The Editor, Sir:

In just 40 years, Singapore has been transformed from a poor, war-battered state teeming with slums, an uneducated and exploding population, into a wealthy prosperous state boasting skyscrapers and an educated workforce. To describe the transformation as an economic miracle is by no means an exaggeration - the achievement is fantastic by any measure.

But when the discussion turns to why we in Jamaica can't do it as well, that's just where we start being unrealistic. In this discussion, I will not even touch the basis of the totalitarian power that the dictator possesses and the dangers inherent in vesting so much authority in one man, but discuss whether Lee Kuan Yew's policies can be employed in Jamaica.

Population control - a major part of any economic turnaround. To curtail Singapore's runaway population, Lee Kuan Yew launched a campaign to encourage the Singaporeans to have two-children families. He also followed it up with incentives to discourage having more than two children, such as reduced tax relief for families with more than two kids, shorter maternity leave and higher hospital charges. I can just hear the Jamaican masses now: "dem a try kill off black man"! "We want justice"!

Amassing capital for investments

Second big issue - amassing capital for investments. Lee Kuan Yew came up with the Central Provident Fund, used by the government for economic development. This fund is financed by workers' mandatory 25 per cent savings of their salary. The savings will be made available to the employee when he turns 55. Can you smell the burning tyres yet?

In order to maintain a disciplined society, draconian punishments are levied against even the smallest legal infraction. No anti-social behaviour is tolerated, no jaywalking, no spitting on the sidewalk, no noise, no graffiti, etc.

I don't know how well that would go down with our well-established streetside vending, begging, idling, dances, etc.

Then there is the issue of freedom of speech, where public criticism of the government results in immediate and severe legal repercussions. You know say a nuff radio talk show host woulda feel dat!

And the list goes on. But I think this is enough to make my point. Bottom line - the tools of governance available for economic development have to be tailored for the social realities of each nation. A Singapore miracle is not possible in Jamaica because we are not Singapore. Unfortunately, we are just going to have to find our own way to economic prosperity.

I am, etc.,

PAUL DUNCAN

pduncan428@googlemail.com

St. Andrew

Via Go-Jamaica