IN LESS than two weeks Mrs Portia Simpson Miller will assume office as the country's new Prime Minister and we wish her all success in her new job. She will, of course, face some immediate challenges.
She was elected on a populist platform, but the country's finances are so parlous that there are almost no discretionary funds available to be reallocated for social programmes.
The recent decline in the stock market prices undoubtedly, at least in part, reflects concern and uncertainty about the direction of the new Prime Minister and her economic policies. There are some practical issues to be addressed. For example, how can a populist Prime Minister provide new social programmes without additional funds?
There is also the pressure of crime. The Jamaica Constabulary Force is, it claims, inadequately funded. There is a strong and persuasive argument that crime fighting should be at the apex for additional funding a priority even greater than social programmes. The two are not unrelated and need not be mutually exclusive but we must get the priorities right.
In the area of economics, investor and overseas confidence in Jamaica can easily be shaken. Investing groups have developed confidence in the country primarily based on the influence of two individuals: Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies and central bank governor, Derick Latibeaudiere. Moving either of these persons might create financial volatility.
At the same time, the new Prime Minister will have the opportunity to make hundreds of new appointments to public sector boards. There is a sensible tradition that board members of public companies resign and allow a new Prime Minister the opportunity to put her own people in place.
This is an opportunity for the Prime Minister to appoint people based on ability rather than political allegiance. All executive
positions should be publicly advertised and candidates ranked by independent panels.
Corruption can only be discouraged if people get appointed on ability and not political patronage.
The new Prime Minister must be aware that an early indication of where she wishes to lead the country will be in the appointments she makes and the way in which they are made and what she does
to balance the need for economic stability with new social
programmes. Mrs. Simpson Miller will have a difficult balancing act but one she must master well and quickly.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
