Beverley Anderson -Manley
As we look individually and collectively at over four decades of independence, one of the areas we should be least satisfied with must be our inability to govern ourselves and manage our affairs so that the majority of our women, men and children have access to health (including nutrition), employment, housing and the basic necessities of life.
As we reflect over this independence season, let us think of our brothers and sisters who are not making it, at even the most minimal level. Let us reflect, as a country, on why a place like Jamaica with such beauty - such talent and so many resources (human and otherwise) cannot do better than we are doing.
The Public Debt
For example, this forty-fourth year of our independence finds us with a public debt that has ballooned by 4 billion dollars per month or by a total of 16 billion dollars, to 858 billion dollars or 133 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the four-month period January to April of this year. The domestic debt climbed to 480 billion dollars from 369 billion dollars. Ralston Hyman writing in the Sunday Herald recently reminded us of these figures using data provided by the debt management unit of the Ministry of Finance.
Just in case, we don't realise what this means, Hyman reminds us that as of the end of April, every man, woman and child in Jamaica owes $343,000 while the total value of the goods and services produced per head of population was only $263,600. He doesn't stop there. He tells us that - "the debt is likely to climb higher this month as the Government raided the local capital market for more money to help fund the budget last week".
Cost overruns
So as we reflect - let us keep this massive debt figure in the background and foreground of our minds and then let us place a template on top of it so that other data can be revealed - including cost overruns on contracts in terms of money and time - the annual Contractor General and Auditor-General's reports are there to remind us. With debt service charges currently running at $220 billion or 59 cents out of every dollar of the current budget, it is no wonder that the Government is unable to pay the police, teachers, nurses, doctors, firemen and other public servants a living wage. These categories of professionals can now be numbered among the working poor.
Whose interest is served when we have these cost overruns and mismanagement? Not the majority of the Jamaican people. In the last decade the World Bank and other international agencies have recognised the critical link between good governance and anti-corruption procedures. Without these, the bank asserts, there can be little or no alleviation of poverty - no sustainable development.
We have a great deal of reflection that we need to do. But we need to consider that to have good governance is everybody's business - the government, the private sector and civil society. Are we willing to give up all types of corruption, even the ones we benefit from in order to have a society with economic growth and the kind of development that benefits the majority of our people? Are we willing to commit to a system of governance that is transparent and one that is accountable to the people of Jamaica. Are we willing to change our thinking around governance and take responsibility for the results we are getting? Are we willing to participate actively in dialogue on fundamental Constitutional Reform so that we can have some type of "separation of powers"? Can you imagine a Parliament that has checks and balances on the executive?
Caught In A Trap
If not - what we will see - no matter how we change individuals and/or political parties is the "same old, same old" - "business as usual". While some of us remain in denial, while others 'hold our corner ' we will definitely continue to perpetuate the process of slavery that our fore-parents died to emancipate us from 168 years ago. The size of the debt is a powerful reminder of the trap we are in. Let us take this time to reflect on these things.
Beverley Anderson-Manley is a political scientist, gender specialist and broadcaster. Email: BManley@kasnet.com
