The Taking Responsibility team released their historic working paper on the post-independence economic history of Jamaica in Montego Bay on February 22. The Taking Responsibility project has considered an essential part of its mission to be to inform public debate about economic policy and to include the public in its discussions. This is why this report is called a working paper it is not yet finalised and is awaitingthe input of the Jamaican public. There were six major findings of the paper.

First, the golden age was not golden. While it is true growth rates were high in the 1960s, unemployment still doubled. And when set against the global norm, Jamaica was average at best. We were riding a rising tide, but Scarcely transforming our economy.

Second, the IMF did not fail us. We love to blame the CIA, the IMF, the world economy, political opponents or all manner of external foes for Jamaica?s economic underperformance in the 1970s, but there is little evidence to support any of these positions. There is, however, an abundance of evidence pointing to the errors of choices made right here in Jamaica.

Third, the 1980s did not restore a free market economy. Only by comparison to the socialist 1970s can the 1980s be seen as a decade of free markets. For better or worse, Jamaica remained, to a very considerable degree, a state-

Dominated economy.

Fourth, there is little future in bauxite or sugar. Instead, Jamaica's future will lie in knowledge-intensive service industries. And her greatest social programme will be an educational system that delivers world-class education to all levels of society.

Fifth, Jamaica?s problems are not cultural. We are not a violent, or corrupt, or lazy, or profligate, or dishonest people. Little evidence exists to support the claims that our problems are so deep-rooted; on the contrary, many of our problems can be shown to have recent

Origins. But our leadership has not challenged us to do better, and we in turn have not demanded enough of our leaders (or, for that matter, rewarded good leadership).

Sixth, our greatest loss may be our biggest gain. Jamaica suffers one of the highest rates of brain drain in the world. And yet, that gives us access to vast overseas resources of human and financial capital. The Indian and Chinese booms have been driven largely by diasporas. In relative terms, by comparison to the Jamaican diaspora, the Indian and Chinese diasporas are very modest. Justimagine the future that could await us if we used our diasporas as effectively as they have.

Perhaps a seventh major finding is this: a new golden age may be upon us. Conditions in the global economy appear to be more favourable to us than they have been in 40 years. A new wave is cresting. This time, instead of just riding it, we should race to the front of it.

A common theme runs through these conclusions, and that is choice. Jamaica is where it is today largely because of the choices we have made ourselves. If that means we must place the blame for our underperformance on ourselves, it also makes the hopeful suggestion that our future is entirely in our control.

International sporting events? legacies are usually considered in terms of their effect on the social sphere, sports and the economy. The widespread knowledge of the importance of securing a legacy shows that if we did some research, more could have been done.

CRICKET, LOVELY CRICKET

Which leads us to talk briefly about the Cricket World Cup, an event we chose to host though many have expressed disapproval of that choice. Well, it is here. The opening ceremony has gone, and whatever is to be reaped from what we have sown shall now be reaped. The opening ceremony was indeed a success, but that is one aspect of the World Cup. There has been much talk about the legacy of this World Cup ? what shall be left when all the fanfare has gone

In the wake of international sporting events, there is often left behind a legacy: revitalised local communities; an improvement in education and cultural values; the development of critical skills in the workforce; and, of course, the swelling of national pride and unity. It unfortunately doesn't seem that the Jamaican case will fit into this tradition. There certainly won't be any major revitalised communities: the Culture Plaza planned for Allman Town is, more or less, moved to the Cable & Wireless Golf Academy in New Kingston. Plans for Trench Town, Parade (downtown Kingston) and even Port Royal have been severely scaled down or shelved.

The 2006 Winter Olympics organising committee worked with Italy's Ministry of Education to create an educational programme for schools that promote Olympic values and sports disciplines. Nevertheless, volunteerism will be one of our legacies. Over 3,500 volunteers throughout the nine host countries are required, ranging from doctors to welcoming committees at the airports, and over 2,000 applications were received in Jamaica alone. As a parallel, the U.K. city of Manchester, which hosted the 2002 Commonwealth Games, still gains assistance today from their Post Games Volunteer Programme will we have one

Then there is the sports legacy itself, the most basic aspect of which is the building of pride. The Windies are in need of this, and predictions in some quarters that they will win the tournament seem proof enough that we indeed have got an injection of regional pride. The addition of a new stadium in western Jamaica was needed, even if it becomes primarily a football space why wasn't there a track" Having more spaces to play the game is an indirect way to achieve cricket branding. There is a post-Cricket World Cup cricket Development plan, inclusive of community cricket competitions.

Of course, the economic legacy of an event broadcast to 2.2 billion people could be astounding in terms of tourism potential. The JBDC (Jamaica Business Development Centre) has been training craftsmen and others in the marketing and refining of their products. The Jamaica Trade & Invest has just created the Caribbean Business Club but only Jamaica and St. Lucia are cooperating on this.

But it is the political legacy that might prove the most profound a legacy of one Caribbean travel space; and region-wide cooperation. It was this joint hosting of World Cup Cricket that brought India and Pakistan together. Could it do the same here? Is this the start of the Caribbean as a real entity ? even with Bermuda as part of the effort. The event serves to reinforce the Caribbean identity, key in the acceptance of such supra-national, regional institutions, such as CARICOM and the Caribbean Court of Justice.

What is certainly clear is that, despite the immediate costs, there will be considerable long-term

benefits accruing to Jamaica and, no doubt, the region from this event? volunteerism; community activism; small business development; bed and breakfast programmes; improved road networks; Caribbean identity; new and improved stadia and increased tourism. The question then is not whether there will be a legacy, but whether it is the best we could have chosen. Jamaica would have benefited from a legacy model more consistent with our evolving/emerging country status.

■ The Taking Responsibility Group is a UWI-based Think Tank.