Petrina Francis, Gleaner Writer
AMMAR, LOPEZ AND YOUNIS
OPERATION KINGFISH, launched in the last quarter of 2004 as part of government's drive to fight crime and violence, has been hailed by business interests as a good initiative which has reaped results.
However, they argue that a lot more needs to be done to tame the crime monster that is plaguing the society, and which left nearly 1,500 Jamaicans dead last year.
Businessman Michael Ammar Jnr. said crime was the number one problem affecting the country and the launch of Operation Kingfish was important. He stressed, however, that there need to be systemic changes and the points of view of the private sector should be taken into consideration.
Beverley Lopez, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), expressed similar sentiments. "Crime continues to be pervasive. The last initiative (Operation Kingfish) seems to have a level of success and we hope that will continue," she said.
Mr. Ammar noted that the country experienced some difficulty at the start of 2004. "The first quarter was very challenging". But he said that after the budget was presented in April, there was improvements. He noted that despite the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September, the third and fourth quarters were very good.
Mr. Ammar's wish for 2005 is to see the Partnership for Progress signed by the private and public sectors.
In the meantime, Sameer Younis, owner of Samms department stores, said that: "2004 was a challenging year with the coming of (hurricane) Ivan." However, "We seem to be back on track. There is a sense of confidence in the economy, tourism is looking good and manufacturing is improving."
"On the business side we are moving forward," he added.
However, he said that crime and violence continued to be disappointing, hindering positive growth. For 2005, he would like to see an improvement in the attitudes of people towards each other and towards the elderly.
Also, he wants people in the society to "bring back the true respect for all that is really
missing".
Meanwhile, Ms. Lopez said that 2004 was not a bad year overall, although there was a set back as a result of the hurricane and the increase in fuel prices which added to the inflation problem. She was also a "little disappointed" with the activities of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party whose members squabbled publicly among themselves about who should succeed Edward Seaga as leader.
"In any democracy we need a strong opposition and the infighting detracted from the focus of the opposition," Ms. Lopez said.
In 2005, "I'd like to see the minister of finance achieve a balanced budget and I would like to see a buoyant economy where jobs are created and people feel a sense of trust," she said.