Delroy Chuck
SINCE 1997, MORE money has entered the Jamaican economy than at any other period in its history. Over US$10 billion came in from remittances alone, with over J$100 billion so far this year. The Government reports over US$4 billion in direct investment, mainly from the sale of the commanding heights of the financial sector to foreigners, from telecommunication expansion and hotel construction. During the same period, the present Government has borrowed more, begged more and received more bilateral grants than previous governments combined.
In addition, more taxes have been collected from the Jamaican people than at any other time. GCT started out at 10 per cent, moved to 12 1/2 per cent, 15 per cent and now at 16 1/2 per cent, and has become a major revenue earner, when at its inception it was intended to be revenue neutral. Property taxes have increased enormously and, at present, a major financial burden, especially on pensioners. More and increased taxes have been imposed and collected. With the enormous amount of money floating around, we should be experiencing annual growth of 6 per cent and more, instead of the minuscule average of one per cent or less. So, where is the money?
Jamaicans, who have to traverse the bad roads, suffer the inconvenience of poor government service, endure the lack of social facilities, observe the deterioration of infrastructure everywhere, and witness and experience a steady decline in the quality of life, are extremely upset to hear Government has no money, when so much has been available to its coffers. To date, Government has not offered the parish councils anything worthwhile to fix the many damaged and decaying residential roads, and the huge potholes and widening craters on virtually every road continue to endanger lives and vehicles. With all the money available, things have just got worse.
The failure of the Government to have any job creation programmes, economic development plans or effective community enhancement is sadly reflected in the disintegration and imminent collapse of rural and inner-city communities. With the continuing violence and regular gunfire, virtually every inner city or rural community is locked down and resembles a ghost town, as soon as night falls. The streets are empty and even the bars that once offered comfort to the restless are closed early. Moreover, community life has simply disappeared, as there is no money or resources for meaningful community activity or get-together.
POOR COMMUNITIES
If we continue along this path, then life in our poorer communities can only get more brutish, depraved and volatile. When over 1,500 lives have been snuffed out and mainly from these poor communities, the reason can easily be found if we take the time to visit these forgotten and abandoned communities. Across Southern Andrew and primarily in the constituencies of the three main contenders - Omar Davies, Portia Simpson and Peter Phillips - for the leadership of the PNP, the poor have become poorer, unemployment exceeds 50 per cent and the social conditions are simply unimaginable and shameful. With the kind of constituency representation, based on handouts and charity, which has increased poverty, violence and depravity, one wonders if their campaign is for leadership or more poverty?
USE MONEY EFFECTIVELY
This Government and its ministers have not demonstrated their ability to use money effectively to increase opportunities and improve the well-being of our people. The Government has pursued policies that favoured consumption, handouts and enrichment of the genetically connected instead of production, development and enrichment for all Jamaicans. Fools and their money are soon parted, while the wise invest and use their money creatively and invariably retain a surplus for a rainy day. With all the money garnered by this Government, certainly over the past eight years, why is there none to fix the problems caused by the recent heavy rains, or the festering problems of the country?
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
