I often hear Jamaicans speak highly of Singapore and compare its rate of progress to ours.

I have even heard some say that the nation that broke away from the British Empire in 1963 is significantly better off, whereas we are worse off.

Just for the record, I agree Singapore is better off since Independence, but I disagree that we are worse off.

The British left us like they left everybody else, with the majority of the population illiterate, without ownership, and largely without hope.

We now have a society in which education is available to all, health care is available to everyone, and all adults are allowed to participate in the democratic process.

Also, ownership of primary assets, like land, housing, and motor vehicles, are actually possible and achieved by many.

I must agree, however, that Singapore’s economic transformation is incredible.

So what did they do that we have not? Let’s discuss.

Singapore, at best, could be described as a rogue democracy. The use of political repression, random arrests, detention of the Opposition, and the creation of laws to achieve the above listed is a common tool.

An example of this is a law they enacted that says once you are detained for subversion you cannot participate as a candidate in the following election.

Bear in mind, I said detained. Not charged, not convicted — detained!

So, with no Opposition, they could enact any legislation they desired.

It was a prescription for progress if the leader was really interested in progress — which he was.

Lee Kuan Yew was an incredible patriot who genuinely wanted his country to progress under his leadership. He was a dictator with really good intentions.

So would we have wanted this for our country? Could we have pulled off this type of politics without an international intervention ending it?

Firstly, let’s discuss if we would want this type of politics being practised in our country.

I don’t think we would. We seemed pretty upset when the People’s National Party (PNP) arrested the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidates before the 1976 General Election.If we think the end justifies the means, who would we have wanted them to arrest? Who do we want them to arrest now? You get my point?

Would it help to further our country’s economic progress? More than likely, because all Oppositions do, irrespective of party, is to create hurdles for progress.

Look at the Edward Seaga-led JLP Government of the 80s. He was unopposed from 1983 to 1989. I can’t say I liked his style, but he certainly was able to pull us out of an incredible abyss.

The PNP’s PJ Patterson was virtually unopposed as well; not because the Opposition JLP had no seats, but because they were busy fighting each other.

Patterson liberated the foreign exchange market, ended car quotas, and birthed highways. Can you imagine what a robust Opposition could have done to prevent those initiatives.

Look what is being accomplished now? Can you imagine what could happen and likely will if the PNP does not fix up its game?

Some fear tyranny when there is no Opposition, and they are right. I just find, though, that the system of opposing everything, irrespective of whether it is good for the country or not, is ridiculous, counterproductive, and an impracticable model for a country to progress. However, I accept that it is still the best system of all the bad systems, but the destruction of that system worked for Singapore.

Whatever progress this could have or can bring Jamaica, I don’t want it. I want to be able to dismiss a Government that I don’t like. Even if it is to the detriment of the country. Freedom costs!

Another great accomplishment of Singapore is crime control.

Well, if your economy is thriving, you have interment capability, corporal punishment, and can use capital punishment arbitrarily, then you will have crime control.

Why not here in Jamaica? Because it does not sit well when a country with a history of slavery is still whipping its citizens. It’s just not a good look.

But capital punishment, used how it is used in Singapore, will impact crime. There is, however, international implications with the arbitrary use of a rope as a legal solution.

Earlier I asked if we would have been allowed to use the political repression that Singapore used to control its political Opposition. The answer is no.

The United States is the power broker on our side of the planet. That Singapore is in Asia matters. The US also looks the other way because the Government of Singapore is anti-communist. Although we are also anti-communist, they will not tolerate us operating as a rogue democracy. As I said before, we are in their backyard.

They also determine every aspect of Jamaican life — from government to civil society. This is just our reality. They control our swift codes to allow for banking, our access to arms, and they are our primary trading partner. In other words, if we don’t do what they say, we cannot make bank transfers and our military and police will not be supplied arms. Even private citizens will be unable to buy arms if the Americans don’t export them to us. We will go bankrupt.

So that royal family for whom much excitement was generated when they visited the other day, if it were up to the Government they serve, we would be fighting our gunmen with sharp bottles. Only the American Government will sell us arms, and they will not tolerate the use of capital punishment for minor crimes such as drug possession and trafficking.

So let’s go back in time. If Sir Alexander Bustamante had put arresting the Opposition as the first item on his to-do list and implemented capital punishment for crimes other than murder whilst whipping the crime out of the criminal-minded with bamboo, we would have a stronger economy and a safer country.

However, we would not be free.

Some say we are not free now because the gangs impose their rule on a significant portion of the population in Kingston, St Catherine, Clarendon, and Montego Bay, and the area they cover is growing. I agree, but at least we are still in the fight.

If the tyrant that abuses our human rights is the Government we support then there is no fight, there is only acceptance that we can be no better than ruled.

Singapore came at a cost. Are you willing to pay the cost for a Jamaican Singapore?