Dear Editor,
I note the Opposition Leader Andrew Holness's expressed compulsion to affirm nationalism and his unapologetic stance in his declaration of putting Jamaica first.
The stance is one that I believe is shared by a majority of Jamaicans, including myself, whether at home or in the Diaspora. The majority of us find ourselves participating in a dance, the music to which is determined by people like Holness, whom we foolishly elect as "selectors" every five years. Unfortunately for the great majority of Jamaicans at home who depend on the elected to make decisions in our collective best interests, the history is against us.
Holness considers himself as a student of history so I would have hoped that his scholarship would be informed by the fact that since the last referendum, on which the cheque to Independence was written, successive political administrations have squandered our proceeds.
Since 1962, when more than 80 per cent of Jamaica's exports were from the agricultural sector, and the goods-producing sector contributed 46 per cent, times have changed dramatically. Today, less than 26 per cent of our exports are actually goods produced locally and, despite our nationalism, "nuttin naw really gwaan fi wi". Today we function as a receiver of the lion's share of Caricom's exports with more than 60 per cent of what Jamaicans eat being imported.
It would be instructive that Holness notes the turnaround in US policy towards Cuba after more than 50 years of political intransigence. The move provides a huge portal from which regional governments must now be seriously looking at the Caribbean, as a whole, with a market of more than 23 million people. This shift in US policy, Holness, forces a re-look at ourselves and our proven attitude in providing leadership within the region.
As one of the younger generation of Jamaican national leaders, Holness, it is up to people like you to help to place Jamaica on a path towards sustainable growth and to reduce our dependence on aid with strings attached. Can we as a country seriously not afford to embrace this now-expanded region simply because 54 years ago another generation of Jamaicans (most of whom are now long dead and gone) voted in a referendum that we should go it alone? Can Jamaica, with a current GDP of US$5,140, compared to Antigua and Barbuda US$12,640, The Bahamas US$21,280, St Kitts/Nevis US$13,330, and Trinidad & Tobago US$14,400 afford this haughty posture that you propose, Holness?
I say that we cannot, and unlike you, I am unable to agree that regional integration is an elusive dream. All such an attitude succeeds in doing is to deepen the dissent among Jamaicans to integration and to entrench resentment among our neighbours even as more than 17 per cent of Jamaicans "cyaan find work and nuff a dem a dead fi hungry".
The Caribbean Court of Justice by itself does not constitute Caricom, but the attitude of the JLP towards its establishment is based on this premise. Embracing the elements of regional integration is not about relinquishing sovereignty. It is about taking advantage of the economic opportunities present in our own backyard. Changing your attitude and breaking with established JLP tradition may just help to create more development opportunities for Jamaicans everywhere, and place the JLP on the right side of history.
Richard Hugh Blackford
Coral Springs, Florida, USA
richardhblackford@gmail.com
Supporting regional integration isn't giving up sovereignty, Holness
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I note the Opposition Leader Andrew Holness's expressed compulsion to affirm nationalism and his unapologetic stance in his declaration of putting Jamaica first.
The stance is one that I believe is shared by a majority of Jamaicans, including myself, whether at home or in the Diaspora. The majority of us find ourselves participating in a dance, the music to which is determined by people like Holness, whom we foolishly elect as "selectors" every five years. Unfortunately for the great majority of Jamaicans at home who depend on the elected to make decisions in our collective best interests, the history is against us.
Holness considers himself as a student of history so I would have hoped that his scholarship would be informed by the fact that since the last referendum, on which the cheque to Independence was written, successive political administrations have squandered our proceeds.
Since 1962, when more than 80 per cent of Jamaica's exports were from the agricultural sector, and the goods-producing sector contributed 46 per cent, times have changed dramatically. Today, less than 26 per cent of our exports are actually goods produced locally and, despite our nationalism, "nuttin naw really gwaan fi wi". Today we function as a receiver of the lion's share of Caricom's exports with more than 60 per cent of what Jamaicans eat being imported.
It would be instructive that Holness notes the turnaround in US policy towards Cuba after more than 50 years of political intransigence. The move provides a huge portal from which regional governments must now be seriously looking at the Caribbean, as a whole, with a market of more than 23 million people. This shift in US policy, Holness, forces a re-look at ourselves and our proven attitude in providing leadership within the region.
As one of the younger generation of Jamaican national leaders, Holness, it is up to people like you to help to place Jamaica on a path towards sustainable growth and to reduce our dependence on aid with strings attached. Can we as a country seriously not afford to embrace this now-expanded region simply because 54 years ago another generation of Jamaicans (most of whom are now long dead and gone) voted in a referendum that we should go it alone? Can Jamaica, with a current GDP of US$5,140, compared to Antigua and Barbuda US$12,640, The Bahamas US$21,280, St Kitts/Nevis US$13,330, and Trinidad & Tobago US$14,400 afford this haughty posture that you propose, Holness?
I say that we cannot, and unlike you, I am unable to agree that regional integration is an elusive dream. All such an attitude succeeds in doing is to deepen the dissent among Jamaicans to integration and to entrench resentment among our neighbours even as more than 17 per cent of Jamaicans "cyaan find work and nuff a dem a dead fi hungry".
The Caribbean Court of Justice by itself does not constitute Caricom, but the attitude of the JLP towards its establishment is based on this premise. Embracing the elements of regional integration is not about relinquishing sovereignty. It is about taking advantage of the economic opportunities present in our own backyard. Changing your attitude and breaking with established JLP tradition may just help to create more development opportunities for Jamaicans everywhere, and place the JLP on the right side of history.
Richard Hugh Blackford
Coral Springs, Florida, USA
richardhblackford@gmail.com
Supporting regional integration isn't giving up sovereignty, Holness
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