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See part ah diwuk to be done yah:
The Jamaican economy consumes more energy per unit of GDP than any of our non-oil-producing trading partners and almost twice the world average. To be within the realm of global competitiveness, Jamaica will have to, at least, double the efficiency with which we use energy. Government must lead a concerted and comprehensive effort to better utilise energy in all areas of our economic and social life. But we will be starting on the wrong foot if the target the Government accepts for the reduction of electricity rates from the JPS is inadequate.
An energy policy that limits its electricity pricing objective to 25 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour will leave Jamaica continuing to languish in a state of economic uncompetitiveness. Our economic survival depends on electricity rates being reduced to no more than 15 US cents per kilowatt-hour to ensure that we can compete regionally and internationally. After waiting four decades for relief, it would be the ultimate defeat if the Jamaican people were to be sold a solution that is inadequate. A mere step in the right direction would leave us far short of the desired destination.
Because of the disjointed manner in which governments over the last 40 years have approached energy policy, incoherence has been its most consistent quality. Phillip Paulwell must not hold back on bringing focus and coherence to this centrally important area of national policy. He should move with all deliberate haste to set Jamaica on course for a better economic future with competitively priced energy.
If this can be done, and it is accompanied by an agreement with the International Monetary Fund that can reconstruct the major pillars of our economy for macroeconomic competitiveness, we will, at last, after decades of decay, be set on a course that could lead us to economic recovery.
Claude Clarke is a businessman and former minister of trade. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.
The Jamaican economy consumes more energy per unit of GDP than any of our non-oil-producing trading partners and almost twice the world average. To be within the realm of global competitiveness, Jamaica will have to, at least, double the efficiency with which we use energy. Government must lead a concerted and comprehensive effort to better utilise energy in all areas of our economic and social life. But we will be starting on the wrong foot if the target the Government accepts for the reduction of electricity rates from the JPS is inadequate.
An energy policy that limits its electricity pricing objective to 25 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour will leave Jamaica continuing to languish in a state of economic uncompetitiveness. Our economic survival depends on electricity rates being reduced to no more than 15 US cents per kilowatt-hour to ensure that we can compete regionally and internationally. After waiting four decades for relief, it would be the ultimate defeat if the Jamaican people were to be sold a solution that is inadequate. A mere step in the right direction would leave us far short of the desired destination.
Because of the disjointed manner in which governments over the last 40 years have approached energy policy, incoherence has been its most consistent quality. Phillip Paulwell must not hold back on bringing focus and coherence to this centrally important area of national policy. He should move with all deliberate haste to set Jamaica on course for a better economic future with competitively priced energy.
If this can be done, and it is accompanied by an agreement with the International Monetary Fund that can reconstruct the major pillars of our economy for macroeconomic competitiveness, we will, at last, after decades of decay, be set on a course that could lead us to economic recovery.
Claude Clarke is a businessman and former minister of trade. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.
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