Always improve the lives of the people

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Dear Editor,

The quest for political power in a democracy such as ours must always be to improve the condition of the lives of the greatest number, if not all of the people. This must be the main objective of political parties, and if this is not the case, power in any political party can never be justified. In this context, Don Wehby, group CEO of that great Jamaican company GraceKennedy, is reported as saying, "Economy will suffer if governments fear loss of political capital."

Think and Grow Rich by philosopher Napoleon Hill gives a long list of the causes of failure, and fear is high up on that list. In relation to the legal profession, the injunction to lawyers by the general council of the Bar of England is that they must not fear what a judge might do to them, they must always do the best for their clients to succeed and this I have always told weak-kneed juniors. Perhaps putting it another way, one must do what one ought to do, whether one wants to do it or not, even for fear of the consequence to oneself.

Government is the biggest business in any country, and while it is not the same as a commercial enterprise, it has at least one important thing in common; it is an economic organism dealing with income and expenditure. In this connection, no one can agree with the well-intentioned Minister of Finance Dr Peter Phillips for obvious fear of losing political capital when he gave the assurance to public servants that their jobs would be secure while it is the first and foremost duty to cut expenditure in public wage bill, which is the heaviest burden upon the budget, inhibiting service of loans and the inevitable reluctance of vital creditors to lend us not mentioning payment to the very public servants themselves.

Incidentally, it is reported that Dr Phillips seeks long-term loan from the IMF which was created to help with balance of payment problems by short-term loans. I shall say no more at this time except to wish him good luck, "for nothing ventured nothing gained". We sincerely hope the IMF, in all the circumstances of our case, will extend credit on terms required by our minister as an exception, as the wise and knowledgeable minister demonstrates the recognition that fear inhibits success.

Owen S Crosbie

Mandeville, Manchester

oss@cwjamaica.com

Do/Would you disclose details of your salary with your spouse?
	Yes
	No

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

ANANDA ALERT! teen missing from Ward Close

Always improve the lives of the people