Letter: Economy, power, politics and war
|
| Published on Monday, November 16, 2009 |
Email To Friend Print Version |
Dear Sir:
Let me first express my gratitude and appreciation to you and your publication the informative Caribbean Net News for publishing my letters on your website over the past year. I was introduced to your website by a friend and from that time to now not a single day has passed without me giving your site a hit.
Caribbean Net News is a great site and is doing an excellent job educating and informing the people of the Caribbean and the international community. Keep up the wonderful job that your are doing and I am convinced that you site will grow from strength to strength becoming one of the premier news outlet in the Caribbean.
My focus this week is on the economy of my beautiful island of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. I will also take a snapshot look at the battle for power, the political struggle and the war of words and ideas emanating from the various corridors of power within the state.
The current world economic situation is having severe consequences on our national economy. As funds continue to dry up because of the challenges faced by every sector of the economy, the new Tillman Thomas-led NDC administration is trying its best to minimise and mitigate the effect that this is having on the entire population.
From tourism to fees collected at the ports there has been massive shortfall in revenue generation and collection by government and its agencies. The government is faced with major budgetary constraints. Many of the capital projects budgeted for are on hold. With a monthly wage bill of approximately 20 million dollars, government is finding it extremely difficult to meet its monthly obligations.
The economic problems currently faced in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique were not created in a week, or a month or a year.They are as a result of thirteen years of gross mismanagement of the national resources, wastage of public funds and crazy spending on many failed projects including two desalination plants in Carriacou and Petite Martinique costing over 6 million dollars each.
These problems are not going to be fixed in a week, or a month or a year. With a national debt of over 1.8 billion dollars it will take many, many years of shrewd financial management to rescue our national economy. The NDC adminstration is making a clear transition from rescue as a priority of public policy to sustained recovery , growth and development.
The Prime Minister Hon Tillman Thomas; Minister for Finance Hon Nazim Burke and his team are committed to tackling the economic problems faced by the state and are focused every single day on getting Grenadians back to work and the economy rolling once again.
Despite the many positive reviews on the Government economic policies by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), unemployment is a lagging indicator and is obviously the toughest nut to crack. Over the past thirteen years the poverty / unemployment rate in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique has risen to 37% and the high twenties respectively. There has been a slight increase in the unemployment situation as a result of the world economic recession. The new administration is confident that they are headed in the right direction for economic take off when the recession subsides, however there's no room for complacency.
The unemployment situation facing the universe isn't unique to Grenada and it's dependencies. The world's lone superpower the United States of America , even as the country emerges from recession is experiencing a record 10.2% unemployment rate, the highest in 26 years. The US economy lost 216,000 thousands job in the month of August alone , twice the population of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Credit must be given to the Tillman Thomas-led administration for securing the jobs of our people both in the private and public sectors. What is rather ironical though is that the political detractors who are the true architects of our economic woes by their massive spending especially leading up to the July 8th elections are now crying foul and attempting to blame the fifteen months old NDC administration. The NDC administration inherited a bad situation, and despite the many challenges faced are doing a rather good job given the circumstances.
Hon. Nazim Burke Minister of Finance a supremely talented individual and his economic team must be applauded for their efforts. Mistakes will be made along the way, but what is important is the willingness of the team to learn from their mistakes and move forward. The Prime Minister and his finance minister must set an economic plan and pursue it, understanding that they will have to hold a few hands, and perhaps smack a few others along the way. Extra efforts must be made to improve the standard of living of all Grenadians.
As the government and people grapple with this difficult economic situation we have found ourselves in, Her Majesty's Opposition is doing all it can to stifle growth ans spread fear among the populace. The love for political power seems to have clouded the conscience of her majesty opposition.The war of words by political squawks on the airwaves and at the village meetings won't put bread on the table of the poor and vulnerable. Instead, our people should be encouraged to be creative, hardworking, co-operative and steadfast for their own good. Abusing the vulnerability of our poor unsuspecting brothers and sisters is wrong. Instead, our leaders should demonstrate genuine caring leadership not for love of power and self , but for love of country and it's people.
What we need now is not pessimism but a period of peace, stability, growth and co-operation. We should take a page from the book of the state of Israel. Whenever the survival of Israel and its people are threatened, the various political parties set aside their ideological differences and lock horns in the defense of their country. It is in time like these that survival of country takes precedence over survival of individual and their party. Fighting day and night to gain cheap political mileage in a time of national crisis and struggle is criminal and must be condemn.
The private sector must also be commended for absorbing some losses and still protecting the jobs of their employees. These gestures are highly patriotic. Their employees must now reciprocated by increasing their productivity levels. This period can't be business as usual. We are living in serious times.
Economic wastage must be a thing of the past.The conservation of energy at the workplace must be the responsibility of all employees.Government must ensure that it gets value for money at all levels and department. Too often the system is abused by public workers who find time to do everything else except what they are being paid to do. There must be greater accountability especially in these times. The government effort to seriously engage Permanent Secretaries and other senior public workers is a welcome move and a step in the right direction.. Public sector reform is needed to improve the services provided by government. The other initiatives such as the free school books program and the two duty free barrels for the period Oct 1st to Dec 31st 2009 is also critical as it assists many families in this difficult period.
As we close of 2009 and enter 2010, we are hoping that our economic fortunes will change in a positive way. The 2009 / 2010 budget should have has its primary objectives jobs creation. Government need to make a very serious effort to have the unemployment rate reduced to under 20% and poverty rate in the lower twenties. This will be a very difficult task, however with the right plan and programs this is achievable. The introduction of the VAT in February should ensure that the government raises the necessary capital to fulfill their many campaign promises to our people.
Finally, let me encourage all our people despite what political party that you may support to rise above petty political squabbles. Instead of wasting precious times on things that are not very important, use this opportunity to improve on whatever talent or skill that you may possess. Make every effort to be self-reliant and independent. Government can't and won't do everything . We also have to use our own initiatives to improve ourselves. To our political leaders, stop the vain political rhetoric and show some astute leadership and unselfishness.The elections are over and it is time to work for the good of Grenada , Carriacou and Petite Martinique. This is not the time to be fighting to regain political power. Instead of fighting a political war, let us all in unity declare war on the many problems confronting our national economy otherwise we will all perish.
Foxy Stewart | | | | Reads : 890 | | | |
|
|
