THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT HAS become fashionable and easy to pick a face in the front row of the choir then blame that one person for that badly off-key tune because he might be visibly the most exuberant of all. The fact is that all may be tone deaf. In that case there may be a need for a brand new choir.
The Prime Minister has not heeded the call to get rid of Minister of Commerce Phillip Paulwell over the cement debacle. The problem actually resides in flawed management and decision - making processes regarding things of significant national importance.
Such decisions as the one to grant the Caribbean Cement Company a monopoly over cement protected against imports by high tariffs or the disposal of national assets should be taken by a joint ministerial committee ensuring relevant inputs from all stakeholders, objectively supported by reliable data.
What has happened with the cement situation is spilt milk but very expensive one. The move by the Prime Minister to make some correction by granting a one-year waiver of all duty on imported cement is laudable but the impact will take some time to kick in.
Firing Mr. Paulwell or the manager responsible for quality control at the cement company would not solve the problem as they could be a part of arriving at a solution supported by competent and less exuberant guidance.
I am, etc.,
MICHAEL SPENCE
Micspen2@hotmail.com
P.O Box 630
Liguanea, Kingston 6
