Claudius Sanford
On June 29th 2011, the Prime Minister of Dominica presented a national budget of $432.5-million in parliament. Without much deliberation from members of cabinet the amount was approved and voted for.
Members of his cabinet raised no concern regarding the fact that the allocated amount was significantly less than that of the previous year. None of them seem bothered that there were going to be major cuts in expenditure in some sectors of the economy, a measure that would directly reduce the level of employment in the country.
Each one of them accepted the lame excuses read by the Prime minister as to the causes for a reduction in the budget amount:
1.??? Global Financial Crisis but what is the value of government investment portfolio on the international financial markets Mr. PM?
2.??? Slow pace in the US and western economies but what is our volume of trade with the US and western economies Mr. PM? Hey!!! What about China? Are we selling one item to them?
3.??? Rising fuel and energy cost but what role is PetroCaribe playing to cushion the effect Mr. PM?
None of them dare to assist the finance minister in pointing out a plan to generate revenue in a declining economy. Their cheers were lauded, approving the construction of a $27-million state house, a ?prime tourist attraction? when they knew there was going to be zero cruise ship calls for the remaining half of 2011 in Dominica.
Listening to the events as they unfolded in our parliament on the 29th of June 2011 without the contribution of the members of the opposition begs the question, how many members of cabinet have an academic background that provided them with a basic under?standing of how the economy works?
The answer, it turns out, is not many. Publicly available data show that over three-quarters of members of Cabinet, 16 out of the 18 including the Minister of Finance, lack an academic background in business or economics. Only two members (Hon. Julius Timothy (Minister of Health, really?) and Hon. Ambrose George (Minister of constituency empowerment (Oh my God!! Where is the compatibility?) majored in an economics-related field, and less than 30 percent of the members of cabinet hold a college degree.
This research suggests to us that in our choices of representative, we the people of Dominica don?t seem to be bothered about the level of unemployment among our youths, the impact of tax measures on our standard of living, the importance of investing more proportionately in our productive sectors of the economy and whether or not we import five time more the value of what we export. Are these not what the elected members of parliament should be concerned about?
We vote representatives to solve our economic problems but as it turns out they don?t have a clue where to start.
If we do not trust the educated and qualified brothers and sisters among us to lead:
How then do we expect a reduction in unemployment among our youth?
How then do we expect to increase national revenue?
How then do we expect to provide better health care?
How then do we expect to attract foreign investment?
How then can we avoid the brain drain?
How then do we expect to have a society free from crimes?
How then will we stop prostituting ourselves and standing in government line? (red clinic)
How then do we expect to have a corrupt free and accountable government?
Next time these 18 members of cabinet ask your vote, get from them a job application letter with a CV. Because as I see it, we vote to pay them a salary.
I await your comments.
Claudius Sanford is deputy leader of the United Workers Party.
Copyright 2011 Dominica News Online, Andrews Publishing Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
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