History repeats itself. An MP desires to please constituents, a minister to see his portfolio thrive; survival in the public space. Dr Omar Davies joins a long line of politicians – EPG Seaga, Michael Manley and PJ Patterson, who saw the law as a shackle to their dreams for a nation; they tried to push boundaries, break barriers which trammel growth. Like Icarus they flew too close to the sun, their wings came unstuck and they fell. Growth-worthy and progressive plans failed; ambitious men who refuse to be bound by stupid rules, driven by legacy. Omar needs a legacy, and for quite different reasons so does Greg Christie. Combat is in the air. African brethren say, “When elephants fight the grass suffers.” “All flesh is grass,” said a Jewish brother; no good comes of this conflict. Greg exits soon and must leave a kick-butt OCG. But we also want China’s kick-start projects; we must have our cake and eat it. Give us both!

OPTION 1: Omar should take the issue to Parliament. We have 63 MPs to speak for us. Let them decide. They have not always been responsive, so this weekend we mandate each one to vote for a China Investment Bill. We have no time to form a “Voters’ Alliance”, but let’s work for one goal. It is hard to have the mother of deals and a spouse says, “No way, José!” Omar is in this position. Christie is a dynamo and goes into battle for us with flair – we love him.

But we gave Omar a job; he has a deal on offer (bauxite was better and here we are), but Greg says “no shortcuts” as we starve for investment, infrastructure, jobs. JLP and PNP like the projects, so it’s not beyond Portia and Andrew to whip their MPs, pass an Act and get these mega projects. Legal can do drafting in 48 hours and projects can be tied up in 10 days. “Sir” Greg can exit with honour, Omar move promptly to signing and we create a good precedent. For the first time since Independence we would see the good a united Parliament can do. Win, win, win! The mega investors may be so impressed at this concord that they throw in a few billion to fund a Bog Walk Gorge dam or the Heroes Park Parliament and Hall of Justice. We need inspiration in these flatulent times.

OPTION 2: Operate on a principle. Omar now feels the pinch of rules he created which businessmen deal with daily. If he is going to override the OCG, then override all state agencies which restrain trade, enterprise, and generally screw up investors lives; thus we all have the same freedom to do business, say, for one year. Open the gates to investment and jobs.

For 50 years politicians failed to make us prosper and Omar has a lot to prove. The JLP and PNP are well-intentioned, had about equal terms in office; JLP had a run of three straight prime ministers in the cheap days when our dollar was strong and the PNP had a long run with the weak dollar – no prosperity. No excuses, as Sir Greg was not around to hamper them. Let’s take risks. Christie must not be roadkill on the path to progress. Why did Omar use this option? Greg would buckle as he exited? Choose flight not fight? Was this ethical triumvirate his best shot? Did my phone ring? Omar needs a quick dénouement to get projects signed and started, and we want to remember Christie derided, maybe hated, but our champion!

Omar is the scion of activist ministers and changemakers who balk at obstructive state bodies.The civil service is slow and deliberate. The state never gets discounts or deals. In fact, they pay more than the going rate. Why? Corruption, delay and aversity to risk. They play the long game so their ways are not our ways. Taxpayers die, taxpayers are born, the civil service is eternal. When documents are released in 50 years’ time investors will have gone, but they will be vindicated as a new set of investors arrive and the cycle starts over. We are always bridesmaid, never a bride. Omar needs to disrupt the cycle. Prosperity in this generation! The civil service is inundated with mercenaries, many as temporary as the minister. I was shocked to observe a ministry where a cadre of senior people departed of their own volition when the minister left. Were they the plumbers who came to fix the pipes, “hit men” or serious nation-building professionals? What have we become? Scary!

One big zone of conflict between politicians and civil servants is time. Why do projects lag when they have support and funds? This tension is normal, but infuriating. One says, “You don’t have to face the wrath of voters!” Another: “You created these rules in Parliament so don’t blame me!” Michael Manley was our most impatient leader; by personality and career he craved action… quick decisions, swift outcomes – all anathema to the service. When I was a young civil servant he taught me anger was a performance tool: “When I am most angry I am least angry.” He created change, institutions, segued several streams; his frustration was palpable. He whipped his MPs to create laws, gun court in record time; he mobilised, infused new blood, but could not move the civil service “more than so”. It is what it is. Good laws are hard to fast-track; good deals hard to broker and a bargain will languish. To the service a deal is a Trojan horse like “free” software which ends up costing a bomb; “penny buy trouble and pound can’t cure it”. They prefer to pay full price – no deal! Or why the rush? It will be here next year! To God, the civil service a thousand years is a day! We have but three score!

Minister Davies’ dilemma is not new. Christie is order, good practice with authority and inhibits enterprise – it needs room to succeed or fail. But the service is denatured so the OCG is absolutely essential. I feel like the man who sees his mother-in-law in his new Benz rolling toward a gully! Greg’s caution and Omar’s deal create mixed emotions. Mixed emotions. Greg is a robust avatar of the service but Omar must find a solution which does not comfort the corrupt. Check this!

In past times statutory bodies were the answer to a slow civil service. Politicians said if they could circumvent the service things would be done quickly. “Helloooo, we still in the hole!” Today, we have dozens of useless statutory bodies. They also tried state companies. We would be nimble as private firms if we were to take a state function, put it under the Company’s Act and appoint a high wage CEO. “Hellooo, we in a deeper hole!” Executive Agency is the recent attempt to beat back civil service inertia and so RGD, Customs are on tap. Dr Davies forms a transparent troika to vet a deal but his virtual domino partner colts the game. Business is based on deals; the service on law and precedent; its systems frustrate the risk taker; process above production, probity above result – a pain in the butt. OCG is the acme of these values. Necessary, but “freakin’ insane”. The OCG is a creature of law and is avoided only by law. We must mandate our MPs to vote for a China Act. Avoid the lawsuits, diverted energies of the minister, investor mobility. I am OK if the full Parliament approves one-off investments which are “too big to miss!” Take a risk, let’s do it!

Dr Franklin Johnston is a strategist, project manager and adviser to the minister of education.

franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com