THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE GOVERNMENT and the Private Sector leadership have just come out of their three-day retreat at the Ritz Carlton. As I understand it, working committees are to be set up to develop and implement practical measures to increase productivity in the Private and Public Sectors and to enhance economic growth.
It is my opinion that the general public would have some very practical suggestions to increase efficiency and create cost savings that could be considered by the Committees. A vehicle should be set up to get these views to the committees.
I would like to start this process by throwing out some thoughts that I have as follows:
- Hold Parish Council and General Elections at the same time. People would
vote for their MP and Parish Council Representative on the one ballot. This
method of voting for more than one candidate for office at the same time is
done very successfully in the United States. This reduction in duplication
would save the country hundreds of millions of dollars in time and administrative
expenses. Any change in legislation that affects the Representation of People's
Act would also be done for both National and Local Government elections at
the same time.
The fact that Local Government elections are to be held every three years would not be a problem as it appears that the present reality is that they are not being held more frequently than General Elections. Or a concession could be made to hold both elections every four years.
- Merge the National Housing Trust and National Insurance bodies and create
a National Pension Fund with each contributor having an individual Retirement
Account (IRA). From this IRA an individual could borrow money at concessional
rates as a mortgage to purchase a house as is presently done under the NHT.
The main advantage aside from reduction in administrative costs would be that the contributor would have a genuine pension fund on retirement to which all his and his employers contribution would be credited and a much enhanced pension than the very low level being paid currently under NIS. This of course would be in addition to private pension schemes.
Government employees could also be brought into the scheme so that their pension would be funded rather than having to be paid out of the budget each year under the present pay as you go method.
- Give everyone a National Identification Number at birth and this would
also be used as their NIS, Driver's Licence and Voter ID Number. It could
also be cross-referenced to their passport number. With the current TRN system,
a number now required for all transactions, could be extended without much
great cost.
These are some of the thoughts I have and I am sure there are many more practical ideas that should be encouraged as we all need to assist in rebuilding the country.
I am etc.,
GEOFFREY MESSADO
gmessado@n5.com.jm
