Gareth Manning, Freelance Writer
PATTERSON
AS THE curtains are slowly coming down on the P.J. Patterson-led administration, the legacy of Jamaica's longest serving Prime Minister has become the debated topic in various fora, including this newspaper.
While there are many ills that were evident during Patterson's 14-year tenure in office, he has been responsible for a number of developments and investments measuring billions of dollars.
Topping the list is the JAMALCO's $49 billion five-year expansion project - the largest single investment in the country's history. The entire expansion should create some 3,500 jobs during its construction phase and ultimately increase bauxite output to 9 million tonnes per annum. Wage and company tax increases are also expected to be large with as much as $150 million in wage increases and $40 million in company taxes. A total of $1.016 billion per annum is to be earned from bauxite, once the expansion is completed.
INCREASE IN ALUMINA AND CRUDE BAUXITE PRODUCTION
The expansion at the Clarendon-based company is already resulting in an increase in alumina and crude bauxite production. Crude bauxite production increased 159.9 per cent last quarter while alumina production showed an overall increase for the year, though it declined mildly last quarter. The decline was due to the effects of Tropical Storm Wilma.
There are also record investments in other important sectors that Mr. Patterson has overseen. While there is some criticism around Spanish investment in tourism, the contribution is undoubtedly strong. The US$600 million investment is to lead to the construction of some 5,000 hotel rooms and create employment for 15,000 people. An additional 50,000 indirect jobs are to be created.
Up to December last year, 2,000 jobs had already been created as a result of investments from the Spanish hoteliers, the RIU Group. During the construction phase of the RIU properties, over 3,000 people were employed. The hotels now employ 1,800 local workers. Jamaica Promotions' (JAMPRO) president, Patricia Francis said almost all consultants and engineers contracted for the construction of these hotels were local people.
Then there is also an ongoing expansion of the island's ports. The port jumped 11 places to 56th in the world last year due to a US $46.1 million expansion. The port added a number of new X-ray machines to scan containers for contrabands and increased its capacity by 25 per cent. Mr. Patterson negotiated a further $13 billion deal late last year with Maersk Shipping Line to provide their services to the island.
On the social frontier, Mr. Patterson has added a number of housing projects to his legacy. While again some projects have come under sharp criticism, the development of housing under the National Land and Shelter Policy accelerated the provision of housing for people in lower income brackets. The Inner-City Housing Project is one of the housing solutions that won the acclaim of both political parties. The $7 billion project which is being steered by the National Housing Trust (NHT) is to provide 5,000 affordable housing for low-income people in Trench Town, Denham Town and Spanish Town. Phase one of the project was completed and handed over in July last year and phase two is near completion.
NHT LOANS DOUBLED
The Prime Minister also recently announced that NHT loans would be doubled by April. The loan capacities for build-on-own-land projects moved from $1.5 million to $3 million and up to $6 million for co-applicants.
In health, Mr. Patterson has orchestrated improved health benefits under the National Health Fund and Drug for the Elderly Programme. He also modernised the Social Security System so pension benefits could be improved.
Last October, the NHF increased drug subsidies to 80 per cent. The subsidy also covered some equipment for some chronic lifestyle diseases. There were also big adjustments to pension benefits. In 2003, the benefits were increased by 50 per cent and a further adjustment is to be made this year.
Mr. Patterson legacy also includes major investment to create a First World network of roads through such programmes as Highway 2000 and the Northern Coastal Highway Project. Although both projects are incomplete, what has been done so far has significantly improved travel for the motoring public.
In politics he will be remembered as the first Prime Minister to serve for four terms, three of which he won his own mandate. He will also be remembered for his move to reduce political tensions in Jamaica. Political analysts agree that Mr. Patterson has been responsible for a marked reduction in tension created by political tribalism and has made dramatic improvements in the electoral system.
"P.J. Patterson's great success has been as a unifier. He has humbly presided over a party, more united than it has ever been," University of the West Indies lecturer Robert Buddan says.
"Norman Manley's PNP was divided by ideology and federation, although his own leadership was never in question. Michael Manley's PNP was even more ideologically divided in the 1970s although the party had regrouped in his final term. Mr. Patterson has sensibly led through pragmatism and by a learning process. The party has matured following its earlier factionalism," he adds.
