Dear Editor,
It is true what they say about propaganda; if it is repeated often enough, after a while, people will believe it, whether or not it is true.
I was watching a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) programme some time ago that was urging us Jamaicans to buy Jamaican goods and services. The irony of this campaign is that it is being pushed by a Government that is itself refusing to buy Jamaican.
Take the recent issue of the high-end vehicles that were purchased for some government ministers. Did you know that there is a company that manufactures cars right here in Jamaica? Now, while it may be true that the cars that this factory makes may not be of the luxury class to which our politicians are accustomed, our Government doesn't seem to care much about Jamaican-produced cars.
If our Government believes in this "Buy Jamaican" campaign so much, why doesn't it purchase some of these locally produced cars for some of its field officers, like the inspectors from RADA, the education officers from the education ministry, the health inspectors, or even the police? Why not do this, instead of buying expensive imports for them?
Indeed, wouldn't it be a very good marketing "ploy" about the reliability of Jamaican-manufactured goods and a strong statement of belief in Jamaica?
And it's not just about cars. I remember one of our leading universities, which is state-owned, deciding to ignore local software developers for a foreign one when it wanted to improve the efficiency of its operations. Though not state-owned, one of the country's largest banks did the same thing. The same is true of a state-owned housing solutions entity. The list could continue.
What I have noticed with this so-called "Buy Jamaican" campaign is that it seems to be targeting those small products that are made here - like patties, simple utensils, small furniture and the like. High-end products, like cars, software and some electronics that may be made here are frowned upon by large entities and the Government.
Why is it that we like to say things that we really don't mean?
The Government needs to understand that when large entities, like itself, ignore our industries, especially those that produce high-end goods, it not only comes across as hypocritocal, it is actually helping to retard our development.
Why preach it if you are unwilling to practise it?
Michael A Dingwall
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Lame 'Buy Jamaican' campaign
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It is true what they say about propaganda; if it is repeated often enough, after a while, people will believe it, whether or not it is true.
I was watching a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) programme some time ago that was urging us Jamaicans to buy Jamaican goods and services. The irony of this campaign is that it is being pushed by a Government that is itself refusing to buy Jamaican.
Take the recent issue of the high-end vehicles that were purchased for some government ministers. Did you know that there is a company that manufactures cars right here in Jamaica? Now, while it may be true that the cars that this factory makes may not be of the luxury class to which our politicians are accustomed, our Government doesn't seem to care much about Jamaican-produced cars.
If our Government believes in this "Buy Jamaican" campaign so much, why doesn't it purchase some of these locally produced cars for some of its field officers, like the inspectors from RADA, the education officers from the education ministry, the health inspectors, or even the police? Why not do this, instead of buying expensive imports for them?
Indeed, wouldn't it be a very good marketing "ploy" about the reliability of Jamaican-manufactured goods and a strong statement of belief in Jamaica?
And it's not just about cars. I remember one of our leading universities, which is state-owned, deciding to ignore local software developers for a foreign one when it wanted to improve the efficiency of its operations. Though not state-owned, one of the country's largest banks did the same thing. The same is true of a state-owned housing solutions entity. The list could continue.
What I have noticed with this so-called "Buy Jamaican" campaign is that it seems to be targeting those small products that are made here - like patties, simple utensils, small furniture and the like. High-end products, like cars, software and some electronics that may be made here are frowned upon by large entities and the Government.
Why is it that we like to say things that we really don't mean?
The Government needs to understand that when large entities, like itself, ignore our industries, especially those that produce high-end goods, it not only comes across as hypocritocal, it is actually helping to retard our development.
Why preach it if you are unwilling to practise it?
Michael A Dingwall
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Lame 'Buy Jamaican' campaign
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