Tailor Needed

Jamaica is a land of many claats.  As you mess with someone you are likely to be told about your claat. Those more skilled can reel off the different types with the minimum of provocation.

We need to tell this government about it claat. It is talking out of not two but at least six sides of its mouth.  The various utterings not only are contradictory, they just do not make sense. It is not spin - that is an art and must have some degree of credibility.  It is unabashed lying: plain red-faced deceit.

But the government is either incompetent or simply does not care.  It bungles along - goofing here, there and everywhere. Faced with a mockery of government, this amateurish farce must be draped up and told some choice words. We have to vent for we are vex!  To date, Bruce Golding has been an unimaginable disappointment.

Speculation abounds as to the reasons for such a dismal performance record. Yes, there are severe external pressures exerting devastating consequences on our economy.  Yes, the PNP  made a significant contribution to our vulnerability to such shocks.  But the JLP has assumed the reins of government since September 2007.

Maybe we were desperate.  Sister P and her posse were just not cutting it. By contrast, the Bruce Golding-led JLP seemed promisingly brilliant. We wished to see an image of emperor Bruce clothed in the finest of garments (and bling) bearing gifts (jobs, jobs and more jobs).  An optical illusion if ever there was one.

Telling this government about its claat may just be temporary personal relief. The CS himself needs to adopt a claat approach by wheeling and coming again.

• CS, you need to cut some claat in more ways than one. Indeed you may have to tell some of your friends and foes about theirs when you send them packing. You have to cut your suit to fit your cloth.  If the fabric has shrunken, or is just not as expansive as you would have hoped, then you must cut and carve. From ministers, ministries and civil service - if the revenue is not there, then adroitly cut the services being provided by government.  The purpose of the civil service is to provide service, not jobs. 
  
• With a seemingly intractable crime problem, we need for a start to double the complement of the police force. Whilst at the same time introducing a variety of new skills and technology.  Some separated from positions in the civil service could find jobs in an enlightened organization honed in a national effort to reduce crime.
• Taxation packages are easy for a vision-less regime. Failure to achieve targets beget more and increased initiatives; ultimately yielding similarly frustrating results. Hello CS - people do not work just to pay taxes.  Freeze - and - tax has never been a forumla for growth and development.  The entrepreneurial spirit has to be stimulated, facilitated and rewarded.
• CS, Since you cannot drive, try tailoring - cut some claat nuh!