Wilberne Persaud, Financial Gleaner Columnist

Persaud

Two current issues make the case for the benefits of the big idea.

They are the need for new Houses of Parliament and remuneration for workers providing the so-called social services - nurses, teachers and not to mention the police.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has announced government's intention to expand Gordon House in its present location.

The Gleaner seems, from its editorial of October 2, to favour the idea of new Parliament buildings at National Heroes Circle, mainly on pragmatic grounds, but suggests arriving at consensus after brief debate. Honestly, on the question of location, I wonder if indeed debate is necessary and whether pragmatic grounds are paramount. Here's the notion of the big idea.

Lands at Heroes Circle were identified half a century ago as the site for the physical seat of government-the Jamaican Capital, Whitehall if you wish.

A symbol

That was a big idea conceived with lofty purposes. The Heroes Circle complex would serve as symbol.

It would provide efficiency with a range of ministries and offices all in close proximity.

Of course, for Parliament buildings, all the other necessary elements of a functioning Parliament would be accommodated. So there would be a library, committee meeting rooms, space for parliamentarians' technical assistants, for the public to listen, read, research, tour and so on.

The fact that we would have taken so long to come to construction is a hidden blessing - all current and immediate future information technologies can be incorporated.

The buildings would have hopefully, uniquely Jamaican design and aesthetic characteristics.

They would represent a landmark, functional though they must be, of which all Jamaica would be proud. The only room for debate over this idea should be its total cost and therefore, phasing of such a lofty project.

And cost overruns, these should be banned [am I joking] on this one.

Bids should be a realistic representation of our best quantity surveyors and tough oversight.

The Gleaner's suggestion that politicians may be concerned that Jamaica might view this as looking after themselves first may indeed be accurate, but if so, it would be an absolutely misconceived public perception.

The British know, understand and used to its utmost, the power of symbolism: statues of Queen Victoria in the colonies, splendid buildings with artefacts and building materials carted in from the other side of empire and the world that define the palace and other official buildings at home.

For us to do this is not merely to imitate, it would be to acknowledge and use to our advantage, the power of symbolism.

Is shaw in trouble?

We do, in so many other aspects of our lives. Why not this? My vote for one is cast.

Now to the social services. Is Finance Minister Audley Shaw in trouble as Gleaner headlines suggest? Promising to double nurses' pay and abolish taxes on their overtime work, it may appear so - huge costs involved here.

But is he really? Or has he rather than created a problem, stumbled upon another big idea. Why not, in order to have the best cadre of nurses possible, enhance training regimes and significantly increase their wage in a particular time frame-say not less than five years.

The numbers can be worked out. And no, overtime wages shall continue to be taxed. Not to do so would create more problems than it would solve. Teachers and police will surely agitate. That, too, is subject to negotiation in sensible time frames. The naysayer shall argue: "But so many of them migrate". Not a problem. Consider remittances in our foreign exchange receipts and the case against crumbles.

And while we're at it, why don't we set a target for two connected results in education: double the quantity and quality of CXC passes from secondary schools by 2012 and double the intake of males in tertiary institutions by 2018.

If these be the goals generated by the big idea we can work backwards to figure out what needs to be done and do it. They are rather simple in conception but on the contrary, complex in design and implementation yet eminently, entirely doable. I have deliberately given no justification for these desiderata. I hold them to be self-evident. Hopefully, I am correct.

wilbe65@yahoo.com