Contributed
Jamaica, in reality, has some dark economic clouds ahead, with the second-lowest per capita income of US$7,000 in the Caribbean.
Our productivity and attitude to work have been in free fall while a crime industry grows alongside other antisocial behaviour as a new ideology 'Nasty Mouthism', spirals in social media and is being concerted elsewhere.
Our factories and productive capacity have been almost decimated. The opportunities that normally exist for our exports becoming more attractive to foreign buyers have plummeted.
Most of our exports depend heavily on imported raw material, and as the dollar devalues, some goods and services become uncompetitive, plus tariffs in the case if the USA.
Did you know there was a glass factory on Ashenheim Road in Kingston, a once thriving industrial park? It makes you think immediately that our economy needs productive rebuilding.
The governor of the Bank of Jamaica and the Minister of Finance see the problem and are at their wits end as to how to kick-start widespread production.
I still hear little talk of production, hard work and foreign-exchange earnings. The foreign exchange as a commodity for sale in a market is treated no differently from red peas or tomatoes.
Stabilise the dollar or better revalue the Jamaican dollar.
We must pull out all the stops to rebuild our productive capacity, stabilise/revalue the dollar and, as a World Bank report recommended:
The best hope for countries like Jamaica to survive is by going into manufacturing. Whatever the formula, it cannot be talk as usual. We need urgent action along with a good dose of nationalism and stop being a' Rampin' Shop' or one elaborate dancehall duncehall full of empty deejaying.
Produce and buy Jamaican to rebuild Jamaica, putting the nation over partisan politics, nastiness, corruption, improprieties, laziness, greed, and selfishness, and love our neighbours as ourselves.
Author
Michael Spence
