Choices have consequences

Ronald Mason, Contributor

Jamaica has to make choices between competing alternatives in similar manner as individuals are obliged to do in their daily lives. Failure to do the analysis, introspection or due diligence leads to the wrong road taken.

We have, as a nation and a people, continually failed to make the right choices. The sad part is we have displayed this behaviour for many years. The consequences have ranged from mere inconvenience to tragedy. Let us recall some of the decisions we have made.

The recent heavy rains in the parishes of St Mary and Portland and the ensuing flooding which has left an estimated repair bill of $180 million, not counting other major work requiring engineering redesigns, have brought back memories of a time when the weather brought to our attention the folly of national choices. Recall the statements and resolve not to allow residential buildings on gully banks, particularly in Kingston and St Andrew. A family was washed away. Lives were lost, building foundations undermined. Yet we still have not bothered to eliminate these tragedies waiting to happen.

We do not have the will to expend the effort to save these persons from themselves, yet we bleat and mourn when the loss occurs. Why bother? People live in the river course at Taylor Lands in Bull Bay, as you read this. What have we done? Precious little, if any. Similar situations can be found across Jamaica. Do we even accept that good governance demands that these problems be alleviated?

On April 10, 2003, there was a news report about residents in a building deemed to be a death trap. It was, at that time, four storeys high on a foundation approved at the time for a single storey. There were then 19 families resident therein. The Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) sought to spend J$52,000 to do a structural survey as part of their intervention. No corrective action has been taken and the building's exterior was recently nicely painted.

The Fire Brigade had concerns as to the well-being of the residents in the rear of the building. Nothing done. Do we continue to hope for continued good fortune, or are we preparing the lamentations when it collapses or when persons perish in the fire?

It is a priority to tax handcarts, but not solve the governance issues which require tough decisions. Good work, KSAC. I pray the gods continue to bail you out from the likely disaster. If and when the disaster happens, some enterprising attorney will have a marvellous case for dereliction of duty and wrongful death, to which you should be joined.

Building declared unfit

Let us go to Caledonia Avenue in Cross Roads. The building had been declared unfit and targeted for demolition. The courts were asked to intervene when the demolition equipment and crew were on location. There has been no further action. The building still stands. I have been unable to find an update as to the status of this matter. Is it still non-compliant, KSAC? It is occupied.

The International Monetary Fund, in negotiation with the Government of Jamaica for an extended fund facility, noted that our civil-service wage bill was significantly in excess of the international benchmark. We were to reduce the size of the civil service. The Government did a jig and reported that 3,000 positions that were in the "established list" were not to be filled and would be counted as a reduction in the present workforce size. When since a vacant post, not filled, accruing no wages, not funded, being removed by a paper exercise represents a reduction in the current salaried civil service? We play games.

Hard choices

We continue to say the Net International Reserves is sufficient to meet the mere 12 weeks of import costs, yet the same NIR is at its lowest level and our imports have not declined appreciably. Anything by the Government will suffice except the hard choices and the subsequent bleating that the stage is now set for the private sector to risk their capital. Is this the caption for a new comic strip?

I can find no reports of the National Works Agency taking action against a road contractor for not complying with the road-construction specifications. There are standards for the required thickness of asphaltic concrete which is to overlay the roads. Take a look at the depth on the road that becomes visible after a shower of rain. I pass daily by a repair done within the last three years at a cost of millions and the potholes have re-emerged. The depth of the covering is pathetic, but as we say, 'A nuh nutten dat.' We will surely pay again and again for corrective action. Governance? What is that?

Look how Ruel Reid was able to restore the lustre of Jamaica College in less than seven years? Talk to Esther Tyson about how she positioned Ardenne High to be a cradle for excellence. These persons lead. These persons have illustrated where there is a will, there is a way. The choices we make do have consequences.

Ronald Mason is an immigration attorney/mediator/talk-show host. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.nationsagenda@gmail.com.