Letter of the Day | Development matters, so does how we develop?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Any Fortune 500 company will set a standard to which it holds its employees and what it uses to define itself. That contract it makes which says, if you buy my brand I guarantee that you will get a particular quality, every time. They hold themselves to it and hold their employees to delivering on it. They create the enabling environment that allows their employees to deliver the agreed product or service to that standard.

So, with all the development happening; what is the pact that the Government of Jamaica has made with the people of Jamaica? What is the quality standard established and agreed? Has our CEO and his directors, i.e., the prime minister and his ministers, communicated to the agencies, contractors, etc, the standard to which they must deliver?

We keep hearing that with development comes disruption and this, too, shall pass. I wish to state that this is unacceptable: it cannot be development at any price. I have travelled all over the world and experienced development in progress and what is happening on Constant Spring Road, Hagley Park Road, Mandela, and throughout the country represents the lowest level of service delivery. Certainly, this does not capture the vision for 2030.

RESPECT FOR CITIZENS

A Jamaica which forms the choice of place to live, work, raise families, and do business includes a pact between people and the Government. It is a Jamaica, where business and commuters are notified with appropriate signage of road works and alternate routes; it's a Jamaica where allowances are made for pedestrians to walk; temporary road markings are established to demarcate lanes; warnings of narrowing lanes are placed on roadways; and other such basic safety precautions form part of the development process.

It is my fervent hope that the situation that now exists which sees a total disregard for the safety of the public and the ability to function on our roads, shall soon pass.

A CEO which espouses Vision 2030, ought not to allow the present situation on our roads to continue. That CEO must appreciate that where the customer continues to be dissatisfied with the brand, they will patronise other establishments or change the brand.

Anne

Kingston