As a materialistic society which worships glitter and grandeur that are being pruned by onerous new taxes, one asks what were the revellers celebrating on New Year’s Eve? This question about the celebrations refers to the shadow of gloom that started engulfing the nation in 2009.

Finally the economy has hit bottom after years of indulging in a reckless and extravagant lifestyle, at the expense of domestic investment and production, evidenced by declining national revenues, rising debt, paid for by increased borrowing to support the unaffordable way of life. Other elements contributing to psychological distress were the outrageous number of homicides above 1600 which, when added to the road fatalities and extra-judicial killings, is estimated to total a shameful number of violent deaths last year above 2000! Intolerable and unacceptable; that must not be allowed to recur in 2010.

Giving credit where it is due, there appears to be a more forceful level of “push back” by the security forces against the criminal underworld led by the JCF supported by the JDF that should be intensified this year, as the remedial economic strictures relentlessly tighten with inevitable despondency permeating the society. Hardship and frustration may create unrest as recently observed by The Economist, and trumpeted by the national news media unnecessarily fuelling speculation by foreign interests that could adversely affect Jamaica’s sensitive export service sector that accounts for 73 per cent of GDP.

No longer should the country dwell on this discouraging scenario, but look forward to assisting in every possible way the recovery of stability moving to a degree of normality by 2012. As the controversial President of Guyana Forbes Burnham said in the 1970s, Guyanese must “feed, clothe and house themselves”. That should now be seriously considered by Jamaica.

Relative to the idea of self-sufficiency are the continuing excessive external trade deficits sustained over the years with, for example, the US, Trinidad, and to a lesser extent the Dominican Republic that should be redressed to improve national revenue and insulate domestic industry from the vagaries of the recession, while conserving foreign exchange. Jamaica’s critical balance of payments issue offers an opportunity for temporarily increasing border tariffs on selected goods until the BOP problem is solved. Numerous goods which are readily produced in Jamaica should be encouraged by temporarily applying a duty uplift on their imported competition, together with luxury items the country can ill afford at this time, as permitted under GATT 1994 and the WTO. The reduced margin should be borne by distributors of those imported goods, foregoing price increases which should be seen as a contribution to the national recovery effort which shareholders should understand.

When dealing with Caricom, Article 43-Restrictions to Safeguard Balance of Payments in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas sets out permissible remedies involving application of quantitative restrictions on imports and/or “alternative corrective measures which may be available”, interpreted to include application of a temporary tariff for no longer than 18 months, and be phased out progressively as Jamaica’s BOP situation improves. However, such a measure cannot discriminate among member states or against member states in favour of third states.

Consultation with COTED and COFAP is a prerequisite to implementing such new terms of trade. The temporary nature of such provisions should be emphasised and would concur with the frequent exhortations by the JMA and others for greater control of Caricom import flows, to redress the trade imbalance, particularly with Trinidad, although it should be repeated that the principle of non-discrimination must be observed.

Last but by no means least, are the other principal contributors to Jamaica’s economic renascence, namely the churches. In this vital struggle, religious institutions have a major role to play in helping their members to face the rigours of economic hardship and deprivation. Church leaders cannot rely on prayer alone without offering solace to those affected, and calming the innate aggression which comes to the fore in times of desperation. “God helps those who help themselves” is a message the religious institutions should impart to their followers while explaining the reasons for the temporary privation all must endure for Jamaica to once again become a prosperous homeland. Tumultuous protests would only prolong the recovery process and make it far more arduous for those afflicted and should therefore be avoided.This is an essential message all churches need to include in their sermons.

In conclusion, pray hard for the ultimate deliverance of Jamaica, land we love. Keep the faith and the peace, put noses to the grindstone and shoulders to the wheel in the struggle for survival, or start learning to speak French!