Delroy Chuck
JAMAICA NEEDS renewed hope and a new direction. We cannot continue on the same beaten path that leads to nowhere. The people cannot see and feel the opportunities, openings and offerings that can make their lives better, for the simple reason, they don't exist. The people need a new beginning, which will not come from fancy announcements, passionate speeches, and allegations of divine connections.
Sometime over the past weekend, the new Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, completed her first 100 days in office. She is in complete control and fully in charge of the Government. But, nothing has changed. The incredible euphoria, fresh hope and immense popularity of our first female PM are waning fast, very fast, as nothing worthwhile is happening.
In truth, things are just getting worse. Jamaica is sliding into even further decline. Portia Simpson Miller has not made a difference. Her first 100 days is nothing short of disaster. She is not an agent of change, never was and, probably, never will be. She seeks her own mandate. To do what? She is in charge, why not start now?
MONEY WOES
Her first 100 days in office have seen a continued decline of the stock market. Virtually every company has shown a sharp decline in the value of its shares. The stock market has lost tens of billions of dollars from its book value and many stockholders have lost more than 50 per cent in the value of their shares. In good times, the stock market is a strong indicator of a buoyant economy, high-lighting companies that are doing well and sending the right signals of where the economy is heading. When the stock market is sliding, as it is now, it is usually a powerful signal of an economy in trouble. What is sad is that no one in government seems to understand that the economy is once again in a vortex of decline.
SIGNAL OF WEAK LEADERSHIP
The past 100 days have been disastrous for most companies and many are in serious trouble, especially with their bank overdraft facilities. Most have suffered from the fallout in the construction industry, which is barely recovering after being deprived of cement, its main ingredient. When the Prime Minister failed to act decisively in reprimanding Commerce Minister, Phillip Paulwell, she sent the unmistakable signal of weak leadership. When things go wrong, someone should bear responsibility and, at the very least, offer to resign or be fired. Her failure to act decisively is not a good omen and questions her strength of leadership and whether she puts party and loyalty above the national interest.
What is happening in the governance of our country can partly be discerned from my seat in Parliament, listening to budget presentations and watching the body language of government members. Members of Parliament, especially government MPs, complain bitterly of numerous problems in their communities and the failure of the Government to address them. Many are just fed up. The government lacks resources and cannot find money to carry out the basic functions of government. In a nutshell, this government is insolvent and its insolvency shows up in the conditions of our hospitals, schools, gullies and roads. The promises of ministers to help MPs cannot be kept because there is no money.
In fact, the surest indication of the further decline, continued hardship and impoverishment of the Jamaican people comes from their dependency on remittances. In the past 10 years, more than 15 billion U.S. dollars, more than enough to pay off our national debt, have assisted Jamaicans to pay light bills, reduce mortgage arrears and, quite simply, to meet their consumption needs. Without remittances, where would we be?
Now, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller should tell the nation what has she accomplished in her first 100 days that has made a difference and provided the tone for renewed hope and a new direction. Perhaps she could tell us what has she done to curb the moral decline, eliminate the corruption and malpractice in her government, and of any initiative to revive a flagging economy. From her accomplishments, the nation can decide if she deserves her own mandate.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
