Dear Editor,

In a letter entitled ‘A call for substance over sound bites’ published in the Jamaica Observer on Monday, March 24, Christopher McCurdy wrote about the lack of substance in Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s budget presentation.

While acknowledging that the speech was “wrapped in the cloak of compassion for the Jamaican people”, the reader was critical that Golding did not share details about funding, stressing that his ideas were not new. But are we really looking for anything new in a budget? A budget is an overview of a plan, it is a summary of how resources will be allocated. And, obviously, the plans are matched by financial details.

In any case, I’d rather compassion and an acknowledgement and understanding of the problems instead of empty promises. What we look for in leadership is credibility, integrity, and substance, with practical and realistic solutions which can benefit the country long term.

The writer went on to state: “How much will these initiatives actually cost? Where will the funds come from? Will he [Golding] resort to raising taxes, cutting essential services, or plunging us into financial debt? His failure to address these fundamental questions is not just an oversight, it is a profound irresponsibility.”

Golding’s credibility is not in question, his achievements speak for themselves. Golding is an attorney and a successful businessman who co-founded the first private investment bank in Jamaica, which became one of the leading financial institutions in the Caribbean. He has also served on many boards.

The Opposition has successfully challenged the Government in court several times, arguing breaches of the constitution. If we want to argue substance, we should be critical of the prime minister’s announcement of the increase in minimum wage by a mere $1,000 per 40-hour week, which can barely buy a box lunch.

Minister of Finance Fayval Williams announced a plan to raise the tax threshold to enable lower income earners to save $2,000 per month. According to her, in three years they would have enough to purchase a Probox. One may argue its better than nothing, but none of this is substantial. If we are going to be critical, let’s be fair.

To be honest, I think both leaders fell short, they failed to knock it out of the park, considering this is an election year. It is obvious money is tight despite the decline in debt servicing, the result of economic prudence by successive governments over the years. It is a myth to suggest that Prime Minister Andrew Holness achieved this on his own in the short time he has been in office.

The reality of most Jamaicans is one of economic hardships, an everyday struggle to make ends meet. Close to 80 per cent of Jamaicans don’t have health insurance, many die due to lack of resources and timely and effective health care. The education sector is another discussion point: too many are falling through the cracks. Government should be looking out for the most vulnerable — the poor, the elderly, the youth, and the sick.

While both sides played it safe in their presentations, I doubt it was enough to move the needle either way, in terms of perception. Judging from the polls and online comments, neither party can expect to win a landslide, which speaks volumes of the current disconnect between the electorate and the political process.

Integrity is still a hot topic amongst people, and contrary to what most politicians might think, the electorate never forgot the massive increases, in excess of 100 per cent, which politicians awarded themselves while others, especially those in public service, including police, teachers, struggle just to get a marginal increase. Constituents have been taking stock of the progress in their constituency over the years, and many are complaining that they only see Members of Parliament at election time.

If only mail-in voting was a thing in Jamaica, we would measure political reality more accurately. I think there are ways to secure these processes, such as preregistering with a fixed address and using drop-off boxes in secure locations instead of sending them by regular post.

Politicians should be elected based on competence, and only the electorate can ensure this. Too many are out of touch with reality, others are arrogant and crass, lacking in decency and decorum. Now that they are well paid, accountability, responsibility and integrity should be demanded and expected at every level.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com