Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Sometimes accused of not planning for the long term, policy-makers in Jamaica could soon adopt new thoughts, designed to boost sustainable development, from an idea which was conceived in Jamaica, and is to become a United Nations policy.

The 'Foresighting for Development' model was developed by Professor Anthony Clayton of the University of West Indies (UWI), Mona, and colleagues at the University of Technology, Jamaica, and the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom.

The policy proposal has been presented to Cabinet and the permanent secretaries, and Professor Clayton is also being consulted by the Trinidadian Government in the development of its 'Vision 2020' sustainable development project.

It is to be adopted by the United Nations Environment Programme, following a study being conducted in Jamaica on the future of the local sugar industry subsequent to price cuts brought on by the European Union's abandonment of preferential trade support.

More efficient planning

The UWI academic said that by using his model, which was adopted from planning practices used by large multinational corporations, and established in the developed world public-sector planning, developing world governments can identify key global and local trends, and plan more efficiently.

"Governments have to deal with many immediate demands," he told The Sunday Gleaner. "But, they must also take a long-term view. The world is changing very rapidly, and governments that don't understand the way that the world is changing will not be able to avoid the pain of losing established industries ... ," Clayton added.

The approach comes at a good time for Jamaica now that politics has become more pragmatic, believes Michael Prescod, principal director for policy reform at the Cabinet Office's public sector reform unit.

Prescod has been in discussions with Clayton and said he had long argued for a forecasting unit to be established in the Cabinet Office. "I think that smart young people in politics understand that no one can stay in power indefinitely, so you need to do well while in power," said Prescod. "You need clear and achievable goals, so you need foresight. You need to have a clear sense of how you are going to achieve sustainable development, and use that as a basis to organise policy."

ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com