The Editor, Sir:

The national budget has been tabled and for the coming weeks it will be subjected to rigorous scrutiny and analysis.

In the coming days we will be hearing from the minister of finance, agriculture and the prime minister on what the next financial year will hold for the nation. The Opposition will do their part to present, hopefully, a balanced and objective positions of what may or may not be possible.

While I am not purporting to be an expert in macroeconomics as well as not being privy to the inner workings of running a government, there are, however, a few issues that I would like to bring to the attention of the Government as well as the nation.

The instability of the world's financial markets and the ever rising cost of energy will mean that life will continue to be very hard for most Jamaicans and the country must brace itself for the difficult times ahead.

Test of character

The coming months will therefore be a test of our character as adversity can either bring out the worst or the best in us. It is my opinion that there are some key areas we need to address in the short, medium and long term that will help us weather the storm.

In the short term, Government needs to address the issue of national food security. I suspect Minister Tufton will speak to the nation on the Government's plans to improve productivity in the critical agriculture sector.

However, in addition to the traditional support of the farming sector, might I also suggest a national 'backyard garden' programme which can help us supplement our basic food needs.

This programme should be promoted in tandem with the capacity building of the traditional farming sector enabling them to supply the domestic and international markets. This of course is nothing new, I remember as a boy growing up in the 1970s helping my mother in her backyard garden.

In the medium term the nation needs to stop paying lip service and really address our over-consumption of energy. Public-private partnerships need to be encouraged to reduce the energy bill. For example, the National Water Commission (NWC), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Jamaica Constabulary Force could benefit from integrating renewable energy solutions as part of their operations.

Wind turbine

If Munro College can supply their own electricity from a wind turbine, why can't the NWC do the same in remote areas that need water supply? Why isn't there a wind turbine at the coastguard base in Port Royal, or solar panels installed at the JDF base at Pedro Banks? This could supplement the cost of electricity to the JDF.

An integrated approach needs to be taken and the Government through its ministries and educational institutions should take the lead in partnership with the private sector. The potential savings to the nation over time could be substantial.

Finally, the Government appears to be taking the correct long-term approach by increasing investment in education. An educated population is critical to real economic growth and development of any nation.

Proper education can address a multiplicity of issues such as health, population growth, domestic violence, crime, productivity and foreign direct investment.

However, we must be mindful that throwing money at the problem is not a solution and any attempt to improve education must include building the capacity of parents and communities to be more directly involved with their children's education and demand better quality teaching of their children.

These are just a few suggestions that I believe should be considered within the wider framework of nation-building such as constitutional reform, environmental protection, equality and justice.

I am, etc.,

PETER E.T. EDWARDS

horlicks_1989@yahoo.com

PhD candidate, marine policy

University of Delaware

Via Go-Jamaica