Dear Editor,
Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem — Ronald Reagan
It is the duty of Government to create a competitive regulatory framework to facilitate private investment, but many bureaucrats do not understand their role in promoting investment, since the public sector operates like a trough for party faithfuls.
Although, various reports have outlined the solutions for reforming the public sector, no political will exists to implement these findings. Notwithstanding, the pro-market claims of both political parties, the view that the state should also be a driver of growth in the economy, is still purported by many. Fortunately, a major policymaker like Chris Zacca understands the type of growth that is needed to propel Jamaica to greater heights. Mr. Zacca was correct when he asserted that, "This growth must be equitable. It must reach large and small businesses, and it must create jobs. It needs to be entrepreneurial at its core. It cannot be state capitalism or statist in nature, and it cannot rely on a few large infrastructure projects alone."
Despite all the pronouncements from Gordon House about reducing bureaucracy, the problem has not improved. Bureaucracy has become the biggest obstacle to doing business in Jamaica, according to the World Economic Forum's latest research on competitiveness. Decisive steps must be taken to make Jamaica attractive to investment and reducing the impediments to the development approval process.
Jamaica should create an online business licensing service, similar to what exists in Singapore. Singapore's online business licensing service is a one-stop shop that offers all business licences available in Singapore, along with update, renewal and termination services. Of even greater importance is that the creation of this online facility reduced approval time from 21 to 8 days. Privatising some aspects of the approval process is another workable suggestion.
Since, local government is the campaigning arm of both parties, no politician would abolish it, though it is a major contributor to bureaucratic inefficiencies. Local government should not be involved in the issuance of construction permits. This aspect of the approval process can be outsourced and the government should only regulate the process. Parish councils are incompetent and expensive to maintain, costing the country $7 billion a year, and we do not need them. We want a political party that understands the free market and a truly transformational leader, like Margaret Thatcher, to unleash the productive capacity of Jamaica. Are you willing to be that leader Mr Holness?
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
Reduce the bureaucracy
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Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem — Ronald Reagan
It is the duty of Government to create a competitive regulatory framework to facilitate private investment, but many bureaucrats do not understand their role in promoting investment, since the public sector operates like a trough for party faithfuls.
Although, various reports have outlined the solutions for reforming the public sector, no political will exists to implement these findings. Notwithstanding, the pro-market claims of both political parties, the view that the state should also be a driver of growth in the economy, is still purported by many. Fortunately, a major policymaker like Chris Zacca understands the type of growth that is needed to propel Jamaica to greater heights. Mr. Zacca was correct when he asserted that, "This growth must be equitable. It must reach large and small businesses, and it must create jobs. It needs to be entrepreneurial at its core. It cannot be state capitalism or statist in nature, and it cannot rely on a few large infrastructure projects alone."
Despite all the pronouncements from Gordon House about reducing bureaucracy, the problem has not improved. Bureaucracy has become the biggest obstacle to doing business in Jamaica, according to the World Economic Forum's latest research on competitiveness. Decisive steps must be taken to make Jamaica attractive to investment and reducing the impediments to the development approval process.
Jamaica should create an online business licensing service, similar to what exists in Singapore. Singapore's online business licensing service is a one-stop shop that offers all business licences available in Singapore, along with update, renewal and termination services. Of even greater importance is that the creation of this online facility reduced approval time from 21 to 8 days. Privatising some aspects of the approval process is another workable suggestion.
Since, local government is the campaigning arm of both parties, no politician would abolish it, though it is a major contributor to bureaucratic inefficiencies. Local government should not be involved in the issuance of construction permits. This aspect of the approval process can be outsourced and the government should only regulate the process. Parish councils are incompetent and expensive to maintain, costing the country $7 billion a year, and we do not need them. We want a political party that understands the free market and a truly transformational leader, like Margaret Thatcher, to unleash the productive capacity of Jamaica. Are you willing to be that leader Mr Holness?
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
Reduce the bureaucracy
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