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Putting people first
published: Wednesday | August 9, 2006
Delroy Chuck
With elections in the air, the government will soon unveil its many promises. For the 1972 General Election, it promised 'better must come'; but, in the '70s, the people of Jamaica experienced one of the worst, if not the worst, period in its history. For the 1997 General Election, it promised the people six per cent annual economic growth for 10 years under its National Industrial Plan; but, the record shows the economy has not even accumulated six per cent growth during the period.
For the 2002 General Election, the Jamaican people were urged 'don't stop the progress', but since then, for the majority of Jamaicans, there has been little if any progress.
Misled the people
Where the Government has skilfully misled the people, however, is through the perception that it cares even while it increases their hardship, burden and poverty.
In fact, for the 1989 General Election, the PNP campaigned on the slogan 'we put people first', but has that ever occurred? To be sure, there are enough 'genetically connected' who have done well and will extol the government's virtues and want to see it continue, but what about the vast majority of our people?
Inflation has certainly ravaged people's purchasing power. So, even though the salaries of nurses, teachers, police and others have been increased 10-fold and more during the past 17 years, due to high inflation, they are definitely worse off. Inflation has averaged more than 15 per cent annually during the period. Virtually every item of goods or services would have increased more than 10-fold and, for the ordinary wage earners, the challenge to make ends meet is just beyond their resources.
Lest we forget, 17 years ago there was no GCT and when it was introduced 12 years ago it was supposed to be revenue neutral. Now, GCT is 16.5 per cent and further erodes people's purchasing power.
The basic privilege of education is now an expensive commodity, and a good education is increasingly outside the reach of the poor and middle class. Paradoxically, even the strong and healthy, and the educated, cannot become useful nation builders, especially when the economy is stagnating or at a standstill.
If we truly put people first, then the priority must be to provide jobs and opportunities for them. Yet, in most inner cities and rural communities, seven out of 10 young men and women under the age of 35 have never held a steady job, and the present unemployment rate sometimes exceeds 70 pere cent.
When people cannot earn a decent and legitimate living, there is no self-respect and self-confidence, and what one finds in these communities is nothing but hustling, begging and dependence on the goodwill of others to survive.
In the 44th year of our independence, we need a government that can grow the economy. Yes, we must put people first but we do so best when we provide the economic environment for them to fend for themselves.
We put people first when they have meaningful occupations, and stop looking for handouts, remittances and political gifts and patronage. We put people first when they are educated, enlightened and encouraged to think and make rational choices instead of being so easily misled. <HR>Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
published: Wednesday | August 9, 2006
Delroy Chuck
With elections in the air, the government will soon unveil its many promises. For the 1972 General Election, it promised 'better must come'; but, in the '70s, the people of Jamaica experienced one of the worst, if not the worst, period in its history. For the 1997 General Election, it promised the people six per cent annual economic growth for 10 years under its National Industrial Plan; but, the record shows the economy has not even accumulated six per cent growth during the period.
For the 2002 General Election, the Jamaican people were urged 'don't stop the progress', but since then, for the majority of Jamaicans, there has been little if any progress.
Misled the people
Where the Government has skilfully misled the people, however, is through the perception that it cares even while it increases their hardship, burden and poverty.
In fact, for the 1989 General Election, the PNP campaigned on the slogan 'we put people first', but has that ever occurred? To be sure, there are enough 'genetically connected' who have done well and will extol the government's virtues and want to see it continue, but what about the vast majority of our people?
Inflation has certainly ravaged people's purchasing power. So, even though the salaries of nurses, teachers, police and others have been increased 10-fold and more during the past 17 years, due to high inflation, they are definitely worse off. Inflation has averaged more than 15 per cent annually during the period. Virtually every item of goods or services would have increased more than 10-fold and, for the ordinary wage earners, the challenge to make ends meet is just beyond their resources.
Lest we forget, 17 years ago there was no GCT and when it was introduced 12 years ago it was supposed to be revenue neutral. Now, GCT is 16.5 per cent and further erodes people's purchasing power.
The basic privilege of education is now an expensive commodity, and a good education is increasingly outside the reach of the poor and middle class. Paradoxically, even the strong and healthy, and the educated, cannot become useful nation builders, especially when the economy is stagnating or at a standstill.
If we truly put people first, then the priority must be to provide jobs and opportunities for them. Yet, in most inner cities and rural communities, seven out of 10 young men and women under the age of 35 have never held a steady job, and the present unemployment rate sometimes exceeds 70 pere cent.
When people cannot earn a decent and legitimate living, there is no self-respect and self-confidence, and what one finds in these communities is nothing but hustling, begging and dependence on the goodwill of others to survive.
In the 44th year of our independence, we need a government that can grow the economy. Yes, we must put people first but we do so best when we provide the economic environment for them to fend for themselves.
We put people first when they have meaningful occupations, and stop looking for handouts, remittances and political gifts and patronage. We put people first when they are educated, enlightened and encouraged to think and make rational choices instead of being so easily misled. <HR>Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
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