Jeevan Robinson
Monday, March 31, 2014
If the 2014 elections on Montserrat were to be called tomorrow, the Hon Reuben T Meade, I submit without apology, would walk back into his very comfortable new office complex at the Government Headquarters in Brades, Montserrat.
Meade would win, I have no doubt about that, and he would carry his party with him. But do some of those Cabinet members presently, deserve to retain their elected offices on the back of Premier Meade? Increasing evidence is leading me to ponder this question repeatedly.
Last week, I listened to the speeches delivered by every member of the Honourable House of Assembly on Montserrat, except for the presentation made by Premier Meade. Other obligations dictated my availability to hear him speak. Reports however, indicated that he, as we would say locally, ‘punched hard’. For the speeches I did hear though, I was not surprised, but more so disheartened at the blatant campaign angle of the speeches delivered. But in an election year the moment dictates the rhetoric I suppose.
Thus, if those speeches slanted towards re-election were to be taken as final campaign stops, there are two members of the Premier’s camp that I would say were lazy in their delivery and lacked fire for the cause.
Parliamentary Secretary, Jermaine Wade stated during his presentation and I paraphrase; “Everyone’s talking about spreading the wealth. What spreading the wealth they talking about? The wealth will spread when the time is right!”
In an election year, when the bread and butter issues are grinding hard at the bits of many locals, it was careless and tactless that Wade would deem to make such a pronunciation that borders on the obscene. In my view, the statement is tantamount to a predication of restrictions on the economic freedoms of hard working, aspiring Montserratians.
It is the access to attain wealth and the continual creation of wealth Hon Wade must understand, that helps to foster economic growth and affords all individuals within Montserrat to be participants in an all-inclusive national development thrust. Wealth is being created now, but I am at pains to wonder if the Honourable Member is saying he is ok with selective wealth distribution?
I need not draw on the examples of China, India, Russia and Brazil, aptly dubbed the BRIC nations, and how new wealth creation in these once tagged 'developing countries' have allowed them to become major players within their geo-political and socio-economic markets. According to a Mckinsey Quarterly Report looking at the Chinese market, they stated; “Despite the global downturn, the number of wealthy households in China continues to grow. By 2015, the country will hold the world’s fourth-largest concentration of wealthy people.”
That to me is an impressive feat for a country who only 30 years ago were not even featuring top in the global conversation. They are a model of transformation, by empowering citizens via structural programmes and policies to become wealthy. Montserrat is no BRIC country in many regards, but there are lessons to be taken away.
The active creation of millionaires and successful business entities within Montserrat is a key barometer to gauge private sector growth, job creation and an ignition of a trickle down system of economic well-being that Montserrat needs, and Montserratians should have. Leaders within Montserrat must seek to actively empower new young businessmen and women to become millionaires. It is for their benefit certainly, but the bigger picture is that Montserrat will reap rewards from this.
For election 2014, the candidates that best illustrate how they will foster economic growth via wealth and job creation for the long term sustainability of Montserrat, whilst at the same time coming forward with creative solutions on how they will impact that immediacy of the daily bread and butter issues, is a candidate that to me, has given thought and understands the macro as well as the micro issues that are relevant for taking Montserrat forward.
Opportunities exist aplenty on Montserrat as the island strives towards climbing out of an economic abyss. Having spoken with many persons on Montserrat, I came away convinced that Montserrat’s future is looking rather exciting and filled with potential for business and investment. But how are these opportunities given flight? How do we increase capital flows into Montserrat so that this vast potential can be fulfilled and sustainability becomes real and not rhetorical.
A case can possibly be made for Montserrat to become, or parts of the island to be designated Special Economic Zones.
One of my long held views is that Port and Customs charges on Montserrat are a huge barrier towards private sector growth. I am a firm advocate that there should be a hiatus at the Port where duties are relaxed so as to encourage businesses who require importation of stock and the like, and also for persons desirous of staring new enterprises to have that burden of customs/port charges alleviated to further their aims.
This hiatus at the Port I see as being complimented by a marketing and public relations push so as to sensitise the public why this is being done.
I see numerous businesses being able to take advantage of this opportunity and thus in tandem pass on savings to the consumer. The more businesses open, the more corporation tax the government collects. The more people are put out to work, the more income taxes for the government’s coffers. For Montserrat to grow, and I mean seriously grow, the island needs a lot of jobs! Jobs! Jobs!
The problem Montserrat faces right now is a simple one, yet a tricky one. How to move from structural reform towards longer term sustainable growth and development? I say it's simple in that you can move towards creating jobs, but creating wealth is where it gets tricky. Allow Montserratians to feel good about themselves by empowering them, especially the youth, with the opportunities to make an impact on Montserrat’s economy meaningfully via wealth creation within their ranks.
But to tell them to wait, as Wade has done - the wealth will share when the time is right, is a slap in the face of real progress for Montserrat and her people.
Montserrat is precariously perched at this moment, but the island is primed for take-off. One bold move such as the creation of a special economic zone with lesser taxation and tariffs, and incentives geared towards growth and wealth creation, can quite possibly be the catalyst to get the engine of growth going.
If we can get that bit right, and increase the per capita income of citizens, then there is little to dissuade me that Montserrat cannot be set right!
Parliamentary Secretary Wade you have it wrong. Wealth creation is paramount, not an option for citizens to wait upon.
Jeevan Robinson is Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MNI Alive: Global Caribbean Media. He can be reached at jeevan@mnialive.com
