THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM disheartened that the Prime Minister has bought into the idea that it is indeed good and proper for the Government to tap into the National Investment Fund and the National Housing Trust funds to finance the budget.
These funds have been mandated for a specific purpose, and the fact that there exists surpluses, suggests that the funds are not properly utilised for their intended purpose. Therefore, rather than ravage these funds, there should be instead a close examination, with the view of allocating that pool of resources, so that the intended beneficiaries will benefit first and foremost.
Assurances from the Prime Minister that the funds will be in good hands are not, unfortunately, supported by history. The Government has a history of cost overruns and a general level of lax financial management. Could one expect that in this instance, the level of transparency that is necessary to instill confidence in the ordinary man would be forthcoming?
One example of the lack of transparency is the management of Air Jamaica.
WHY ARE TAXPAYERS RESPONSIBILE?
The Government has repeatedly said that it will subsidise the airline to the tune of US$30 million per year. Yet we hear of annual losses that far outstrip the subsidy. How is the deficit being financed? A more appropriate question is why should the taxpayers be responsible for subsidising an entity that is an ongoing losing business? Most taxpayers have never flown on Air Jamaica, but are called on to contribute to the airline by way of their tax dollars.
Jamaica has now reached the point where we are no longer able to borrow at will. The job of any finance minister is to forecast and plan for contingencies. Napoleon has had years to forecast that the day would come when he would have to dip into revered funds to finance the budget. He knew that this day was coming and has been planning how to sell the idea that this is 'a good idea' for Jamaica. The Minister of Finance throughout his tenure, has sought to pursue 'his' agenda rather than what is best for Jamaica. His policies have caught up with him. The trough is empty and will not be replenished by NIS or NHT funds. The country has reached rock bottom and so has his ability to instill confidence in the masses. The writing is on the wall.
FOCUS ON OUR REAL FUTURE
On a positive note, I agree with the Prime Minister that early childhood education should be a priority. I hope that the Government has realised that it will take the next two generations to bring Jamaica into the 21st century. Perhaps, then, rather than spending public funds on enterprises that have no hope of returning a profit, we should focus on our real future, the three- and four-year-olds with dreams that we once had.
Mrs. Simpson Miller, this is the time to think outside the box; this is the time to exert control, guided by your own sensibilities. Please abandon the economic polices that have led us to now consider raping public funds. I encourage you to implement your own heart-felt policies.
While you do not have a Ph.D., you have the pulse of the people, and that is one of the best qualifications any Prime Minister could have. I ask that you break ranks with your financial advisers and do the job that you were put there to do. History will not be kind to you if you continue to flirt with the economic quagmire that your government continues to pursue.
I am, etc.,
KIRK BARROW
kabarrow@hotmail.com
Kingston 10
Via Go-Jamaica
