Ronald Thwaites | Wasting time?

The aspiration for rapid economic growth has been the theme of post-election speeches. This follows a well-worn pattern. Compare what was said the time before and the time before that if you need proof - expensive promises without strategies: usually quickly forgotten or implemented with a sting in the tail. Remember the cost of Audley’s “phasing-een” of the $1.5 million tax concessions in 2016.

There were many other such instances before and since. This time, for the minimum wage earners, the $32,000 a week is expected by latest next budget date, not in any incremental bits and pieces. The code is about “phase-een” has fallen on deaf ears. Watch out!

DISAPPOINTMENT

Anyway, good policies don’t win Jamaican elections. Back-to-school help, food money or KFC take the swing. After all, what is the value of a vote to a chronically ‘bruk-pocket’ and hungry person? So there will be little grace period for the current legislators. They have already mortgaged their credibility to their constituents. There is no way one to two per cent GDP annual growth can provide the wherewithal to fulfil the promises and build productive structures behind the cobweb of ribbons cut recently.

STUNTED

In its editorial last Monday, this paper called out the stunted character of the Jamaican economy. Now that the ague of election has passed, what are the industries and services which will quickly provide the grist for a resurrection of the forgotten “5 in 4”? The vast amounts of patronage dispersed recently is running out fast. Discontent festers faster than it takes to curry favour.

SPENDING WISELY

So as not to court sullen discontent or even active dissent, and since we should not continue to borrow, it is incumbent on government to spend our existing tax dollars to maximum advantage. Effort and accountability must be rewarded, not status and political favour. What example is the prime minister setting by taking our money to award cushy administrative jobs to almost every member of parliament on his side of the aisle? How and by whom will their productivity be monitored and measured?

Meanwhile, how will humility and inclusiveness in governance, spoken of so eloquently (but so weakly applauded!) on inauguration day be made manifest in how ministries operate, Parliament functions and the Budget is constructed?

BELIEVABLE

Andrew Holness speaks well. But we have heard it all before. As a nation, we are wasting time. A deep spiritual and behavioural reconstruction is required. Our leader points in the correct direction. Can his administration spur the execution or will it be more of the same empty talk of collaboration but reality of arrogant partisanship?

ACCESS CURTAILED

The relatively easy entry to the United States for work and fortune is becoming less available, what with government by erratic edict and the dominance of the Charlie Kirk theology. (By the way, is cancel culture of the populist right any less reprehensible than cancel culture of the populist left?)

Can the teachers, nurses and young professionals who line up daily for exit visas be shown respect, purpose and reward so that they will want to stay? I hold that there is more than enough money swirling in Jamaica to achieve this if a compelling philosophy of the common good were to be promoted and practised by leadership at all levels.

THE PLACE TO START

The most available locus for the renaissance to start is in the education system which engages three quarters of a million young people and adults for about 200 days each year and in which the nation invests nearly six per cent of gross domestic product.

A just released Education Scorecard 2025 by the research institute CAPRI, tells us what the undervalued Patterson Report told us nearly five years ago; that we are not getting sufficient return for this huge expenditure.

There is no real advancement which this renewed political administration or any other can achieve if less than 20 per cent of school leavers are equipped to matriculate to higher vocational and academic standards. In the absence of political will to revolutionise teaching, learning and social adjustment, we continue to lie to ourselves by heralding the few exceptions to general failure, even as those who care and are enabled scuffle for places in the relatively better schools.

The CAPRI report, still too weak in its prescriptions given the gravity of the education emergency, demands the recalibration of grants to schools based on need rather than head count. Where did that obvious policy feature in the pre-election debates? The minister has been heard to acknowledge the abuse and futility of automatic promotion, yet that is exactly what continues in all schools.

COST WITHOUT BENEFIT

A narrowly elected administration placated teachers on election eve by raising their wage offer. More money will be paid without any assurance of greater effort and better outcomes.

Absent exquisitely cultivated public trust and political and social cooperation leading to a new covenant with teachers, the foundation of all last week’s inauguration aspirations will continue to be weak. The triumphant smiles of the incoming elite will sadly give way to the narrow sullenness of presiding over normalised failure.

A BETTER WAY

Three and four generations ago, a chosen few of us benefited from the best education possible because of rigorous instruction, discipline and religious and ethical sensitivity.

Those who benefited have built on that solid rock to excel in enterprise and public service here and abroad. One such is Philip Wong of the St George’s Class of 1959 whose story of financial success and commensurate generosity will be modelled for sixth formers this Tuesday, September 23 at 2 p.m. at the Abe Issa Auditorium. His is a tale of the possibilities to which all should be entitled. He didn’t waste time in creating and grasping opportunity. Come, listen and be inspired and strengthened to demand changes so that life can be fruitful and abundant for everyone. Why settle for anything less?

Rev Ronald G. Thwaites is an attorney-at-law. He is former member of parliament for Kingston Central and was the minister of education. He is the principal of St Michael’s College at The UWI. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com