THE EDITOR, Sir:
NOW THAT Prime Minister Simpson Miller has named her Cabinet, additional money must be spent changing the ministries' names.
A now predictable occurrence whenever a new Prime Minister is elected, he/she with obsession of power and a pen stroke rearranges ministry portfolios without regard to synergy, simplicity and the Jamaican people.
Whoever said that a Ministry of Information and Development would create an enhanced combined effect in terms of policy development, operations and service delivery?
Why establish a Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Science and Technology (with energy)? Could it have been simply called the Ministry of Commerce, with Science, Industry, Technology and Energy becoming major divisions within the ministry? Has anyone thought about the Jamaican people?
Every time a ministry name is changed, not only is it a waste of financial resources, it confuses people, dilutes the historic significance of the ministry, robs future generations of tangible political continuity and further reduces the country closer to 'banana republic' status.
Like any CEO, I realise that prime ministers will need to make strategic portfolio changes. However, if we established names for ministries that are general and holistic, duty modification should not affect a ministry's identity.
It is time politicians grow up and establish permanence within the ministerial structure!
I am, etc.,
MICHAEL BROWN
miguelbro@yahoo.com
Washington, DC
Via Go-Jamaica
