Fete over, now back to work

Chambers’ “command” was made at a time, as now, following Carnival and, also, as now, when this country was facing challenges to its economy due to a drastic collapse in oil prices.

It is not that Chambers was not a “Carnival man.” Indeed, I venture to suggest that his spirit must be joyous at this time seeing that his (and my) favourite steelband, Massy Trinidad All Stars, in which he was known to be at “last lap”, has again displayed its prowess as the overall unchallenged leading exponent of the national musical instrument.

But Chambers was a realist and, above all, a patriot, and his summons to the people of TT was based on an underlying situation which demanded sound economic management.

Indeed, the measures subsequently implemented by his government were unpopular with a population which was being nurtured by a “gimme gimme syndrome” which was being advanced by his own party — the PNM. He was destined to lose the 1986 general election and retired from political life.

Nevertheless, Chambers’ administration has, in hindsight, been credited with having laid the foundation which was to lead to the strong economic growth which was to follow subsequently.

Will history be repeating itself given the similarity with present-day circumstances, including PNM incumbency in office? However, while the structure of this country’s economy has made its fortunes and the general course of events heavily dependent on governmental activity, nevertheless the private sector has a most important role to play, particularly in manufacturing and distribution of local produce.

Indeed, it is here that the stated government policy for diversification of the economy out of the oil “one-crop” must focus. Clearly, the Government, as facilitator, is duty bound to provide the atmosphere and the incentives were such diversification to come to fruition.

Much work needs to be done in reorganisation of the very much oversized public enterprises sector — a matter which I have been at pains to address. However, not much appears to have been done.

In this regard, I must say that, unless the reading of the next Budget is being awaited, it is beyond me to have to observe that there appears to be difficulty in identifying: (1) Enterprises which are a drain on an already stretched national Treasury.

(2) Clear areas of duplication of effort such as CEPEP and URP.

(3) Service providers and public utilities, some of which have not had rates and charges adjusted in line with their operating costs for as long as 30 years or more.

(4) Enterprises which ought clearly to be “at home” in the private sector.

(5) The contents of the long-awaited procurement framework.

It is to be noted that the Government of Jamaica is about to engage on a public sector reorganisation.

I would hope that ministers, statutory authorities and boards (and these are not difficult to identify) will heed the recent “admonishment” of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and that those who have not yet done so will, at last, get down to work. After all, the year 2020 is but three years away.

Errol OC Cupid Trincity, Tacarigua