Mood of Jamaica, Trinidad at 38-- One haunted by crime, the other focusing on elections Analysis by Rickey Singh Guyana Chronicle September 4, 2000 JAMAICA AND Trinidad and Tobago, the first two English-speaking Caribbean states to gain political independence in August 1962, have marked their 38th freedom anniversary in contrasting national moods. With the presentation of their biggest-ever budget last Monday, some TT$13 Billion, made possible by the flow of increased petro-dollars, Trinidadians have been further encouraged into an election mood, though going to the polls is not expected to be experienced before November 6. In Jamaica, a prevailing mood of gloom and despair has nothing to do with elections - traditionally a very tense period in the life of the society because of fears of violence. It is the terrifying crime situation with constant reports of murder, rape, robbery and kidnapping. Trinidad and Tobago's business sector is currently belly-aching over a new "Green Fund" tax in Finance Minister Brian Kuei Tung's budget that would require a 0.1 percent levy from January next year on sales to help in fostering a more healthy, friendly environment. Environmentalists are scoffing at the proposal, asking for much more money to be allocated to environmental protection. But business representatives are complaining of an additional "burden". That burden would amount to more than TT$40 million (TT$6=US$1) or possibly TT$34 million. Of course, protecting the environment must, of necessity, involve private sector resources in every society, Trinidad and Tobago being no exception. The Jamaica private sector's worry centres on the spiralling crime wave with some 600 murders already committed for the year and no segment of the society any longer in a `safe zone' from daring robberies, murder, kidnapping or rape. Stewart's Salvo The scenario seems so dreadful that one of Jamaica's best known entrepreneur, Gordon `Butch' Stewart, did what would have been considered unthinkable some years ago - call on the government of Prime Minister Percival Patterson to step aside if the administration cannot get help to effectively place the crime problem under control. Worse, Stewart, a big name in Jamaica's vital tourism industry and `Air Jamaica', publicly stated that he even considered the possibility of emigrating, as many of his friends had done, fearful of the criminals. Was Stewart over-reacting? He cannot be unaware of the serious implications of such comments for someone of his prominence in the Jamaican society and high international profile. Or was his own public call on the government to consider resigning if it cannot attract the necessary overseas assistance to curb the crime wave, and his startling hint of possible emigration designed to shock the political directorate and the law enforcing agencies into some creative responses? Patterson was out of the country when what some considered a rather `politically incorrect' and `alarmist' stand was taken by Stewart. But the entrepreneur's stout patriotism is well known. And, subsequently, followed a collective position of the country's private sector strongly critical of the Police handling of the crime situation and requesting a meeting with the Prime Minister. That meeting was scheduled to have taken place last Friday while this column was being written. What strategies were to be formulated, assurances given and concerted implementation actions to result, may be known this weekend, or pretty soon. Some have been speculating on ministerial head-rolling or shuffling. Hardly a practical solution. In the meantime, Prime Minister Patterson was expected to address the nation last night on the crime situation. The percentage of Jamaicans living abroad returning home has dropped by some 25 percent because, it is reckoned, of the crime situation. The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), which has its counterpart also in Trinidad and Tobago, has already committed itself to come up with proposals of its own to help the Police combat crime and calm fears. Britain's delay in shipping guns to Jamaica, already paid for by the government, has further aggravated the Patterson administration, resulting in Amnesty International having to distance itself from any involvement in such a development because of alleged human rights violations. Trinidad Elections In Trinidad and Tobago, the 2000-2001 pre-election budget was presented amid growing speculations about preparations for the poll and about the likelihood that it may have been the last budget with Kuei Tung in a new cabinet should the incumbent United National Congress (UNC) of Prime Minister Basdeo Panday retain power for a second term. With the economy in a healthy state, foreign reserves at US$1.7 Billion and now bigger than external debt (US$1.5 Billion), unemployment at a comparatively low level, some 12 per cent, and the government's popularity seemingly above that of its challenger, the main opposition People's National Movement (PNM) of Patrick Manning, Prime Minister Panday is speaking with confidence about a return to power. The PNM, however, one of the old parties of the region, continues to bolster morale of its faithfuls and ridicule the UNC's boast of five more years. Both Panday and Manning have surprised media commentators and some of their own party activists by staying largely with their respective `frontline' candidates of the November 1995 elections. With the possible exception of controversial Local Government Minister Dhanraj Singh, Panday seems set to retain all of his old UNC colleagues now serving in his cabinet, while moving cleverly toward a promised "inclusive" list to reach beyond traditional UNC base of mass support. Public discussions and chatter at social events at present revolve around the pre-election budget. Little about the strides since independence. And in Jamaica, the focus remains very much on crime in an economy still in need of a sparkle, and where thoughts far removed from the independence that came 38 years ago. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today