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Putting our money where his mouth is
published: Monday | September 24, 2007
Garth Rattray
PRIME MINISTER Bruce Golding has begun putting our money where his mouth is. I wish him luck, or rather, I wish us luck. The new administration needs to be open, change the economic mindset of Jamaicans, stop the wastages that exist in our economy and put our money to sensible use. We were promised a smaller, tighter Parliament, but got a larger (more expensive) one instead and told that, 'size is relative'. Since it's our money, openness dictates that we should have been told that our Cabinet needs were underestimated.
I enjoyed and fully endorsed the sentiments expressed by Observer columnist Jean Lowrie-Chin in her Monday, August 27, piece titled, 'Politicians are no Santa Claus'. Everything that 'the government' does is done with our money. Everyone pays taxes in one form or another. Large and small companies helplessly watch as hefty sums of their very hard-earned income do a u-turn and go right back out to various government taxes/fees. Without all of us, there would be no treasury to treasure and no coffer to cough up money. The Government's money is our money.
Money-wasting should stop
New administrations have a nasty habit of (wastefully) redecorating government offices and (literally and figuratively) 'flying' all over the place introducing and establishing themselves. Several politicians travel with unnecessarily large entourages when going overseas. Even national sports teams sometimes send away a raft of 'officials' and non-essential personnel with the athletes, coaches and medical staff at our expense. All this should stop.
Nothing is 'free'. Our politicians know that 'free' education and 'free' health care come with a high price. Many of our people seem to think that there is a bottomless well from which 'government' money springs. The previous People's National Party administration was subsidising education heavily (50 per cent), now, this new Government promises to (use our money to) pay for all the government fees attached to education. That's a very good thing in principle, but we must never forget that there already existed programmes for needy children; therefore, 'freeness' alone will not solve our education problem.
In order for our youth to become more educated, more productive and less likely to engage in criminality - we must also address truancy (ducking school) and waywardness (begging, stealing and hanging out all hours of the day and night). This administration must use our money and resources to enforce the Child Care and Protection Act. 'Free' or not, if those children don't go to school, they will gain nothing from the 'freeness'.
More to health care
And, regarding our money being put towards 'free' health care next April; 'health' is not just the absence of disease, it is physical, mental and social wellness. Eliminating public hospital and clinic fees without improving staffing, materials and equipment is a waste of time, effort and (our) money. We want our money to also go towards preventing disease with proper nutrition and sanitation in depressed areas. We must see to better housing, play areas and community centres for our citizens. Taken together - even before the Government tackles job creation and crime prevention - these things will improve our nation's health, wellness and reduce crime significantly.
The People's National Party promises to hold the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to their 114-page, (estimated) 60-billion-dollar manifesto. They'll be watching and obviously hoping that the JLP will fail. However, we - the taxpayers and conscripted financiers of the JLP master plan - will also hold this administration accountable, but we hope that they will succeed by using our monies wisely and efficiently without imposing new taxes.
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with family practice. Email - garthrattray@gmail.com.
published: Monday | September 24, 2007
Garth Rattray
PRIME MINISTER Bruce Golding has begun putting our money where his mouth is. I wish him luck, or rather, I wish us luck. The new administration needs to be open, change the economic mindset of Jamaicans, stop the wastages that exist in our economy and put our money to sensible use. We were promised a smaller, tighter Parliament, but got a larger (more expensive) one instead and told that, 'size is relative'. Since it's our money, openness dictates that we should have been told that our Cabinet needs were underestimated.
I enjoyed and fully endorsed the sentiments expressed by Observer columnist Jean Lowrie-Chin in her Monday, August 27, piece titled, 'Politicians are no Santa Claus'. Everything that 'the government' does is done with our money. Everyone pays taxes in one form or another. Large and small companies helplessly watch as hefty sums of their very hard-earned income do a u-turn and go right back out to various government taxes/fees. Without all of us, there would be no treasury to treasure and no coffer to cough up money. The Government's money is our money.
Money-wasting should stop
New administrations have a nasty habit of (wastefully) redecorating government offices and (literally and figuratively) 'flying' all over the place introducing and establishing themselves. Several politicians travel with unnecessarily large entourages when going overseas. Even national sports teams sometimes send away a raft of 'officials' and non-essential personnel with the athletes, coaches and medical staff at our expense. All this should stop.
Nothing is 'free'. Our politicians know that 'free' education and 'free' health care come with a high price. Many of our people seem to think that there is a bottomless well from which 'government' money springs. The previous People's National Party administration was subsidising education heavily (50 per cent), now, this new Government promises to (use our money to) pay for all the government fees attached to education. That's a very good thing in principle, but we must never forget that there already existed programmes for needy children; therefore, 'freeness' alone will not solve our education problem.
In order for our youth to become more educated, more productive and less likely to engage in criminality - we must also address truancy (ducking school) and waywardness (begging, stealing and hanging out all hours of the day and night). This administration must use our money and resources to enforce the Child Care and Protection Act. 'Free' or not, if those children don't go to school, they will gain nothing from the 'freeness'.
More to health care
And, regarding our money being put towards 'free' health care next April; 'health' is not just the absence of disease, it is physical, mental and social wellness. Eliminating public hospital and clinic fees without improving staffing, materials and equipment is a waste of time, effort and (our) money. We want our money to also go towards preventing disease with proper nutrition and sanitation in depressed areas. We must see to better housing, play areas and community centres for our citizens. Taken together - even before the Government tackles job creation and crime prevention - these things will improve our nation's health, wellness and reduce crime significantly.
The People's National Party promises to hold the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to their 114-page, (estimated) 60-billion-dollar manifesto. They'll be watching and obviously hoping that the JLP will fail. However, we - the taxpayers and conscripted financiers of the JLP master plan - will also hold this administration accountable, but we hope that they will succeed by using our monies wisely and efficiently without imposing new taxes.
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with family practice. Email - garthrattray@gmail.com.