It is downright unsettling that Jamaica’s Minister of Finance, the very person entrusted with understanding the intricate dance of our economy, would take to national television and confidently serve up such an outlandish statement. Cow neva know di use a him tail till him lose it – Dr. Clarke is the tail, and right now, we’re all feeling the sting of leadership that seems increasingly detached from reality.
Where exactly does one find a Probox for 72,000 Jamaican dollars? Is there a secret government dealership offering rock-bottom prices, or has she secured a miraculous legislative breakthrough that will flood the market with bargain-bin Toyotas? Because at this point, I can only assume she is either a magician or a comedian – and frankly, neither option inspires confidence.
As if that was not enough, she went on to rub salt in the wound by suggesting people should be putting away two thousand dollars (2,000), because, after all, they were already surviving without it. A truly enlightened perspective, if one is completely oblivious to the daily struggle of the average Jamaican. Is she unaware that each trip to the supermarket feels like highway robbery? That utility bills seem to rise faster than the sun? That basic services are becoming a luxury?
Where is Dr. Clarke when you need proper TV representation, one where fewer oblivious words fall from seemingly educated lips? Because, say what you will about him, but I still believe the IMF was gutted by Jamaica’s performance under his leadership. His handling of the economy must have felt like heaps of red-hot coals in the IMF’s hands, so much so that they had to pluck him out and employ him just to stop the burning.
Let’s not fool ourselves – the IMF does not lend to nations out of goodwill. Their profits grow from failure. A struggling country means higher interest rates, asset grabs upon default, and the eventual forfeiture of natural resources. Jamaica’s financial health under Dr. Clarke was a thorn in their side, and one can only wonder how long it will take before we feel the full weight of a minister who might be as financially shrewd as he was. This minister is out of touch with reality and may never rise to the challenge.
Mordecai Amon Israel
Leave a comment