Budget 2016: Holness came, saw and conquered

Somewhat like a man possessed, Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday made one of the most pronounced budget presentations from a local political leader in many years, to earn the acknowledgement of almost all his parliamentary colleagues.

Perhaps after having had the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pour cold water on the recent strident criticisms from the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) of the Government’s $1.5 million income tax plan, Holness was a picture of confidence in Parliament, where he waxed warn with both goodies and announcements of new and renewed policy initiatives nationally.

He also, notably, produced some clarity about the strategic focus and operational logistics of the super Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation within the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

In citing high debt and low level of economic growth as factors which are reflective of the present situation nationally, Holness said while the PNP focused almost exclusively on debt reduction, his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) proposed the twinning of its debt reduction and economic growth strategies. He said the country settled that debate in the February 25 General Elections.

As a consequence, the prime minister said while geared at meeting all its commitments to the ongoing IMF programme, the Government has been busy fostering a slew of initiatives to generate the level of economic growth that is needed to meaningfully peg down the national debt.

Holness listed a debt swap scheme that has been proposed to the World Bank; expediting a significant number of projects that were said to have been suffering from bottlenecks under the past Administration; electronic registration of businesses to reduce the process to a one-day timeline; privatisation of a number of national assets; mandatory submission of building approval requests to ensure transparency; the creation of a ‘Government Circle’ on lands around the National Heroes Circle in Kingston; a review of the CARICOM trade and political arrangements to ensure that Jamaica benefits optimally from the arrangements, among the growth initiatives being forged by the Administration.

He said, in respect of the super ministry in his office, the concept is that it brings into a single ministry, most of the critical agencies and departments that play a crucial role in stimulating, attracting, facilitating, co-ordinating and regulating investments across a range of sectors. That, he said, “removes the silo effect and intra-governmental territorialism which has plagued past administrations on both sides, and increases the velocity of decision-making and the effectiveness of government.”

Holness said the complementary Economic Growth Council has been set up, in consultation with the multilateral partners, with the World Bank supporting by making available consultative and technical resources from other countries that have successfully transitioned from stability to growth.

He said the Growth Ministry will be augmented with the establishment of the National Policy Office that will drive the Economic Growth Policy. The National Policy Office is to be comprised of technically knowledgeable and effective system managers drawn from the existing managerial level across the agencies and department within the new ministry. The office will act as the co-ordinating nucleus of policy development and implementation, and will report directly to the Prime Minister. The office will also act as the secretariat behind the work of the Economic Growth Council.

Amidst a roll-out of housing benefits that even had him invoking the ‘presence’ of revered former PNP leader and conceptualiser of the NHT, Michael Manley, Holness, however, had to take a critical look at the challenging national security portfolio, this after having urged the broadly expanded span of income tax beneficiaries to considering investing in home ownership with their improved incomes.

“As Prime Minister, I have no intention of allowing the security situation to derail the economic growth agenda,” Holness declared in respect of the crime monster.

He noted that for almost three decades, the increasing scourge has seriously hampered national growth and economic well-being, hence the need for the hindrance to be now tackled frontally and decisively.

While naturally keeping some of the planned strategic matters close to his chest and leaving some for the portfolio minister’s sectoral budget presentation, Holness said the Government will introduce a special stream within the court system for the trial of murder cases, thereby greatly expediting the process.

In addition, the Government plans to amend the Bail Act to make persons charged with murder ineligible for bail under certain circumstances.

He also said the Government will be implementing an initiative within the ranks of the police force, involving the designation of at least one domestic violence co-rdinator at each police station. These personnel are to be supported by local consultative committees, to forge speedy interventions where there are reports of domestic disputes, along with the necessary follow-up actions after the initial interventions. This, the prime minister said, was within the context that some 37 per cent of the murders being committed are domestic in nature.

He said the Government also intends to amend the law to introduce mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes; take the MOCA Acts to Parliament for debate and passage; seek to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act to include praedial larceny; seek amendments to the Offensive Weapons Act to include a wider range of weapons; and intensify efforts to deal with lotto scamming, gangs and the narcotics trade.

He also said the Government intends to start the Security Enhancement Fund to have a dedicated stream of revenue for the maintenance of police vehicles and the repair of police stations and barracks. Along that line, he pointed to the plan to increase the mobility of the police by lowering the cost of procurement by opting for pre-owned cars for the police force. He said the initiative will increase the fleet available to the police by 400 cars and 200 motorbikes, allowing for the average police station across the country to have a complement of two motor cars and a bike.