Phillips, Simpson Miller and Davies
The Sunday Gleaner wrote to each of the People's National Party contenders for leadership, requesting answers to critical nation-building issues. To date, front-runners Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government, Sports and Community Development, and Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance, have responded to our questions.
Peter Phillips
Question: What will you do to create more job opportunities and economic growth?
Answer: In today's globalised economy the phenomenon of jobless growth has emerged, where major enterprises, in order to successfully compete with the international competition, are forced to introduce modern technologies, which often reduces the rate of demand for human labour and the ability to provide for the 50,000 who come on to the job market annually. To satisfy this demand for new jobs we must look to small and medium enterprises, which have traditionally provided goods and services in the growth areas of the economy, as well as jobs.
EXPANSION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Therefore, as a fundamental plank of economic policy, my administration will focus on creating the basis for the expansion of entrepreneurship. Simultaneously, in addition to the investments in bauxite and tourism, we would make every effort to attract Jamaican and overseas investors into the agri-business and information technology sectors.
For these efforts to be successful we must reduce the red tape and create a more business-friendly environment. We also need a better trained and more productive labour force, as well as continuing reductions in the cost of capital to make Jamaican businesses more competitive.
Jamaicans from all walks of life have consistently demonstrated a remarkable capacity for entrepreneurship, and this national asset must be harnessed to the national effort to achieve major economic growth.
Question: What new approaches will you bring to deal with corruption?
Answer: Experience has shown that it is the certainty of punishment which is the most effective deterrent to corruption, and indeed to all other forms of criminal behaviour. To this end, in the shortest possible time I will establish and effectively fund an Independent Investigative Authority to deal with all breaches of public trust and to act on all reports of public corruption.
Simultaneously, I will be working for the speedy implementation of the Proceeds of Crime legislation to ensure that all illicit wealth will be dealt with by the courts. Finally, in addition to the existing mechanisms for improving transparency, the situation requires more effective oversight of parliamentary committees and new ways of involving the public more in the exercise of fighting corruption.
One such initiative, which I intend to pursue, is the preparation of the annual Estimates of Expenditure in time to facilitate the public being informed as to the expenditures proposed as well as the outcomes expected. This will enable a more informed monitoring of public expenditure and oblige the custodians of the public purse to discharge their responsibility under the glare of public scrutiny.
Portia Simpson Miller
Question: What new approaches will you bring to deal with corruption?
Answer: I will wage war against corruption. Remember, crime is also facilitated where there are low moral standards and corruption. In my programmes of community development, I intend to work closely with the churches and other agents of civil society to improve the country's moral standards, including the promotion of better family life. Members of my administration will be held to the highest standards of integrity and probity, accountability and transparency in the conduct of our duties. The existing legislative and administrative arrangements must be respected and where strengthening is necessary, it will be forthcoming.
Part of the effort to win the trust of the Jamaican is rooted in the proper conduct of elected leadership. Cynicism and lack of respect for the institutions of the state will overwhelm us if the society as a whole does not have this sense of confidence through the uncompromising application of the rules. Again, it is important that all of us learn through our families, communities and the education system, the basic ethics which allow our societies to exist and flourish. This approach must also guide those who serve in central government and other public institutions.
Flouting of anti-corruption legislation will not be tolerated. Equally, members of the public, and particularly those involved in business activity, must resist the temptation to subvert the system to gain advantage. Again, the development of individual self-respect and integrity is a process which must be at the centre of our social systems.
SEEKING ADVANTAGE
Corruption is basically, attempting to subvert the system to gain advantage for oneself or for one's interest group. In a society which is firmly based on fairness and equity, it will become easier for every person to see that seeking advantage by underhand means is ultimately destructive of society and life itself. If people are aware that systems are inherently fair, they will become the best defenders of the public interest and the enemies of corruption.
All of Jamaica will be involved, including our reggae and dancehall artistes, our musicians and our and sportsmen and sportswomen. Music and sports are very powerful influences on the youth, who are the majority of our population. We will find the way to engage everyone in a national mission to rid Jamaica of crime, violence and corruption. The youth must feel that they have a sense of hope, that Jamaica is the place where they can live their dreams. Jamaica must become a paradise for Jamaicans. We must be committed to building a First World society in Jamaica with First World services and a First World quality of life for all our people.
Question: What will you do to create more job opportunities and economic growth?
Answer: Economic development and advancement are critical to building a country which can provide for its people. We have to admit that our economy has not grown sufficiently to address the social and economic needs of the country. It is my belief that for us to achieve the growth and development we need, we must begin to focus much more on the non-traditional sectors of the economy while continuing our strong support for the traditional sectors. We need economic policies and programmes that go beyond the economic reforms of the past to achieve the transformation of the Jamaican economy in keeping with the new global realities.
To realise this transformation, we need a growth and development strategy which involves all members of the society, big and small businesses, workers, farmers and professionals. We need to focus much more on building our human and social capital. I believe that the main engine of sustainable economic development is investment in the Jamaican people. There is an enormous untapped potential in the Jamaican people that we must use as an essential part of the strategy to bring about economic development. So, in addition to the implementation of the large investment projects in tourism and hotel room capacity, as well as in bauxite expansion, we need a framework of policies and programmes that will unleash this enormous potential of the Jamaican people and their soil.
We need to put more land into production to grow more food, to diversify our production and to help small farmers to market their produce. Because there is an urgent need to stem the urban drift, it is important that we encourage the establishment of value added industries in rural communities in order to provide the citizens with increased economic and social opportunities. That is why rural development will be a priority in my administration. And rural development means not simply the development of more farms, but the development of the schools and other social services which will make the rural communities more self-sufficient and more attractive places to live.
COMMITTED TO CREATING
THE NECESSARY MECHANISMS
I am committed to creating the necessary mechanisms to achieve this. We will restructure supporting institutions to promote the expansion of production in Jamaica. Capital will be better employed in the building of industries and the creation of jobs. We will also establish more agro industries to support and enhance the output of our farmers in order to create and widen employment opportunities. We will also find a way to make sure that our educational institutions provide relevant education and training opportunities for the development of our economy. Our entrepreneurs must become world-class competitors. This government has already started this transformation in education and you can expect that we will pursue this crucial transformation aggressively. We have no choice.
Global competition at home and abroad now dictates that we develop our capacity to effectively compete and take advantage of increasingly open markets across the world. Gone are the days when we could rely purely on cheap labour to gain competitive advantage. In a highly competitive, knowledge-based global economy we must develop our intellectual capital if we are to succeed. To do this we need "all hands on board".
We need a wider framework of consultation, collaboration and participation among all stakeholders with government's leadership. The budget should be one of the most crucial economic tools to assist the development process. We will have a more inclusive and transparent budgetary process that will improve our accountability to the people. I am convinced that this participatory approach to governance will assist all economic players to improve their capacity to compete and, consequently, the competitiveness of the country as a whole.
Omar Davies
Question: What new approaches will you bring to deal with corruption?
Answer: Jamaica, along with many small nation states and emerging economies, faces a genuine problem of petty corruption and cronyism. In addition, there is a culture of amorality and dishonesty that pervades the tax system, the ports of entry, law enforcement, and compliance in general and there is a 'get a bligh' mentality. Having said that, the way the discussions have proceeded has tended to ignore the fact that corruption is not the peculiar domain of the public sector, there is corruption in the private sector as well. Also sometimes the problems are overstated: It is possible to have an overrun on a contract without that being a problem of corruption.
PROBLEMS OF EFFICIENCY
Many of these problems are problems of efficiency and require an improvement in the culture of service delivery. Attempts will be made to increase the efficiency and customer friendliness of the public sector. We hope that the private sector will take a cue from gains made in the public sector and improve the efficiency of its service delivery as well.
Where the problems are matters of personal integrity or of interference by the political system in whatever form, there will be a deepening of gains made in the system of the award of contract and the monitoring of the performance of contract. There will be an increased focus on transparency, with greater information sharing, and accountability. There will be a rigorous enforcement of standards. Corruption is, as Prime Minister Patterson has said, a problem both of the one giving the bribe and the one taking the bribe. Steps will be taken to increase sanctions for acts of corruption.
There will be attempts made to renew the society around some core values; there will also be a public education drive that focuses on economic and social cost of corruption. We have an enduring commitment to governance process that promotes these values. To root out corruption is critical to our agenda of creating a world-class society in ten years.
Question: What will you do to create more job opportunities and economic growth?
Answer: Without macro-economic stability, there is no framework within which people, including workers, investors and creditors, can plan for the future. The fact that the level of investment now taking place, and committed to for the next three to five years, is higher than ever before, is a clear vote of confidence in the macroeconomic policies from local and foreign investors.
MASSIVE CAMPAIGN
I propose a massive campaign to educate people about business and its requirements, and to bring operators of small and micro-businesses into the formal system. This will allow them to access financing and the full range of business support services. A special lending facility will be established for micro-business operators who are often not able to obtain financing even through small business channels. Many of these operators are naturally business-minded and only need the right support to be highly successful.
We will, however, be emphasising the need to develop world-class standards in the quality of the products and services offered at the small and micro-levels. We believe that excellence has no hierarchy. Small and micro-businesses will make a dramatic contribution to the creation of additional employment and will expand the Jamaican economy rapidly. Some 30 per cent of the world economy is based on small business, and here in Jamaica the future of small business development is very promising.
