THE EDITOR, Sir:
CONGRATULATIONS TO Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller on becoming our Prime Minister. As a taxpayer, I would like to make the following suggestions to her on improving efficiency in government and spurring economic growth in our country:
1. Change the law to allow all government workers three weeks vacation leave per year which can only be accumulated for two years. You either take your leave or lose it (no pay if not taken) All sick and departmental emoluments stay.
2. Scrap the Tourism Product Development Co. and absorb its functions under the Tourism Ministry.
3. Fix the attractions in Portland ie. Reach Falls, Nonesuch Caves, Folly Ruins, Rio Grande Valley, and roads to them and market the area properly.
4. Re-visit Mr. Seaga's budget presentation of approximately five years ago about the development of a Petrochemical industry in the Free Zone area, with imput from the Petro-Caribe Plan, as this would provide thousands of jobs.
5. Re-vamp the Jampro Export section to develop, track down and find the persons who were leading export growth in the late 1980's and early 1990's and get them back in production.
6. Use community meetings, especially in inner-city areas, to promote backyard gardening. Put this programme under the Ministry of Agriculture to provide seeds, implements etc..
7. Start a "Clean up Jamaica" campaign on a zone basis, especially in inner-city areas, with the help of the JDF and SDC, to provide some temporary employment for youths and have them clean up their "corners".
8. Fix the pier downtown Kingston and have at least two cruise ship visits per month.
9. Put Robert Stephens' "Port Royal Plan" back on track, even on a phased basis, in line with the downtown re-development plan.
10. Put grids in the major gullies to trap garbage and clean them periodically so our beaches are protected and offer residents on gully banks in areas like Casia Park, Waterhouse etc.. days when garbage trucks actually come for the garbage.
11. Save money on rural roads by making it mandatory that contractors cover road surface with three layers of grit in a ratio of (1' 1/4" 1/4") instead of two, so the marl sub-base can be protected from scouring and "streaking" and the roads will last longer.
12. Promote the present plans to re-vitalise Hope Gardens so ordinary Jamaicans can have a world class leisure area.
Lastly, but most important, institute a "Tax Pledge," particularly for businesses, as many persons feel their tax dollars are being wasted and would prefer the taxes to go to a specific project. All the government has to do is monitor how the monies are spent on any project that a business 'pledges'.
I am, etc..
ARTHUR TUGWELL
P.O. Box 129
Kingston 20
