RBSC

**Karl** · August 15, 2007, 08:27 AM

The JLP manifesto
published: Wednesday | August 8, 2007

This election campaign has been really short on discussion of the issues. How do the parties wish us to decide between them? The JLP released their manifesto only last week, and the PNP will launch theirs tomorrow. Clearly neither party wants us to choose between them based on public discussion on their strategies to address the burning issues facing the country. This is another aspect of Jamaica's 'old-style politics' that needs to be changed. It is an immature democracy which sees campaigns based on braggadocio and personalities and promises rather than on quality of programmes.

I have looked at the JLP manifesto, an it contains good things, it also has deficiencies, and in so many cases we have to wait for details. But in one area there is a major, fundamental policy shift. The JLP proposes to extend the school-leaving age from 16 to 18 years old. This means that a high school education will now be the norm for Jamaican children, instead of just an elementary education.

Abolish the shift system
In addition, they will abolish the shift system. (Great!). This means they will have to build about 500 new high schools, so this is not just a manifesto for the next five years; obviously, the JLP expects to be in power forlonger than five terms.
In addition, they plan to have compulsory school attendance between ages three and 18! And this must include Fridays when many rural children stay home. I wish them luck with that one.

The manifesto also says that the JLP will introduce 'zoning for G-SAT placement'. We are not told what this means, but it suggests that persons who want their children to go to Wolmers must live nearby. Does this mean that the only persons who can go to Campion must live in the Liguanea area? It also might mean that all high schools will be upgraded to the standard of Campion and Immaculate, so that it will not matter which high school students are placed in. I need the JLP to clarify.

The JLP which emasculated local government in the 1980s has changed course; it now promises constitutional recognition and protection for local government. In Jamaica there is so much confusion between the roles of local and central government, and the JLP promises clear separation of functions, and full financial and jurisdictional autonomy of local government. I am happy for this change of course.

After reading the manifesto I am left with the impression that the JLP does not understand the use of the word 'sustainable'. Its first use is as 'Sustainable Environment', a usage which I have not seen before. There is clear recognition that there is a problem now with environmental management, for they recommend a stand-alone national environmental authority with statutory powers to protect and regulate our natural resources. But this sounds like what we already have in the NRCA/NEPA. The problem is that the environment portfolio is always combined in a ministry with other portfolios with which it is conflicted. Do they mean that there will be a stand-alone Ministry of the Environment? I would support such a decision.

Glaring omission
But, in their environment section, the creation and sustenance of protected areas are not mentioned, which is a glaring omission. In their development section some of their plans involve environmentally unsustainable industrial activity within already existing protected areas; which is why I continue to wonder what they understand by the word 'sustainable'.

A welcome reference is made to the goal of reducing overfishing and a halt to the pollution of sea water. This makes me ecstatic, but it immediately begs the question how they are going to do this, with the major source of marine pollution being fertiliser run-off and our many secondary sewage treatment plants.

It is good that the party which started political garrisons should first commit itself to transforming them. I guess we will have to wait to hear exactly how they plan to do it.

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and is executive director of an environment and development NGO.

**Karl** · August 15, 2007, 08:35 AM

What the debates missed

What the debates missed
published: Sunday | August 12, 2007

Ian Boyne
In a fascinating and ironic twist of history, the People's National Party (PNP) is sounding more like the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the JLP is sounding more like the PNP.

So it's the PNP charging the JLP with reckless populism these days, dismissing its election platform and manifesto as merely consisting of "promises, promises". It is the PNP asking "How will your social welfare programmes be financed?" That's what the JLP used to ask of the socialist PNP when it was known for its bold social programmes which irked the fiscally conservative. Now it is Omar Davies lecturing the JLP about not busting the budget, being fiscally responsible and not pursuing 'unfinanceable' distributionist and welfarist policies.

Doing enough for the people
The JLP is now blasting the PNP for not doing enough for the people and for not giving them free education and free health care. And while it was the JLP which in the 1970s lambasted the Michael Manley administration for spending wildly on social welfare programmes while ignoring 'fiscal prudence' and 'macroeconomic stability' (or its '70s equivalent), now that charge is being levelled at the JLP. How have times changed!

Ironically, too, while previously the business class and the power elite would not associate itself with distributionist or welfarist policies, today that group is largely supporting the JLP and hoping that its promised people programmes will sway voters away from Portia Simpson Miller, from whom they feel alienated.

What I find interesting, if deeply disappointing, is to hear some left-leaning PNP apologists ridiculing the JLP's social welfare proposals when the PNP has always been branded as the party of the people, the party with a socialist orientation. This speaks to our intensely tribalist and partisan political culture, where people's values are trumped by party loyalty or party antipathy.

Similarly, some of the people who were most vociferously associated with fiscal responsibility, monetarism, minimalist Government, etc., now become great advocates of "the people", making lofty speeches that universal access to health care and education are "non-negotiable". But when Michael Manley was talking these things, he was despised and labelled a communist.

But what the two parties will have to reckon with, though none of them is paying sufficient attention to this in any of the debates, is the global context within which they have to operate.

It matters little what the PNP or JLP manifesto says or what is promised on any political platform. What will matter when the next government gets elected is what the international capital markets think, how they react and what the rating agencies will say. The JLP can make any number of promises and Portia can pledge any degree of commitment to the poor. Both will come up against the hard and harsh reality of a globalised economic system which is not sympathetic to social welfare and do-goodism.

The JLP can always promise a level of health care access to the poor which not even the United States has. When Moody's, Standard and Poor's, etc., start to downgrade the ratings and when the IMF begins to issue dire warnings about the effects of our welfarist policies, then you will see what will happen to all the investments which the JLP is hoping to attract to create the jobs it says will be at the centrepiece of its economic strategy.

In all these debates which the Jamaica Debates Commission has kindly facilitated, there has not been enough focus from either journalists or debaters on the overriding global economy and the influence of exogenous factors. We are debating oblivious to the fact that a lot of the crucial decisions having to do with the lives of our people are not being decided in Kingston but in Washington, Geneva, Brussels, New York, Beijing, and Tokyo. There is a constraint on our wish lists imposed by powerful international actors. This is not to say we have no wiggle room or any autonomy for policy action.

The country's opportunity
But the Jamaican people need to know that we cannot have the welfare state that either party would like to give us without certain things being in place. We have to judge the parties to see to what extent their polices afford the country the opportunity to put those things in place. This is why the neglect in the two manifestos of the overarching issue of social capital (values and attitudes) is so tragic and short-sighted.

If we don't stem our high crime rate, investments will not flow into the country, no matter how many mega-agencies the JLP sets up, how many incentives are given to producers, how efficient is our bureaucracy and how much we fast-track the business process. Despite the massive growth in tourism which the PNP Government likes to boast about and the large numbers of rooms to be added in the next few years, those rooms will remain empty if we don't stem crime and violence. And if you believe that stemming crime and violence is only about creating more jobs, then I have a bridge in Poor Man's Corner to sell you.

Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Can the jobs be created while the crime rateis so high, and will the crime rate decrease before sufficient jobs are created?

What if we asked ourselves what makes the vast majority of poor, underprivileged and marginalised people not to turn to crime? If we studied those factors and tried to replicate them in the at-risk population while we try to get the jobs, wouldn't that be a good idea? If people knew how to control their frustrations, how to cope with suffering and poverty while striving mightily to escape it; if people had means of self-esteem and self-worth outside of material possessions, status or employment; if people learnt how to control their anger and resentment and how to channel those negative emotions in creative ways, then wouldn't that help us to begin to rebrand ourselves in the eyes of the world, rather than be seen as the crime capital? And wouldn't that help to spur investments and make foreigners feel that Jamaica is the place to really live, work and rear their children?

The PNP is talking about moving to a developed country status within a generation. If that is to be more than a joke, then we have to at least work toward building a more tolerant, broad-minded, respectful and less tribal society.

How near are we to living in a developed society when a letter-writer can seriously suggest that my presence as moderator on the leaders debate is a cause for consternation because I hold a senior position in the Government information agency and have to work closely with the Prime Minister and, therefore, could never be trusted to moderate any debatebetween her and the Opposition Leader, but would almost necessarily be unprofessional toward him?

A developed society should be characterised by cosmopolitanism and genuine respect for ideological pluralism.Victimising and stereotyping people because of whom they work for and associate with is an indication of backwardness and Dark Ages thinking; not a mindset associated with a developed liberal democracy.

Corruption is major problem in Jamaica. If you believe that onlyone set of people are prone to corruption, then I have a whole city in Europe to see you! We have a problem not just politically but nationally with corruption. Unless we deal with that at its roots, it does not mater the lofty plans of the political parties or what their manifestos say, we will continue to be defeated by our challenges. These critical issues of values and social capital are being marginalised by both the PNP and the JLP. The debates have missed this central, fundamental issue.

JLP's manifesto
At least we have for discussion the serious and far-reaching governance issues which the JLP (through Bruce Golding's influence) has put on the table. The PNP Party President boasted - accurately, I believe - at the launch of her manifesto on Thursday that the PNP has always been at the forefront of change and progressive ideas. But in another ironic twist of history, the PNP now runs the risk of losing that status to the JLP, if we are to use the JLP manifesto as a guide.

Forget about the social welfare promises. When it comes to the governance issues and the issues of the use and distribution of power, the PNP has to reckon with the very serious and creative ideas which the JLP has placed in the public square. The PNP is sounding more programmatic and pragmatic than philosophical, while the JLP is sounding more ideological and welfarist. How ironic!

In 1998 Professor Don Robotham gave a seminal Grace Kennedy Foundation lecture titled "Vision and Voluntarism". I have quoted this more than any other document produced by a Jamaican social scientist. It should be required reading for everyone running for office.

The people writing the PNP and JLP manifestos would have served their parties and the country well if they drew on it. Sadly, they did not. "Every man and woman for himself or herself seems to be the slogan which is expressed in all departments of Jamaican life. We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the values of the Jamaican people and one critical aspect of that shift is the abandonment o attitudes and the replacement of these by a narrow individualism based on a shallow understanding of what a market economy necessitates."

Robotham went on in that memorable lecture: "(There) is a sense that the common bond among ourselves as citizens is becoming weaker and weaker". What the PNP calls in its manifesto a "quality society" and the JLP's society of "justice, liberty and prosperity" will be frustrated if the country's social capital and cultural norms remain as weak as they are.
Yet the debates have been filled with a lot of nice-sounding and politically correct words. While paying insufficient attention to overweening global conditions and stifling national cultural defects. We continue to debate and change governments while our fundamental, overarching problems remain.

Ian Boyne is a veteran journalist who may be reached at ianboyne1@yahoo.com

**Karl** · August 15, 2007, 08:55 AM

What are they promising?

What are they promising?
Both political parties proposing slate of tax incentives

Camilo Thame, Business Co-ordinator
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

After much fanfare, the two main political parties in Jamaica have presented the plans which they say will provide the springboard for growth, reaching levels of six per cent or more each year.

A Business Observer comparison of the manifestos revealed that the People's National Party (PNP), currently the ruling party, and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) by and large have converging views on the way forward, chief among them being the belief that future investments in the country will need to be incentivised.

"In our next term we will. update the incentive regime to ensure that it is consistent with current needs to stimulate production and achievement in international competitiveness, especially in new economic sectors, such as Creative Industries," was one of the first recommendations the PNP outlined in its tax reform package before identifying several target areas throughout the colourful document.

Broadly speaking, the JLP agreed, pointing to a slate of benefits it promises to fork out to businesses and investors, but the parties agree largely on the abstract concept rather than the specific target areas.
Indeed, both the JLP, led by Bruce Golding, and the PNP, headed by Portia Simpson Miller, believe that the country's energy mix should have a lower portion of oil, currently providing more than 95 per cent of energy sources, including the use of ethanol in automobiles - 10 per cent of gasoline.

The PNP promised to expand the tax incentive regime on "energy-saving devices and provide tax incentives for the importation of hybrid vehicles and energy-saving devices", while both say they will give tax incentives to those willing to invest in cheaper fuel alternatives and/or renewable
energy sources.

The JLP goes further by saying it will give tax incentives to manufacturers who achieve greater levels of efficiency in the use of energy.
There was also convergence in ideas where it relates to the agriculture and tourism sectors.

If held to their manifesto, the PNP would give incentive to farmers who use "greenhouse and hydroponics technology for the hospitality industry", while a JLP-led government could extend benefits to "brokers to extend market reach and increase the demand for farmers' produce".

In extending the programme to agroprocessors, the ruling party also believes it can extend the market for agricultural produce, an idea on which the JLP have expanded to include a "special relief for specified capital expenditure. that enhance competitiveness or the development of new value-added products to be fully expensed in lieu of annual depreciation".

For tourism, both political parties are offering to extend incentives currently enjoyed by new hotels to individuals investing in event facilities, with the JLP promising to go as far as enacting an Entertainment Industry Encouragement Act "to provide incentives for the promotion and commercial development of Jamaican music, art, dance, drama, writing and publishing, fashion, craft and local cuisine."

But assessing how the broadened incentive regime will look under the next government, should the winning party stick to its manifesto, becomes more instructive when looking at the specific offerings that do not converge conceptually.

For instance, Simpson Miller's party says it will redevelop and expand Spanish Town "centred on the restoration of the historic district and the development of a new commercial, logistics and civic centre". This would be done through a special purpose vehicle, Spanish Town Redevelopment Company (SPARCOM), similar to the Kingston City Centre Improvement Company (KCCIC) launched in 2003 when P J Patterson was the prime minister.

That plan has yet to come to fruition, but the PNP says that it will give investors, willing to invest in the former, capitol incentives covered by a slate of existing legislation, including the Urban Renewal Tax Relief Act, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act, the Tourism Incentives Act and the Freezone Act.

The JLP had several more specific incentives which it chose to highlight in its manifesto, including revisiting a recommendation made by the Joseph Matalon-led tax reform committee, which in late 2004 suggested that the elimination of taxation on dividends for non-listed firms would be more equitable to taxpayers.

Golding's party proposes to "eliminate double taxation on dividends for non-listed companies to encourage reinvestment for expansion". At the time of the recommendation, the Matalon-led team estimated that "the revenue impact of this change for corporate and individual income taxpayers would be approximately $900 million". Finance Minister Omar Davies didn't implement the recommendation.

But in the area of international trade, the opposition party wants to "use tariff measures and appropriate incentives to encourage investors to establish major warehouse and redistribution centres at strategic locations to facilitate the haulage of goods to these centres by rail and sea in order to relieve congestion on major thoroughfares", according to its manifesto.
The party says that it will give "tax credit for expenses incurred in marketing locally manufactured products overseas".

It is still not clear how the incentive regime under either party will impact government's revenue streams but both party agree that the tax system needs to be reformed to a simpler, more efficient and equitable mechanism, which encourages investments and greater compliance among firms.

A major problem facing any government going forward is the fiscal deficit problem that has plagued central government for years, the finance ministry has not achieved a fiscal surplus in well over a decade.

The consolidation of statutory deductions, such as NIF and NHT, apparently will improve efficiency to employers and government alike, according to both manifestos, although the PNP believes it should be funnelled into the consolidated funds while the JLP is of the view that it should be rolled into one separate "social security payment".

Distribution to the respective areas, such as education and pension benefits, would thus be based on need, according to the PNP, but appropriated to the "relevant agencies", according to JLP.

But tackling the problem of fiscal deficits itself lies in "(eliminating) waste and corruption and through revenue-generating economic growth", says the section of the JLP manifesto that echoes the view of opposition spokesman on finance, Audley Shaw.

The PNP's stance is that the only way to achieve this objective is to "contain public expenditure within revenues." Certainly, cutting areas will have to be a part of any government strategy going forward.

The top four loss-making public companies - Air Jamaica, Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ), Jamaica Urban Transit Company and National Water Commission - are projected to lose a combined total of $8 billion during the current fiscal year, down from the estimated $13 billion they lost together last year.

Completing the divestment of the SCJ in the near term, to herald in private investment that will lead to production of ethanol locally along with the traditional rum and sugar, has been placed high on both parties' list of priorities.

But views diverge on the issue of Air Jamaica - the ruling party believes that it can eliminate losses over a three-year period using a business plan it developed over a year ago. "The company is on target to meet the objectives of the first year of the plan outlined," said the PNP manifesto. "These objectives will enable Air Jamaica to continue to play its important role in the island's tourism sector and will give the government the option of either retaining it as a profitable enterprise or divesting it."

The JLP's manifesto calls for negotiation for an equity partnership with a sustainable international airline to revitalise the national carrier, retaining majority stake in the airline while returning it to profitability.

On the issue of streamlining the public sector and reducing bureaucratic red tape, the PNP's answer lies heavily on the 'Development and Investment Manual' which it launched yesterday.

The ruling party believes the "2,248-page document, comprising seven volumes with 55 sections", as described in its manifesto, will "greatly facilitate the planning, development and approval process".

The document apparently provides a road map to guide investors on manoeuvring around red tape. "It includes information on the legislation, regulations, guidelines, procedures, forms used, fees charged and other matters on a wide area of development and investment activities," added the PNP manifesto.

The JLP's answer, according to its manifesto, is centred around a comprehensive review of ministries and agencies which the opposition party believes can yield measures for improved efficiency while auditing regulatory processes is expected to help "eliminate or simplify those that pose unnecessary impediments to business or inconvenience to the public".

The document outlining the ruling party's plan should it be re-elected for a fifth term also spoke to increased public education on individual interaction with the various government agencies while promising the establishment of a "One-Stop Port of Entry to be called the 'National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency'".

But the JLP outlined its plan for a mega-agency for investment promotion, financing and marketing to form the foundation of its growth plan. The plan involves the merger of Jamaica Trade and Invest (formerly JAMPRO), the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and EXIM Bank into one entity, Jamaica Investment and Development Corporation (JIDC), "to attract foreign investment and stimulate local investment".

Target areas for growth for both parties mostly lie within the traditional sectors - tourism, agriculture and mining.

They are in agreement over the growth platform for the tourism sector, which both promise will encapsulate and promote culture - through music festivals - heritage - through historic sites such as Port Royal and Falmouth - and health care.

The PNP, led by Simpson Miller, once a sports minister herself, also extended its tourism plan to take advantage of sport facilities that the government has already built at a cost of over $10 billion.

Sabina Park, the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium and the complex at Independence Park along with facilities that have already begun or are in the planning stage, such as the Sligoville Sports Complex and a Montego Bay Sports Complex, provides the foundation for "promoting and attracting world-class sporting events" according to the PNP.

"We will proceed with the detailed planning, which is now underway for a portfolio of investment projects involving 15,000 rooms to cover all types of accommodation," expected to happen over the next 10 years, was the declaration made on tourism in the PNP's manifesto. "The major resorts to be developed fall within the luxury category and are based on the new concept of integrated resort development."

But the current expansion, led by Spanish hoteliers, to add 12,000 rooms, has not been met by a corresponding increase in stay-over tourists, resulting in the squeezing out of smaller players (see related story on Page 1).

The JLP promised in its manifesto to assist with upgrading and marketing of small hotels and villas by providing grants and concessionary loans and directly assisting with advertising and marketing.

At the same time, the governing party agreed with the JLP, offering that in the next term small properties will have access to special loan financing from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

The Tourism Enhancement Fee was introduced in early 2005, as a charge to visitors - airline passengers pay US$10 and cruise ship travellers pay US$2 - as a source of funding for the 10-year tourism master plan.

In 2006, 1.7 million stayover tourists visited Jamaica and another 1.3 million visitors came through the cruise lines, which means that government should have collected almost US$20 million ($1.36 billion) in TEF last year alone, but the funds have not been accounted for.

Apart from marrying energy to agriculture, both see a need to reinvest in agriculture and promise to provide low-cost funding to farmers while encouraging better use of technology and increased market access for local domestic agricultural products.

In its manifesto, the PNP said it anticipated that more than 100,000 new jobs would be created through the revival of agriculture linkages to tourism sector, alone, but didn't offer any timeline for the growth in the number of workers.

For mining, securing the natural gas that will form a critical part of Jamaica's electricity and industrial expansion, particularly the US$1.6-billion expansion of Jamalco, an alumina refinery located in Clarendon, and industrial park to be located in Old Harbour, was touted as being at the top of the priority list for both parties.

But the JLP went a step further by promising to form a strategic partnership with Trinidad for converting Jamaican alumina into aluminium through Trinidadian smelters.
"(The Trinidadian government) proposes to build the plant in a joint venture with Sural of Venezuela," said the JLP manifesto. "Trinidad has expressed a willingness to offer the Jamaican government a part of its 60 per cent shareholding in the venture."

As far as non-converging ideas go, the one that has stood out is the JLP promise to establish offshore educational facilities and financial centre.
"Kingston is a choice location for offshore financial services to exploit the benefits currently being enjoyed by countries such as the Cayman Islands and Bermuda," said the JLP manifesto. "This will be sited in downtown Kingston as a fulcrum for the much-needed redevelopment of that part of the city."

In terms of the infrastructure for transportation, both say they will continue expansion of sea and air ports, with the PNP emphasising the completion of highway projects running along the north coast and the central ridge of the island.

**Lazie** · August 15, 2007, 08:55 AM

Inside the manifestos (PNP): Education

Inside the manifestos: Education
The PNP's education plan
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

THE People's National Party (PNP) says the guiding principle of its education transformation process is that "each child can learn. every child must".

"This education mantra is grounded in our deeply held belief that all our children can learn (not just some)," the party said in its 2007 manifesto.

Should it succeed in the August 27 polls, the party plans to, among other things:
. Continue to guarantee that no student is excluded from high school due to inability to pay cost-sharing contribution.

. Build new primary and high schools so as to sustain universal access.

. Continue to subsidise exam fees for CXC/CSEC students and expand the benefit to students taking the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC).

. Mandate compulsory enrolment and attendance in schools as of 2010.

. Continue to build the capacity of our schools to provide a learning environment for children with special needs.

. Build a new university in Western Jamaica to provide training in nursing and teacher education.

. Expand and make the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB) more responsive to the needs of the students by increasing the amount of funds in the scheme at more concessionary rates, increasing the grant component to finance beyond tuition, normal school needs such as buying books and meals.

. Expand the National Youth Service (NYS) to train, re-socialise and equip 20,000 of our young men and women for entry into the workforce per year.

. Increase the number of HEART/NTA Academies to facilitate access to quality training opportunities in skills relevant to the local and global marketplace.

. Launch the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) in October 2007 so that our enterprising Jamaicans can benefit from jobs in the region.

. Aggressively promote the High School Equivalency Programme (HISEP) to enable creative and industrious Jamaicans to fulfil their educational advancement and job promotions.

. Ensure that the curriculum at all levels of the sector continues to undergo changes to make it more relevant.

. By 2010 give Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, and Technology Skills the same focus as other subjects in our schools.

. Ensure that by 2015 all students in Grades one to six are exposed to Spanish as a second language.

. Create a world-class education system informed by a culture of discipline, and placing a premium on punctuality and diligence.

. Create alternative special facilities for students who repeatedly breach discipline in schools.

. Develop and implement strategies to improve male performance up to the secondary level and matriculation to the tertiary level.

. Develop two types of schools in the entire system (Kindergarten to Grade six; and Grade seven to Grade 12).

. Expand e-learning programme currently being introduced in 128 Secondary schools.

. Eliminate the shift system beginning with 11 schools in September 2007 and another 100 in the course of the school year 2007/2008.

. Rewrite, debate and pass by September 2009, the Education Code and the Education Act to make the education system more management-friendly to all stakeholders.

. Ensure that graduates from a teacher education institution will graduate with a University degree - BA, Teacher Education in Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary by 2015.

. Retain retired teachers of excellence on fixed contract after retirement with a focus on supporting after-school supervision for homework and special assignments.

. Strengthen the administrative and managerial capacity of schools, especially the leadership capacity of our principals.

. Introduce licensing of early childhood and basic schools.
. Complete the development of Early Childhood Curricula by September 2007.

. Reorganise the Ministry of Education to be policy-making and supervisory body rather than being directly involved in the day-to-day running of schools.

. Introduce performance management systems with agreed targets for schools and students by 2008/09.

. Achieve 100 per cent literacy within five years.

**Willi** · August 15, 2007, 08:56 AM

Originally posted by Karl View Post

What the debates missed

Decent article, but what Ian failed to mention is that there is a "method to the madness" to the JLP manifesto.

It is not about social welfarism pre se at all. It is a simple recognition that growth and development is dependent on a healthy, educated workforce and a low crime, little corrupted environment. These things are means to an end and not ends in themselves! If we dont grow and develop, wwe wont be able to afford them even in the medium term.

A pre-prerequite to all of the above is to have a properly functioning Governance system that will enable the accountability necessary to crush corruption and crime. The tuition and health fees removals are just ways for letting some steam out of the pressure cooker and bringing some relief to overburdened citizens. In other words, instead of spending on cricket, etc, the JLP is proposing to return some capital to the shareholders in the form of dividends!

All the other goodies will not flow (by necessity) if the fundamentals are not properly laid and the expected economic takeoff does not materialize. I think most people are mature enough to understand this.

I am glad that there is some convergence of ideas among the parties, as despite historical performance gaps bewteen the 2, neither was all right or all wrong! JLP has come up to speed on the need for social development to complement economic development and the PNP now pays lip service at least to economic fundamentals.

On the issues of the manifestos being deliberately blinkered to the global macro-economic and financial envirnoment, I 100% agree. However, since we are like infants, I guess we have to learn to walk properly before running.

**Lazie** · August 15, 2007, 08:57 AM

Inside the manifestos: Education
The JLP's education plan
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

ACCORDING to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) "education is the single most important factor in building a platform for economic development and social stability".

"It determines the quality of our human capital, our level of productivity and competitiveness, and our ability to attract the investments we need to transform our economy, reduce poverty and build prosperity," the party said in its 2007 manifesto.

"We regard education as a fundamental human right. It must therefore be universally available and everyone must have equal access. It is the inescapable duty of the government to provide the policy framework and facilities to achieve this," the JLP added.

As a result, the party has pledged to, among other things:
. Promote, through the health and children's services and in collaboration with community organisations, better parenting techniques, greater awareness of the potential of the child and its nutritional and emotional needs and better preparation of its capabilities for the formal learning process.

. Commence primary school enrolment at age five instead of six years.

. Establish stand-alone infant schools and infant departments at selected primary schools to increase the availability of basic school places.

. Provide grants to private basic schools to enable them to meet the minimum standards prescribed by the Early Childhood Act.

. Enforce maximum class size of 20 for all basic schools.

. Ensure at least one trained teacher in each basic school and Level two certification for other early childhood practitioners.

. Extend school-feeding programme to all basic schools.

. Develop standardised early childhood curriculum.

. Establish performance standards and targets for schools to include student performance as well as the operation and maintenance of school facilities.

. Eliminate the shift system in all schools.

. Establish a system of zoning to determine the GSAT placement of students from primary to secondary schools.

. Regional education authorities will be required to monitor performance of each school and provide technical support including the provision of specialist teachers.

. Institute management information system to record, collate and analyse data on student performance.

. Performance of each student should be ranked against class, regional and national averages and should be reported annually to parents.

. Strengthen the support system available to each school through the increased involvement of PTAs, alumni, citizens' associations, student councils, etc.

. Accelerate programme of upgrading of teacher skills to Bachelor of Education level.

. Significantly increase specialist training and the provision of Master Teachers in Mathematics and English.

. Institute a performance-based remuneration component for teachers determined on the basis of improvement in student performance.

. Establish a system of licensing and certification of teachers to be renewed every five years.

. Employ retired teachers of excellence on contract.

. Establish compulsory school attendance for all children between the ages of three and 18.

. Abolish tuition fees at government-operated secondary schools.

. Introduce character education courses commencing at Grade four and culminating in certification at CXC level to instill values and attitudes appropriate to national development.

. Review and update curriculum at all grade levels and constantly evaluate its impact on student performance.

. Expand internet access to primary and secondary schools as a critical learning tool.

. Focus e-learning project on providing standardised distance lessons in critical subjects to support classroom lesson delivery.

. Institute homework programme in after-school hours supervised by teachers (with special remuneration) and NYS workers.

. Conduct health screening at entry point for basic, primary and secondary schools to identify any factor that might impair learning ability.

. Collaborate with health services to provide periodic dental, optical and hearing examinations and treatment.

. Identify children in need of special nutritional support and provide appropriate response,eg breakfast programmes.

. Extend the school leaving age from 16 to 18 by: increasing the number of schools in strategic locations offering Grades 12 and 13 (6th Form) integrating Grade 11 school-leavers into other education and training opportunities (tertiary, HEART, vocational and apprenticeship programmes, etc).

**Karl** · August 15, 2007, 09:02 AM

Politics of the JLP manifesto
By Louis EA Moyston
Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The presentation of the JLP manifesto by Mr Golding was reasonable in terms of the organisation of ideas, but it raises concern about the content. A political manifesto is a piece of communication showing what is to be done and how it will be done.

The manifesto should be a document not just asserting and describing the problems, or asserting performance, but rather a discourse on how to treat these problems. Most important is the issue of reform: what body of political ideas informs the JLP policies? In 2003 the change in leadership of the JLP promised reform, where is the reform in the 2007 election manifesto? Seeing things differently is an indication of change; change is essential for 21st century politics. Both political parties must be able to articulate the kind of politics that is futuristic, communicating their plans how they plan to face the challenges of the 21st century.

GOLDING... his idea of reform and the constitution is not new

Mr Golding, I did enjoy listening to your presentation, similarly your conference address. These presentations were well packaged. I must take issue with you on a few issues regarding your party's manifesto. This article is informed by your radio broadcast of the manifesto and the "Highlights of the JLP manifesto" (Daily Observer, August 1, 2007).

My labourite friends told me they were unable to get me a copy of the manifesto. I will take issue with your idea to "reform" the constitution, your response to foreign policy, and your ideas to treat development and crime. On a practical level, Mr Golding, what informs the political thinking of yourself and the JLP? For example, what informs your promise for "free health" and "free education"? I have no problems with those ideas, but what is the thinking that underpins those ideas? Are you a reformed Labour Party responding to socialism? Political policies are informed by something, what is that something?

Change means seeing things differently. Your idea of reform and the constitution is not new; this has always been the type of initiative taken by both political parties regarding that volume of papers. We must demand a change in the constitution, not a reform in those 1961-1962 papers. Mr Golding, the basis upon which the constitution was devised was unsound.
The constitution is a defective document that must be changed, not reformed. It was the dominance of the role of the powerful way the minority white legal elites triumphed in the making of the constitution, and not the victory of "we the people". In other words, there is nothing really "independent" about the constitution. "Nuh feel nuh way", Mr Golding, you are not alone in this approach to treat the constitutional crisis.

The JLP, as a political party and government, has had a weak history of approach to foreign policy making. In your radio broadcast, I was disappointed to hear the essence of your approach to foreign policy which includes "greater" links with the Jamaican diaspora and new approaches to securing alternative sources of energy. Foreign policy has to do with our relations with the global community. It is a vast and complex policy operation.

Our relationship with the diaspora is a domestic issue. While energy in most important, there is a global community that is changing rapidly, and there is also new and stronger opposition to globalisation. China, India, Brazil and Russia, among other emerging powers in South Asia, are dominant in global affairs and the age of "uni-polarity" is a thing of the past. We have to "be thinking in the future tense" not just for foreign policy making but in other important policy areas.

The days of following the West blindly, and more specifically the United States, are over. We did not leave Britain as a colonial master for the USA as a new one. Foreign policy making is a critical ingredient to sustaining our sovereignty and initiating policies towards development. Let me share a secret with you. The ideas of Michael Manley: 1972-1980 are so relevant to the future policy making of this country. Do not be afraid to use them.

The ideas associated with matters concerning development and the economy are not "new and different". The current policy of the government and that of your manifesto are too deeply embedded in the dictates of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international regimes.

The WTO is now warning that the backlash of globalisation includes the deepening of inequality in the national and the global spheres. In a "New Deal for Globalisation" (Foreign Affairs, 07/08, 2007), American policy makers are calling for this "new deal" because of the consequences of the "deepening" of inequality among other problems being unleashed by the "new world order". In fact, an earlier call was made to recognise the "new, new world order". The WTO has also stated that the "facts" show that there is no relationship between foreign direct investments and growth and development.

Crime is rampant. It has broken the trust in the community. The high rate of homicide has a complex explanation. It ranges from the new thrust of individualist values and also the deepening of inequality and the emergence of a new type of poverty. Why is there a high level of participation in the drug and the underground economy?

Simply, not enough opportunities are "around here", in spite of the major efforts of the government to create new jobs. To deal with drugs is to go to the root of the real problem. The high level of homicide in this country has to do with more than the drug trade, the strengthening of the capacity of the police force. Yes, the police force has to be transformed, for its own good, not just as part of the crime-fighting strategy.

The issue of justice is tied not to reform in the police force, but in our boldness to change the constitution. Therein lies a great part of our problem. Identifying the problems gave you high marks, and was also good for your presentation. There is, however, another level; treating those problems. Having an identifiable framework within your approach to treat those problems is most important. This critique is not aimed at condemning your manifesto, it is a call for further engagement of discourse.

Louis Moyston is a lecturer and researcher.
the archives 01@yahoo.com

**Karl** · August 15, 2007, 09:22 AM

Highlights of the PNP manifesto

Highlights of the PNP manifesto

Sunday, August 12, 2007

We have laid the foundation on which Jamaica can advance its programme of building the quality society and achieving developed country status within this generation.

1. CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
We commit to a Constitution that is truly grounded in the will of the Jamaican people; one that creates the Jamaican Republic, establishes the Caribbean Court of Justice as Jamaica's final court, and an updated Charter of Rights to reflect current thinking on human rights.
PNP candidate Phillip Paulwell and broadcast journalist Fae Ellington peruse the PNP manifesto at the launch of the document last Thursday at The Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.

2. GOVERNANCE AND JUSTICE
The administration of justice remains a priority - it is the bedrock of every modern society.
During our next term, we will introduce a case management system to reduce court backlog and reorganise the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and further increase in victim support services.

3. PUBLIC ORDER, SECURITY AND SAFETY
Every effort must be made to protect the right of all Jamaicans to live in an orderly, secure and safe society. We will add 4,000 more members to the police force, upgrade the Twickenham Park Police Academy to full university status, upgrade forensic laboratories to world class standards and implement a National Investigative Agency to tackle corruption in public life and trans-national organised crime.

4. WEALTH AND JOB CREATION - OUR MEGA GROWTH PLATFORMS
We will institute further Labour Market Reform and increase the competitiveness of our products, goods and services. The tremendous investments planned in the tourism, agriculture, and construction industries and the enterprise development efforts we will implement will create a historic number of jobs across sectors.

Three of the platforms are:
. The new Highway Development Corridor which represents one of the development zones we will use in our approach to strengthening wealth creation. It includes the development of multi-modal logistics gateway at Vernamfield and expansion of Spanish Town and May Pen as new commercial, civic and heritage centres.

. Tourism - blazing new trails in an industry which continues to see record growth. We have conceived and have started implementation of a series of developments that will move Jamaican tourism to a even higher heights. The package includes the luxury resorts at Harmony Cove, Rose Hall and Port Antonio; development of Heritage & Sports Tourism in Port Royal and Port Antonio; and, implementation of the Major Events Attractions Programme which includes hosting world and regional events. These efforts will not only transform tourism but contribute to wealth creation.

. Inner-City to Winner-City: Urban Regeneration. This aspect is focused on expanding community development councils in targeted communities to spearhead the development of economic activities and social amenities.

5. ENVIRONMENT, LAND AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
Effective planning is critical in protecting our natural resources and achieving sustainable development. We will:
. Develop additional programmes for improved management of the environment including sensitive areas such as watersheds, hazard prone areas, and coastal zones.
. Continue streamlining the development approval process and empower agencies to access and share geographic information data for planning and decision making.

6. THE ENERGY REVOLUTION
The current high cost of imported fuels and the growing demand for fuels require us to explore other ways in which we can satisfy our energy needs. We are committed to continuing efforts to diversify our energy sources. Our plans include upgrading and expansion of Petrojam's capacity, the production of ethanol for local use and export, and the construction of a natural gas facility at Port Esquivel in St Catherine.

7. EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION
AND TRAINING
Our people's best tool for upward mobility is education. The PNP's commitment to education remains unshaken and remains unchallenged. In the next term we will:
. Expand the school tenure of children to 14 years by creating two types of schools in the system - infant (K) to grade six and grades seven to grade 12.
. Implement a National Remediation Programme to achieve 100% literacy in 5 years.
. Increase the number students benefiting from the exam fee assistance programme to reach approximately 40,000 students annually.
. Ensure that every person leaving high school will have a level one HEART certification.
. Expand the National Youth Service (NYS) to be able to train, re-socialise and equip 20,000 young men and women per year.

8. OUR SOCIAL AGENDA
. Promote self-employment among young people through the provision of training in the areas of entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
. Establish a mega multi-purpose camp facility in rural Jamaica to be utilised by the National Youth Service to implement an expanded re-socialisation, and training programme for youth who are unattached or 'at-risk'.
. Expand the Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly Programme and the National Health Fund Gold programme to cover a wider range of ailments affecting senior citizens.
. Upgrade the primary healthy care system and increase the number of community health aides.
. Establish a new children's hospital in Western Jamaica and support a public/private partnership for a new hospital in Portmore.

9. GOVERNANCE
& COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Our priorities in our next term will include:
. Entrenching local government in the Constitution, setting clear line of demarcation between central and local government.
. Accelerating efforts to ensure that all citizens are engaged by central and local
government processes.
. Reviewing the experience of the municipality of Portmore with a view to granting municipal status to other large urban areas.

10. OUR PLACE
IN THE WORLD
In the next term we are committed to a trade policy that emphasises:
. Jamaica's leadership role in regional and hemispheric policy development.
. The creation of a business environment which facilitates increased competitiveness.
. The proactive promotion of the diversification of export products and markets and reducing raw material costs.
. The interface with Jamaican and Caribbean Diaspora to lobby and raise capital for development while drawing on their vast expertise.

**Karl** · August 15, 2007, 09:27 AM

..."2,248-page document, comprising seven volumes with 55 sections", as described in its manifesto, will "greatly facilitate the planning, development and approval process".

That attached section of the PNP's manifesto gives the lie to any who claim the PNP's manifesto is not a serious well thought out document.

**Gamma** · August 15, 2007, 10:31 AM

as i told the emperor and continue to say....we must focus on the micro first so that when we get the big investments the local workforce can produce in a manner that will be beneficial to all the parties...not like in freezone where the tee shirt factories had to close down because employee pilferage was killing them!!

**Karl** · August 15, 2007, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by Willi View Post

JLP has come up to speed on the need for social development to complement economic development and the PNP now pays lip service at least to economic fundamentals.

If Lazie sees this, yuh dead!

**Willi** · August 15, 2007, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by Karl View Post

If Lazie sees this, yuh dead!

Not at all.

In the 60s and 70s the JLP was behind the curve.

We have to face this thing headon, we have to be honest...in all things.

**Karl** · August 15, 2007, 12:20 PM

Originally posted by Willi View Post

Not at all.

In the 60s and 70s the JLP was behind the curve.

We have to face this thing headon, we have to be honest...in all things.

That's you!
Never doubted that!
Now Lazie? That's another matter.

**Gamma** · August 15, 2007, 12:47 PM

and you karl....do you consider yourself as having been honest on this political debate?

RBSC

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