Claude Clarke on Goat Island and the Economy

Today in an article praising Edward Seaga, I noted that Claude Clarke a former PNP  politicians was one of the few to offer honest analysis of the situation in Jamaica propose solutions.

I was therefore not surprised to see his article today, which in may ways refelected the sentiments express on commonsensja.

The present administration returned to office without admitting its past policy missteps and with an insufficient appreciation of the dire economy that awaited it. As a result, it had no credible plan to deal with the economic crisis overwhelming the country. Instead, it touted a pair of illogical and unworkable job programmes, JEEP and Jamaica Employ, which were completely divorced from economic reality.

It is little wonder that since it was forced to acknowledge the stark reality of the country’s economic hopelessness, the Government has acted like it has a mouthful of scorching ‘chocolate tea’: unable to spit or swallow.

Such policies do not currently exist. The economy has begun its expected decline, and in their absence there is no hope for growth. The predictable sequel of penury and pain is gaining intensity, and the Government can only offer the palliative promise of large foreign investments to come. Chief among these is the much-hyped Chinese investment in a large logistics centre to be sited, potentially, on the Goat Islands.

 

On Goat Island he wrote:

This proposed investment is, by no means, insignificant. It is large and could be an important addition to our economic landscape. But we must not be deluded into believing that it is the key to Jamaica’s economic development or growth and should not hang our hopes on it.

To satisfy its own global strategic trading interest, China needs a piece of real estate on this side of the Panama Canal in order to reroute and reconsolidate cargo from mega liners coming and going through the canal. Its choice of Jamaica may be the result of geographical suitability, or it may be that our Government offered more advantageous terms than other countries in the region.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130915/cleisure/cleisure2.html