I am writing with great disappointment at the performance of the Minister of Finance Dr Peter Phillips.
When then Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller announced him as opposition spokesman on finance, many questioned his ability and whether or not he had the qualifications or capability to handle such a crucial portfolio.
No doubt he came out swinging with his response, as he drew attention at the fact that his PhD dissertation was done on the political economies of the world. Without a doubt, Dr Peter Phillips is a seasoned politician, having served in many portfolios for many years with undeniable success.
I had no objections to his appointment as minister of finance by the prime minister, but like many other Jamaicans, I am not impressed with his performance or the way in which he has managed the economy so far. It is clear that he hasn’t grasped a good command of his portfolio and with the clock ticking, I don’t think the country can afford to wait on him much longer.
There is little being said about the IMF deal, the dollar is slipping so badly that God will have to perform a miracle to rescue it anytime soon. Business leaders have lost confidence in the economy and it will be a matter of time, if they haven’t started yet, before they start making moves to secure their assets and investments at the expense of our already fragile economy and our already vulnerable people who are fighting hard to hold on to their jobs. It is my belief that Dr Peter Phillips should give the country an early Christmas gift and hand in his resignation to the Prime Minister.
No doubt Dr Phillips is still relevant to our nation’s recovery, and as such I think his skills would better be served in the failing security portfolio. I would also like to urge prime minister Portia Simpson Miller to follow the precedent set by former prime minister Bruce Golding and use the Senate as an avenue to invite from the private sector a financial leader to assist in the recovery of our economy.
Howard O Chamberlain Jr
howardochamberlain@gmail.com
When then Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller announced him as opposition spokesman on finance, many questioned his ability and whether or not he had the qualifications or capability to handle such a crucial portfolio.
No doubt he came out swinging with his response, as he drew attention at the fact that his PhD dissertation was done on the political economies of the world. Without a doubt, Dr Peter Phillips is a seasoned politician, having served in many portfolios for many years with undeniable success.
I had no objections to his appointment as minister of finance by the prime minister, but like many other Jamaicans, I am not impressed with his performance or the way in which he has managed the economy so far. It is clear that he hasn’t grasped a good command of his portfolio and with the clock ticking, I don’t think the country can afford to wait on him much longer.
There is little being said about the IMF deal, the dollar is slipping so badly that God will have to perform a miracle to rescue it anytime soon. Business leaders have lost confidence in the economy and it will be a matter of time, if they haven’t started yet, before they start making moves to secure their assets and investments at the expense of our already fragile economy and our already vulnerable people who are fighting hard to hold on to their jobs. It is my belief that Dr Peter Phillips should give the country an early Christmas gift and hand in his resignation to the Prime Minister.
No doubt Dr Phillips is still relevant to our nation’s recovery, and as such I think his skills would better be served in the failing security portfolio. I would also like to urge prime minister Portia Simpson Miller to follow the precedent set by former prime minister Bruce Golding and use the Senate as an avenue to invite from the private sector a financial leader to assist in the recovery of our economy.
Howard O Chamberlain Jr
howardochamberlain@gmail.com