Tweet
Accomplishments and promises of PNP manifesto
Geof Brown
Friday, August 31, 2007
Three weeks ago this column reviewed the JLP manifesto which was published a week or so ahead of the PNP manifesto (See "JLP manifesto: style and substance", August 3). I had promised a review of the PNP manifesto separate from and ahead of this weekly column in the interest of timeliness. However, Hurricane Dean had other ideas and it is hoped that readers will appreciate "better late than never".
In consideration of equity of treatment, no comparisons are drawn between the two manifestos. Each is dealt with on its own merits. In any case, some very good work has been done in that regard in the daily newspapers and in a depth not possible in a column supposedly limited to some 800 words.
Notwithstanding that consideration, it is necessary to point out that the two manifestos must of necessity differ in approach. A political party out of power for some 18 years obviously cannot address accomplishments as government, and is therefore limited to making promises. One in power for that period of time however, must address its record of achievements (or lack thereof). At the same time, the ruling party must also make promises of projected future achievements or be seen as stagnating - or worse, slipping backwards. Therefore, this limited review will look selectively at the accomplishments and promises in the manifesto of the ruling PNP.
The PNP manifesto sets a goal to move the country to "developed status" by 2030, ".working as One Jamaica, One Family, shaping the future together". It then uses 12 chapters and 93 pages to develop its details of past and present accomplishments as well as promises for future achievements. In a glossy, attractive publication, well illustrated with appropriate pictures, the manifesto is rich with information. As noted in the review of the JLP manifesto, it is essential that people genuinely interested in the nation's welfare read the full text themselves. An abbreviated version of 23 pages is also available in non-glossy format; nothing essential is lost in that illustrated version.
Four major planks to support the goal of developed country status are (1) Wealth and job creation, (2) Education transformation and training, (3) The social agenda (4) Public order, security and safety. Heaviest emphasis is placed on wealth and job creation. In the area of accomplishments, the manifesto reminds us of the record level of foreign and local investments resulting in what it terms "mega platforms" for future economic expansion.
While acknowledging employment decline in agriculture, forestry, fishing and manufacturing in the period 1990-2006, the manifesto claims significant movement in other areas, for example, construction increased by 93 per cent, finance/insurance/real estate/business services increased by 79.6 per cent and community/social/personal services increased by 24.5 per cent, wholesale/retail/hotels/ restaurant services increased by 70.8 per cent while transport/storage/communications increased by 128 per cent.
The spectacular investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is typified by US $700 million in telecommunications infrastructure. The liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 2000 led to 426 licences granted and Internet use in the population rising from 3.1 per 100 in 2000 to 39.6 in 2006. Jamaica now ranks as the leading business outsourcing destination in the Caribbean region. The new "Highway 2000" corridor development, the manifesto claims, is a catalyst for targeted development and revitalisation of the island's central core (including May Pen, Spanish Town, Old Harbour/Esquivel and Vernamfield), home to over 500,000 Jamaicans.
Together with mammoth hotel expansion typified by Harmony Cove multi-entertainment, multi-accommodation development with expected capital investment of US$ 4 billion, the manifesto projects take off economic expansion on such so-called mega platforms.
In Education and Training, the manifesto proclaims that under the PNP the goal of access to high school education for all Jamaican children at the primary and secondary levels has been achieved for the first time, and 17 new schools have been built in western Jamaica at a cost of $3.8 billion, with another 16 being built nationally. Together these have helped create almost 30,000 new spaces in the education system. The Early Childhood Commission has been established and is revolutionising basic school education.
Today 83 per cent of 22,000 teachers in the education system are college-trained, and it is targeted that by 2015 all graduates from teacher-training institutions will have a university degree. The goal of achieving 100 per cent literacy in five years in a national remediation programme seems rather far-fetched and unrealistic, however.
In the Social agenda, the manifesto promises a whole new approach to changing the lives of
inner-city residents by converting those entities to "winner cities". This it plans to accomplish through the promotion of skills development and entrepreneurial skills for youth. The plan also calls for halting rural-urban drift and the establishment of a massive rural multi-purpose training camp.
The promotion of tissue culture and greenhouse and hydroponic technology for young rural farmers is projected to aid retention of rural talent. In lifestyle improvement, present levels of 74 per cent of rural areas have piped water in homes, and 85 per cent have access to potable water. In housing, the manifesto reminds that over the past 18 years, 4,100 housing solutions have been delivered annually compared to 1,900 per annum in the previous administration. The National Health Fund (NHF) which is helping to transform health care (by directly taxing tobacco) has provided over $8 billion in four years of existence. In addition. the CHASE fund financed from gambling taxes has provided an additional $2 billion to the health sector.These funds are developing as the projected platform for a National Health Insurance scheme.
In the area of Public Order, Security and Safety, the manifesto reminds that significant reduction in the cocaine trade saw transportation of cocaine to the US through Jamaica fall from 20 per cent to 2 per cent between 2004 and 2006. Among major crime reduction legislation introduced was the Proceeds of Crime Bill. And significant new equipment for the security forces was provided, including 40 patrol boats and four helicopters. New measures projected include adding 4,000 more police officers. To combat corruption within the police force as well as in public life, a National independent Investigative Agency is planned for implementation within three months of the new term.
Especially noteworthy is the plan to tackle crime through creation of a corps of volunteer Community Safety Officers (CSOs) whose duties in assistance to security forces are spelt out in the manifesto.
This truncated review omits many significant accomplishments and promises of the manifesto. I have stuck mostly to hard data as well as non-vague promises that can easily be checked and measured. Several areas are reluctantly completely omitted. Please do your own checks.
- browngeof@hotmail.com
Geof Brown
Friday, August 31, 2007
Three weeks ago this column reviewed the JLP manifesto which was published a week or so ahead of the PNP manifesto (See "JLP manifesto: style and substance", August 3). I had promised a review of the PNP manifesto separate from and ahead of this weekly column in the interest of timeliness. However, Hurricane Dean had other ideas and it is hoped that readers will appreciate "better late than never".
In consideration of equity of treatment, no comparisons are drawn between the two manifestos. Each is dealt with on its own merits. In any case, some very good work has been done in that regard in the daily newspapers and in a depth not possible in a column supposedly limited to some 800 words.
Notwithstanding that consideration, it is necessary to point out that the two manifestos must of necessity differ in approach. A political party out of power for some 18 years obviously cannot address accomplishments as government, and is therefore limited to making promises. One in power for that period of time however, must address its record of achievements (or lack thereof). At the same time, the ruling party must also make promises of projected future achievements or be seen as stagnating - or worse, slipping backwards. Therefore, this limited review will look selectively at the accomplishments and promises in the manifesto of the ruling PNP.
The PNP manifesto sets a goal to move the country to "developed status" by 2030, ".working as One Jamaica, One Family, shaping the future together". It then uses 12 chapters and 93 pages to develop its details of past and present accomplishments as well as promises for future achievements. In a glossy, attractive publication, well illustrated with appropriate pictures, the manifesto is rich with information. As noted in the review of the JLP manifesto, it is essential that people genuinely interested in the nation's welfare read the full text themselves. An abbreviated version of 23 pages is also available in non-glossy format; nothing essential is lost in that illustrated version.
Four major planks to support the goal of developed country status are (1) Wealth and job creation, (2) Education transformation and training, (3) The social agenda (4) Public order, security and safety. Heaviest emphasis is placed on wealth and job creation. In the area of accomplishments, the manifesto reminds us of the record level of foreign and local investments resulting in what it terms "mega platforms" for future economic expansion.
While acknowledging employment decline in agriculture, forestry, fishing and manufacturing in the period 1990-2006, the manifesto claims significant movement in other areas, for example, construction increased by 93 per cent, finance/insurance/real estate/business services increased by 79.6 per cent and community/social/personal services increased by 24.5 per cent, wholesale/retail/hotels/ restaurant services increased by 70.8 per cent while transport/storage/communications increased by 128 per cent.
The spectacular investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is typified by US $700 million in telecommunications infrastructure. The liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 2000 led to 426 licences granted and Internet use in the population rising from 3.1 per 100 in 2000 to 39.6 in 2006. Jamaica now ranks as the leading business outsourcing destination in the Caribbean region. The new "Highway 2000" corridor development, the manifesto claims, is a catalyst for targeted development and revitalisation of the island's central core (including May Pen, Spanish Town, Old Harbour/Esquivel and Vernamfield), home to over 500,000 Jamaicans.
Together with mammoth hotel expansion typified by Harmony Cove multi-entertainment, multi-accommodation development with expected capital investment of US$ 4 billion, the manifesto projects take off economic expansion on such so-called mega platforms.
In Education and Training, the manifesto proclaims that under the PNP the goal of access to high school education for all Jamaican children at the primary and secondary levels has been achieved for the first time, and 17 new schools have been built in western Jamaica at a cost of $3.8 billion, with another 16 being built nationally. Together these have helped create almost 30,000 new spaces in the education system. The Early Childhood Commission has been established and is revolutionising basic school education.
Today 83 per cent of 22,000 teachers in the education system are college-trained, and it is targeted that by 2015 all graduates from teacher-training institutions will have a university degree. The goal of achieving 100 per cent literacy in five years in a national remediation programme seems rather far-fetched and unrealistic, however.
In the Social agenda, the manifesto promises a whole new approach to changing the lives of
inner-city residents by converting those entities to "winner cities". This it plans to accomplish through the promotion of skills development and entrepreneurial skills for youth. The plan also calls for halting rural-urban drift and the establishment of a massive rural multi-purpose training camp.
The promotion of tissue culture and greenhouse and hydroponic technology for young rural farmers is projected to aid retention of rural talent. In lifestyle improvement, present levels of 74 per cent of rural areas have piped water in homes, and 85 per cent have access to potable water. In housing, the manifesto reminds that over the past 18 years, 4,100 housing solutions have been delivered annually compared to 1,900 per annum in the previous administration. The National Health Fund (NHF) which is helping to transform health care (by directly taxing tobacco) has provided over $8 billion in four years of existence. In addition. the CHASE fund financed from gambling taxes has provided an additional $2 billion to the health sector.These funds are developing as the projected platform for a National Health Insurance scheme.
In the area of Public Order, Security and Safety, the manifesto reminds that significant reduction in the cocaine trade saw transportation of cocaine to the US through Jamaica fall from 20 per cent to 2 per cent between 2004 and 2006. Among major crime reduction legislation introduced was the Proceeds of Crime Bill. And significant new equipment for the security forces was provided, including 40 patrol boats and four helicopters. New measures projected include adding 4,000 more police officers. To combat corruption within the police force as well as in public life, a National independent Investigative Agency is planned for implementation within three months of the new term.
Especially noteworthy is the plan to tackle crime through creation of a corps of volunteer Community Safety Officers (CSOs) whose duties in assistance to security forces are spelt out in the manifesto.
This truncated review omits many significant accomplishments and promises of the manifesto. I have stuck mostly to hard data as well as non-vague promises that can easily be checked and measured. Several areas are reluctantly completely omitted. Please do your own checks.
- browngeof@hotmail.com