There is a legend that Haitian leader Henri Christophe wanted to build a castle. To that end a large number of men were employed. After some considerable time he noticed that little progress was made. Half the men were shot and the other workers constructed the castle relatively quickly.
The contemporary options are, a) stop the project, or b), tell those who linger and malinger, "I CANNOT AFFORD YOU." Here in D'ca, we can ill - afford most things. Yet we seem too proud and too foolish to so admit. We have a problem using the words "I CANNOT AFFORD IT."
Take the recent "debate" about the increase in world oil prices and the commitment made to the World Bank/IMF. Public officials say that net increases have occurred which have been "absorbed" by government. World Bank/IMF and funding agencies say do not ask for help if you are rich enough to subsidize the price of petroleum to those who consume the product(s).
There is no need for the true debate to be indecent or confrontational. Some will hold that the subsidy should continue in the interest of the bus - drivers that serve the tourism industry and the traveling public, with special emphasis on school children. Others will submit that those who drive the second -, third -, and fourth - hand vehicles imported from Japan, polluting the atmosphere, maiming and killing from time to time, do not deserve to be subsidized. And above all, the country cannot afford the on - going foreign exchange hemorrhage in terms of those vehicles, and cannot afford oil subsidies.
In these times of economic crisis this is important. I have a feeling for sometime that our main source of foreign exchange is not bananas, or exports from DCP, or tourism, or any combination of them. It is our "invisible income", which includes what is today referred to as the "barrel economy."
I understand that a mini industry is developing in New York: A barrel is delivered to one's home. It is packed with a rich variety of goodies to be sent to relatives in the Caribbean. The container is picked up and shipped. Total cost is US $65. I believe that those barrels bolstered by money transfers from the North Atlantic to relations here, largely finance our continuing existence.
So here is a suggestion for those who proclaim themselves our leaders: Show some valid leadership metal for a change. Mobilize the media for something good. Let us scientifically determine (without prejudice to the IDP):
Should we then continue to subsidize it? If yes, for how long? And from what? I firmly believe that we cannot afford it, and all the signals are that no country on earth is willing to continue to pay for such subsidies on our behalf.
The scientific approach that is being suggested, coupled with the IDP, should convince the international community that we have done our homework, and that we need such aid as should remove us from the beggars list. We would do with:
I doubt we will be able to do this in the current political climate. The perception is that the administration can change at anytime depending on who offers how much to cross the floor and on what the counter - offer is. This does not foster stability. And sadly, few parliamentarians have the moral authority today to criticize a colleague who crosses the floor. The practice has presumably been encouraged for some time; if for the wrong reasons.
From some reports it is likely that the government will be defeated on a motion of no confidence. In my opinion the Prime Minister should not await such ultimate occurrence. He should recommend the dissolution of Parliament. Indeed he should have threatened so to do, and carry out the threat if appropriate, several months ago when he was experiencing great difficulty in re - structure of his cabinet.
The people would then try to get it right that umpteenth time at the polls. But apart from the administration what else would change? Not much, I fear.
We must change nonetheless, if only because we cannot afford the structures we currently uphold. So, what about the following limited considerations:
This assumes a "social safety net," including a programme to re - educate and re - tool, in order that the "redundant" will be absorbed in the new and /or expanded activities recommended above.