SO the oil prices have dropped. We hear that this is the result of the recession, where all prices dropped as a result of the principle of supply and demand. The first rule of economics, especially capitalist economics, is that if demand is high and supply is low the prices will be high; and if demand is low and supply is plentiful the prices will be low. But is it just the recession due to the war that has caused a slump in demand?

The real reason for the reduction in the demand for oil all over the world is that the world is moving more and more towards alternative energy sources. There has been this slow movement since the oil crisis that started in December 1973. Since the 1980s, however, every time the demand for oil dropped the oil barons have reduced their prices, which is exactly what they are doing now.

The manufacturing of alternative energy became greater since the US-Iraq war, where the US could not get adequate supplies for their oil to fuel their warplanes and whatever else. And so the oil price reduction game continues. And every time the price of oil drops nations like Jamaica cease to develop alternative energy sources, which explains why Jamaica is not farther along the road to an alternative energy source.

If the Government gets the funds it seeks from international sources to contain chikungunya, it will mean money to employ people to bush lots and clean up the garbage. Further, if there is a reduced cost of living, caused by the drop in oil prices, there may be sufficient joy to overturn the opinion polls. Which prime minister in a constitutional framework where snap elections can be called would not take advantage of such opportunity?

While the reduction in oil prices might be of political benefit to a ruling party, it is not good for us in the long run — especially when the oil prices go back up. I, therefore, issue an advisory to all people who are in the business of alternative energy not to drop their hands. I am a member of the Jamaica Solar Energy Association and I issue the advisory particularly to the other members.

One of the reasons I am a member of the Jamaica Solar Energy Association is that I am asthmatic. I hope that the day will come when we have our electricity supply totally without oil generators that pollute the air — no matter who says that modern oil generators do not. If such a day does not come in my lifetime, I hope that it will come about for the younger generations.

I will, therefore, do everything in my power to encourage everyone to use alternative sources of energy, and I remind everyone in Jamaica that the vast majority of us are related to at least one asthmatic or someone who suffers from sinusitis. The Jamaica Solar Energy Association includes in their aims and objectives the development of other types of alternative energy sources as a form of preventative medicine. So I see alternate energy as preventative medicine.

I encourage all players in the alternative solar energy industry to join the credit unions, go to the annual general meetings, and vote that some of the surplus goes to developing the alternative energy sector. The co-operative movement use the word ‘surplus’ as the word ‘profit’ implies individual business.

The credit unions are co-operatives, which means that each member has one vote and the supreme authority of the credit unions are the members in attendance at annual general meetings or special general meetings. If all asthmatics in Jamaica get organised and, who have not already done so, join the credit unions and vote with the alternative energy sector, it would be a great help to both groups.

In December 1973, the oil-producing countries decided that they would no longer take a pittance for their oil and started to demand real money. This was understandable, and it was the same way that many Jamaicans felt about bauxite, as we were exporting it for a very low price. Michael Manley, as prime minister, had declared free education in May 1973, but the oil crisis which started in December 1973 could have caused a setback. So, in 1974, Michael Manley introduced the bauxite levy, which was used to finance free education.

Manley got a good deal of flak from upper and middle class Jamaicans for what was called “a waste of money” on free education. It was seen as one symptom of mismanagement. The other social programmes that were implemented, or only talked about in the 1970s, were also deemed a waste of money. The truth is that many of the projects were in fact mismanaged, but the ideas themselves were pretty sound, and they really came from National Hero Norman Manley, who was already in his grave, having died in 1969.

The decision of the Government, in the 1970s, to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and their decision to break ties in the first part of 1980, before they were voted out of office in October 1980, is now history. But one could argue that the real reason for going to the IMF in the first place was because of the hike in oil, starting in December 1973, since the problem had its genesis there.

Edward Seaga, as prime minister, returned to the IMF in 1981. During this time, oil prices dropped, only to rise again from time to time. The subsequent break again with the IMF, this time in the 1990s when P J Patterson was prime minister, and the return to the IMF during the last Bruce Golding-led JLP Government had not only to do with the oil crisis, but also the US Iraq war after 9/11 and its dire consequences of higher oil prices.

The inability of the USA to acquire cheap oil for war purposes has led them to do a serious re-visit of alternative sources of energy. And, we in Jamaica have followed suit, mainly because our oil bill on both the national and domestic levels is perpetually high. But every time that the prices of oil have dropped the players in the alternative energy industry have dropped their hands and then oil prices rise again. We should not fall for that trick again.

ekrubm765@yahoo.com