to spend more time with all their children. Let fathers read to them more, play with them more, and act more responsibly around them, and this can save some from going astray, or following negative peer influences.
I may get heavily criticised for the following views, but I would like to see the females in the households of Jamaica (mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts and others) provide more encouragement to male relatives and loved ones around the home, by offer some more nurturing (as no matter how old they are they will still need and appreciate it). This should encourage their husbands, baby fathers, boyfriends, brothers, grandsons and nephews to focus on long-term goals and also improve their educational levels, regardless of where they are, just as many of the females in the homes are doing at this time.
One would also hope to see a return to more reasonable crime levels for the new year, so more of us will be around to celebrate another year. To do so will involve a lot of effort and some return to old time community values of decency and respect for all. We have to make the year 2006 the milestone year when Jamaica makes that upward thrust by becoming a developing country powerhouse.
