Jamaica is not for sale! That oft repeated phrase is often espoused by expectant politicians often at strategic times in the run-up to a General Election exercise in Jamaica. This, in light of recent comments attributable to Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni, head of Delegation of the European Commission in Jamaica, who has put on offer a $9 billion grant programme to incentivise a reduction in bureaucracy, inclusive of a reduction of the building approval process to 90 days. The fact that a similar suggestion was rebuffed by the previous political regime in power in Jamaica, seems not to have delayed this thought process, with the representative now going so far as to suggest in part, the use of “silent agreements” to facilitate meeting that artificially prescribed deadline.
A “silent agreement” is a hidden contract, whether orally executed or written and would be suggestive of an untoward strategy of granting building approvals quietly, and then working retroactively to satisfy any outstanding requirement. Inherent in that strategy, would also be the exclusion of the citizenry from the decision making process and with the timeline being suggested would almost certainly either exclude Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s) where applicable or compromise the findings in such a way that such findings would be meaningless. Whereas, the Government of Jamaica’s (GOJ’s) impatience for investment is shared by most persons, Jamaica is signatory to several conventions which have established guidelines in treating with development proposals, particularly those requiring EIA’s. To depart from those would have dire consequences for the economy, inclusive of the country’s ability to source funding.
That it would now be suggested that GOJ, operate by a system of subterfuge, by engaging in a process driven by “silent agreements” and being induced by an offer of grant funds is not only offensive but absolutely reprehensible. Jamaica’s image is tainted in the Global arena by a perception of increasing corruption and with the label of “kleptocracy” already being loosely applied, it is expected that the GOJ will in due course publicly repudiate that offensive suggestion, as efforts are made to maintain the moral compass of the island.
Jamaica is a constitutional democracy and its people do have a legitimate say in the process of governance. Indeed, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, has already dubbed himself as “Chief Servant” and in keeping with that nomenclature, it is expected that the wishes, expectations and indeed rights of the citizens will never be abrogated by the State and that the process of Development will continue to be handled with a decorum which has been impacted by decades of success.
A “silent agreement” is a hidden contract, whether orally executed or written and would be suggestive of an untoward strategy of granting building approvals quietly, and then working retroactively to satisfy any outstanding requirement. Inherent in that strategy, would also be the exclusion of the citizenry from the decision making process and with the timeline being suggested would almost certainly either exclude Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s) where applicable or compromise the findings in such a way that such findings would be meaningless. Whereas, the Government of Jamaica’s (GOJ’s) impatience for investment is shared by most persons, Jamaica is signatory to several conventions which have established guidelines in treating with development proposals, particularly those requiring EIA’s. To depart from those would have dire consequences for the economy, inclusive of the country’s ability to source funding.
That it would now be suggested that GOJ, operate by a system of subterfuge, by engaging in a process driven by “silent agreements” and being induced by an offer of grant funds is not only offensive but absolutely reprehensible. Jamaica’s image is tainted in the Global arena by a perception of increasing corruption and with the label of “kleptocracy” already being loosely applied, it is expected that the GOJ will in due course publicly repudiate that offensive suggestion, as efforts are made to maintain the moral compass of the island.
Jamaica is a constitutional democracy and its people do have a legitimate say in the process of governance. Indeed, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, has already dubbed himself as “Chief Servant” and in keeping with that nomenclature, it is expected that the wishes, expectations and indeed rights of the citizens will never be abrogated by the State and that the process of Development will continue to be handled with a decorum which has been impacted by decades of success.
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