THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE ELECTION of Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller has sparked fresh debate about the need for change and an agenda which would bring about greater prosperity and a reduction in crime and violence in the country. It is within this context that I submit the following eight priorities as the basis for generating this change:
1. Establish an independent oversight body to investigate charges of police corruption and excessive use of force, which many see as the major deterrent to community policing and effective community involvement in the fight against crime. If we can establish a Children's Advocate, I fail to see why a police oversight body cannot be established to deal in a clearly transparent way with the police excesses alleged by various groups and citizens.
2. Legalise casino gambling, as the value-added from this gambling in terms of new investment, new taxes and hotel rooms, dwarfs all the other forms of gambling which are currently legal in the country.
3. Expand the National Youth Service (in partnership with private sector funding) to provide labour at below market rates to those industries and services that require it, as well as providing a source of skills training and development for our young people. The NYS would need to be made mandatory for all unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 25.
4. Make inner city renewal, housing and education, our top budget priorities. Inner city renewal could be paid for by diaspora bonds. The government must lead by relocating offices downtown and providing tax incentives to businesses located downtown. We cannot afford to abandon our young people and inner cities to breed hopelessness and crime and then hope to police these away.
5.Expand the Operation Pride programme with changes in the accountability and oversight structures to eliminate the current excesses. The aim should be housing for all citizens with zero tolerance for squatting as research has clearly indicated that housing is highly correlated with a reduction in crime and improved community spirit.
6.Free primary and basic school education for all children must be our goal, funded by a dedicated education tax. Secondary and tertiary education must be based on market-determined rates, with subsidies provided to deserving but poor students. The current system of high school fees of $8,000-$10,000 is a recipe for underfunded and inadequate schools.
7.Privatise, outsource or lease ALL Government idle land and loss-making entities, including Air Jamaica, to free up scarce government funds. In this regard, it should be noted that the Dominican Republic, which has a much larger tourism industry, has no national airline.
8. Implement market-justified rates for all of our loss-making utilities e.g. JUTC, NWC to enable them to provide adequate and expanded services, but this would require an expanded system of subsidy vouchers for the poor. The current system of subsidised rates for all provides an unwarranted subsidy for those who can pay.
I am, etc.,
HUGH REID
themightyt@hotmail.com
Kingston 20
Via Go-Jamaica
