Perspective: There Is Power In The Dream

March 17, 2022 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

The Opposition Leader Hon. Mark Golding has dismissed the Dr. Nigel Clarke’s Budget as something from a fantasy land. The budget has not taken note of the Russian/Ukrainian conflict. Government needs to give back more.

“This is not the time for fiscal conservatism”

So stated Mark Golding Opposition Leader speaking today March 15, 2022 in the budget for 2022/23 fiscal year.

In a wide ranging speech the Opposition Leader critiqued various areas of neglect as it relates to national development.

Environment

On the matter of the environment, the National Environmental Agency (NEPA) should be made independent of government.

History

The Opposition Leader traced the role played by past PNP governments and catalogued some of the social institutions and programmed like the National Housing Trust, and social legislation like Maternity leave and the Industrial Disputes Tribunal. It was a most impressive list of programmes and institutional initiatives.

Student Loans

Opposition Leader blasted the government’s approach to the Student Loans Bureau (SLB).

“A future PNP government will remove guarantors for Student loans. Very little money is collected from guarantors”

Agriculture

Hon. Mark Golding said, the theft of farmer’s produce is unacceptable.

“I endorse what MP Julian Robinson has said about praedial larceny. The penalties for praedial larceny must be steep. It must be brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act so that the profits from robbing our farmers can be taken from the criminals.”

The Opposition Leader was not finished there. He said further:

“We must also improve farm roads, irrigation, and storage systems. We must incentivize productive relationships between well-capitalized mother facilities and small farmers to improve their production techniques, transfer and generally support their development.

Pandemic

The pandemic has shown that our economy must be made more resilient to external shocks. Jamaica has tremendous potential to develop as the agricultural powerhouse of the Caribbean.”

Commentary

The Opposition Leader Hon. Mark Golding during his speech was trying to make out the narrative that he expects to form the next government. The polls are pointing in the opposite direction. He is at 17 percent. Holness is at 43 percent. The PNP is in shambles and need to settle down, before the voting public will consider them as a viable alternative to the Holness led JLP which has also slipped in the polls, but are way ahead of the PNP who have be described as being “under the water” by noted pollster Bill Johnson.

The Opposition Leader is indeed dreaming. Will his dream be a reality anytime soon? You be the judge.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie was there and filed this report. Further reports to follow, for Vision Newspaper.