Wenare encouraged by Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s declaration last Tuesday that the Government intends to embark on a national drive to reduce bureaucracy. In fact, he put it even more forcefully, saying the intention is “to tear down the walls of bureaucracy” because, as it now stands, it is taking too long to get done the things that can have a positive impact on the country’s economic growth and development.

We will, however, hold the applause until we actually see forward movement on this plan, because for decades successive governments have promised to deal with this issue without action to match.

Mr Holness is correct in arguing that while bureaucracy is meant to ensure organisational efficiency, in Jamaica it has too often served as an obstacle to progress.

“What has seeped into us is that if it didn’t take long, it wasn’t well done,” the prime minister stated, in reference to State bureaucracy, in his policy address to the nation during which he outlined six key pillars of the Government’s growth strategy.

According to Mr Holness, this growth strategy will “move beyond plans and policies and deliver tangible results for the Jamaican people”.

Hence his pledge to clear blockages that prevent action.

A sad truth is that bureaucratic red tape has been like a millstone around the neck of this country for decades. We recall the World Economic Forum’s 2016-2017 Global Competitiveness Report showing inefficient Government bureaucracy as the second most problematic factor for doing business in Jamaica. The first was crime and theft.

We stand to be corrected, but in the absence of any formal data on the impact of inefficient bureaucracy on economic activity here we would not be surprised to learn that the loss is in the billions of dollars.

In fact, in 2016 Mr Dennis Chung, who at the time was CEO of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, was reported as saying that he knew of an investor who, on hearing the Government’s proposed divestment of the Riverton dump was willing to put US$900 million into it.

But that proposal has remained just that, a proposal, and that investor has no doubt lost interest and moved on to another opportunity in another country.

That is just one example of the problem facing the country and which, if not fixed, will continue to stifle the type of growth that can make life better for Jamaicans.

The prime minister has said that under this national drive to reduce bureaucracy the Government will simplify approvals, reduce wait times, and remove unnecessary barriers that have outlived their purpose. Additionally, the Administration “will take a hard look at existing policies, permitting and approval processes, reform those that have outlived their usefulness, and remove the unnecessary layers of approval that hold us back”.

Also, the Government intends to amend certain pieces of legislation and realign some regulations “to ensure that they are not obstacles to development”, and he announced the creation of an Efficiency Programme Oversight Committee to ensure that State bureaucracy supports growth.

If Mr Holness and his Government can achieve that, they would have done this nation a great service.

We wait with bated breath.