Private sector leaders, frustrated by what they describe as years of bureaucratic stranglehold affecting businesses, have made a call for more private sector and government collaboration.

The executives’ request comes against the background of one of their own, Don Wehby, last month being appointed a minister in the new Government.

At a luncheon hosted by Observer chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart at the company’s Beechwood Avenue headquarters yesterday, the corporate players lauded the Government’s initiative to invite Wehby to serve.

“The entire private sector commends GraceKennedy and Mr (Douglas) Orane for granting Don Wehby the time to serve in the Ministry of Finance,” said MegaMart CEO Gassan Azan to loud applause. “It is noteworthy that Grace has always shown themselves to be one of those companies to always have the national interest at heart.”

Wehby resigned his senior executive position at GraceKennedy to serve as a minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance.

The decision means that he will take a salary cut of more than a third.

GraceKennedy chairman, Douglas Orane, said it was Wehby’s “personal decision” to join the Government and “serve his country”.

“It is really a personal choice and I hope it will encourage other people in the country to step up,” said Orane.

Businessman Pat Rousseau pointed to the positives that can arise through private sector/government collaboration. He served Prime Minister Michael Manley as part of his negotiating team that brought Jamaica millions of dollars through the bauxite levy in the 1970s.

“One of the ways we can help is by the private sector lending people to the government ministries,” said Rousseau. “If we provide people with experience like that, you will begin to change the system and realise that what you learn in there will be a huge benefit to you thereafter.”

Stewart agreed.

“In my experience, everytime you have a government that is serious about working with the private sector, it will have a constructive impact,” he said.

Capital and Credit Merchant Bank head, Ryland Campbell, noted that there is a “presumption” that some government ministers are not adequately qualified for their portfolios, and highlighted that more state interaction with business persons may be “useful”.

“This can be very useful to government for the simple reason that there is a presumption that politicians, prior to being appointed to a ministry, know very little about the (portfolio), but on being appointed know everything about everything,” said Campbell. “It is important for there to be an interaction in a meaningful way between people who have practiced the craft and those who are expected to come up with initiatives for development.”