Be fair to Andrew Holness

THE EDITOR, Sir:

DESPITE THE shortcomings of the Andrew Holness administration, the ruling party is performing reasonably well. Critics can play a role in keeping the administration accountable, but, unfortunately, several pundits are supporters of the Opposition. In politics, all players will engage in activities that best allow them to maximise power. Therefore, it would be silly to critic is e Mr Holness on the basis that he is Machiavellian.

Holness and his administration would have to be judged based on their performance to date. In the realm of economics, Audley Shaw is building on the legacy of Peter Phillips, and he has results to prove it. Rating agency Fitch has upgraded Jamaica’s status from stable to positive. It is even more spectacular to note that according to STAT IN, unemployment is currently at a 10-year low. This ought not be surprising because at a briefing late last year, the governor of the BOJ opined that growth in jobs will continue to outpace the growth of the labour force. This means that there will be more jobs than people to fill them.

Furthermore, the current administration is serious about building human capital. Other than the HOPE Programme that is providing young people with training and white-collar employment, there is also another initiative to train youngsters in the use of

“Cynics would want us to believe that the ideas of Mr Holness are overly ambitious, but it is better to be ambitious than to invest in flippant plans”

Information and communication technology.

The initiatives mentioned are but j ust a few of the many programmes being implemented by the present administration to build human capital. In contrast to the training programmes of the PNP; these initiatives are targeting higher order skills. Holness knows that the Jamaican economy must produce knowledge workers , therefore, he will not waste money on ventures to provide our people with menial skills.

Cynics would want us to believe that the ideas of Mr Holness are overly ambitious, but it is better to be ambitious than to invest in flippant plans.

Mr Holness is not above criticism, but his detractors should put their energy to greater use. Their criticisms will not make him less effective, and the reality is t hat like our politicians, these commentators are boring and have passed their expiration dates.

LIPTON MATTHEWS lo_matthews@yahoo.com