Following the Yom Kippur War in late 1973 in which Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack on Israel, a key ally of the USA, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) — which included, among others, seven Arab countries, Iran and Venezuela — decided to increase the price of oil by 70 per cent.

Geopolitics aside, Jamaica was caught up in it, and if my memory serves me correctly, the price of petrol at the pump in Kingston leaped from 40 cents per gallon to well over $1. Our country was being led by a highly popular prime minister, the PNP’s Michael Manley, and at that time of crisis he was most animated and engaging, appearing on TV and making more than a few radio announcements in his efforts to explain to the people exactly what had taken place and how his leadership would assist us in walking through the economic minefield which featured steep price increases for many basic consumer goods.

After 18 1/2 years in the wilderness of political opposition, from February 1989, the JLP was eventually elected into office in September 2007.

Like a man who had spent the better part of 20 years searching for his long lost-love, then finding her, marrying her and revelling in his happiness only to discover when she fell ill and visited the doctor that she had terminal cancer, so must the JLP had felt in 2007 when the shenanigans of an unregulated Wall Street brought about the global economic crisis which hit in December 2007.

Many of us, including myself, had carried the line that the JLP, and especially its Finance Minister Audley Shaw, had told the country that Jamaica would escape unscathed. A high official in the JLP reminded me recently:

“I think this was misconstrued from a statement that Audley made expressing confidence that the crisis would not have any negative impact on the stability of our financial institutions. Audley was, of course, absolutely correct. Not a single financial institution in Jamaica went under, unlike what occurred in many other countries including some of our Caricom neighbours.”

Then prime minister, Bruce Golding made some pointed comments in his 2008 Budget presentation which indicated not only that the Administration was very aware of the severity of the crisis but that plans were in place to protect those most at risk.

“This debate is taking place at a time when Jamaica finds itself in a harsh global environment to which we are extremely vulnerable and for which we are ill-prepared. We have a development deficit that must be made up, poverty that must be eradicated, a social order that must be transformed, opportunities that must be created, and hopes that must be fulfilled,” he said.

Not into a blame game as he could have credibly played it, Golding said, “I want to address these challenges and, in doing so, I don’t intend to dwell on the past or to be unduly critical of those who were here before. I am prepared to concede that they did their best and did what they thought was best. So, my purpose here today is not to curse the darkness, rather to shine some light.”

We are quite aware of how the PNP savaged the JLP Government in the election campaign of 2011. and many of us who hopped on the sweet-talking PNP train of that time have conveniently forgotten some harsh facts as pointed out by PM Golding in his 2008 Budget presentation.

“We are caught in a turbulent global environment and it is hurting us badly. It is hurting the poor, in particular, in a terrible way. Many are bewildered, feeling the pain but not understanding what is causing the pain. The director-general of the FAO, Mr Jacques Diouf, speaking at a conference in New Delhi two weeks ago, pointed out that world food prices have risen 45 per cent in the last nine months. That is about the time that we have been in office.

“Last year, Jamaica recorded the highest inflation in 12 years. But so, too, did France, China and Chile. Sweden had the highest inflation in 14 years and Australia and the USA the highest in 17 years! Average inflation in the European Union is the highest it has been since the Union was formed! Venezuela doesn’t have an oil problem. It has oil! Yet, its inflation last year was even worse than ours — 22 per cent.

“What is causing prices to go up like this?”

At this time when Jamaicans are hurting badly and the poorer among us are close to the end of their tether, even some of the very poor who supported the PNP with their votes did so because the JLP, in its long campaign leading up to the 2007 election, had made the promise of jobs, jobs, jobs, a standard mantra of politicians who want to be elected.

When Golding asked the question in relation to price increases, he was, in essence, covering the reasons for the lack of jobs, jobs, jobs, but was also going much further.

“Some of the large emerging economies like China and India which account for more than a third of the world’s population have been growing rapidly — close to or more than 10 per cent per year. This has swelled the demand for critical commodities such as oil and grain and all the things that oil and grain are used to make. The World Bank estimates that global demand for food will be doubled by 2030. World production of these commodities has not been able to keep pace with this increased demand, hence higher prices and even shortages.

“The situation has been made worse by other factors. As the price of oil climbs, crops normally grown for food are being used to make fuel, thus putting more pressure on the dwindling supplies of food. Global warming has resulted in adverse weather conditions — droughts where crops need water and floods where they don’t — and this has led to drastically reduced harvests. In addition, some of the major food-producing countries have restricted the export of products such as wheat, corn and rice in order to protect their own food supplies.

“Because food is becoming so scarce and prices so high, it has become a virtual currency with aggressive bidding in the futures market, pushing up prices even higher.

“The world is now facing the worst global food crisis in more than 50 years. In the last few weeks, food riots have broken out in 33 countries. The UN has warned that more countries are likely to erupt.”

The JLP Administration did what it could do at one of the harshest economic times in our history. It increased the minimum wage by 16 per cent. It removed tuition fees in high schools as it was a part of its campaign promises. It also eliminated user fees in public health institutions although some believe that decision was not properly thought out.

In the first three months of 2008 it spent $500 million to subsidise the prices of certain basic food items. It expanded the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) and increased the individual benefits. It also increased the benefits under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

It seems the politically correct thing is to label the JLP as an anti-poor people party, when the truth is that the PNP is better at marketing what it does for the poor while seemingly relaxing its hands on dealing with the bigger macro-economic matters.

Who will tell the prime minister the truth?

In every political party there are always a few individuals who are unafraid to approach the leader or the prime minister and say, ‘Leader, with respect, I believe that you are approaching this particular matter on the wrong footing.’

A few days ago, I had lunch with two of my PNP friends who were very close to members of the Administration and party officers.

I asked them who were the people in the party or the Cabinet whom the prime minister trusted who could approach her and speak frankly with her. Based on the history of the prime minister shutting down any suggestions from high-ranking members of her Cabinet, it was the consensus among the two that no one dares to tell her that she is on the wrong track.

Michael Manley engaged the nation in the 1970s, and although his economic policies and political experimentation eventually proved hazardous to the health of the country, at no time could it ever be said that he had disappeared from the front page of leadership or had ceded his role to a vacuum as has happened in the present leadership.

Between 2008 and 2011, PM Golding and his team, at the worst of economic times, had steadied the ship, but as usual, had forgotten to market its real successes.

In 2013, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller seems quite satisfied that she can do no more than what the IMF dictates should be done. So, who needs a prime minister?

I like what the new contractor general is doing

In issuing a press release covering an update on investigations into the Spalding market affair, new Contractor General Dirk Harrison stated something that seems to have flown under the media radar.

In his release he said: “The contractor general, given his prosecutorial background, has made certain important changes to the approach and methodology of OCG Statutory Investigations, specifically; the OCG has now instituted Section 18 Judicial Proceedings which requires the attendance and examination of witnesses in a quasi-court setting.

“As it concerns the Spalding Market Investigation, the OCG has, over the last two months, undertaken in excess of 12 field interviews and statement collection sessions, conducted approximately 17 Section 18 Judicial Hearings, multiple site visits and sequestered several pieces of pertinent documentary evidence, along with the issuance of numerous requisitions.”

Yes, that is right, Section 18 Judicial Hearings which is quite a step up from where the last contractor general, Greg Christie, operated.

Although I had no major beef with the previous contractor general, he was a bit of a show-boater who had adopted the habit of jumping the gun and causing the insinuation of guilt during the course of his investigations.

Institutions of governance in this country must evolve if we are to make it as a fully fledged nation that can claim civility and social and economic viability.

Mr Harrison is on the right track.

Buchanan tells me he’ll honour his word

Last week, I commented on some of the promises/failings of the MP for West Rural St Andrew but also pointed out that he had arranged the completion/repairs of major breakaways in sections of the constituency.

As he knew that I was about to criticise him in the Sunday Observer (I had told him so by telephone) he strategically wrote a glowing piece about his work in the constituency. No problem there.

The thing is, I know that the MP is working and is capable of much more. But, as he seems to be vexed with me and no longer answers his phone, this page will remain my main communication link with him.

Politicians are ‘strange’ but quite rational people. They are always into a numbers game. If a stretch of badly damaged road only affects 20 people, the politician prefers to resurface a reasonably good road that a few thousand people will see.

I wrote about the Mount Salus soak-away and a reader emailed me as follows.

‘Good Day, is this Mr Mark Wignall?

‘I hope it is you. I read your article recently and you made mention of an area where I live near the soak-away pit….. I would be grateful for your assistance in putting some much needed attention there. The road/terrain is in deplorable condition and the marl, dirt and sand debris continue to fill up the pit.

Thanks for your time and consideration.’

Thanks for your time and consideration, Mr Buchanan, MP for West Rural St Andrew who seems vexed with me because I dared to criticise him.

What about the road and the soak-away pit, Mr Buchanan? What about the funds that had been spent on getting it right only to have it still remaining in the deplorable state that it is in?

News Flash. I normally write my Sunday column on a Thursday. After saying that the MP was not speaking to me, he called me early Friday morning and pointed out to me that many of the structural matters in the constituency that I had mentioned his involvement in — the soak-away pit in Mount Salus, the failure to clear a blocked drain which was causing flooding on private property, were really matters for the NWA and not really him.

I called the Editor of the Observer and he has allowed me this addendum.

Mr Buchanan, I like a lot of what you are doing in the constituency so, the new promises you made me on Friday morning I am going to take that as gospel.

Almost like religion.

observemark@gmail.com

MANLEY… engaged the nation in the 1970s although his economic policies and political experimentation eventually proved hazardous to the health of the country

SIMPSON MILLER… seems quite satisfied that she can do no more than what the IMF dictates should be done

HARRISON… on the right track