Saturday, November 9, 2013

Leaders in self-denial as Caribbean economic crisis worsens

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Shorter and better said, Mr. PM:
"I have absolutely no clue about what to do next. So help me".

Son-of-man said...

/

An excellent article Sanders, and so different than the histrionics written by the degenerates like the Weight lifter and the Muckrake Jeff.

Anonymous said...

It is perilous to see any safety, or to safely discuss the PM's repeated refrain about wanting a mythical amorphous entity called "the region", to see an ever-present economic danger facing the Caribbean, vis-à-vis a stark inability on his part to come up with one single workable and cogent measure as a response. We too then, are content on burying our collective heads in the sand.

Anonymous said...

Great leaders inspire.

Without even a hint of inspiration emerging from the several recantations of doom and gloom, we can see why the author of the column had to resort to this charitable, if not -- very diplomatic construction:

"He is to be congratulated
for his courage in speaking
up a second time. A third
occasion would be less
convincing. Now, action is
required by all. "

With no credentials or training as an economic soothsayer, now, you go ahead. Read between the lines.

Anonymous said...

The author of this article is so old-school that he believes that titles are equivalent to wisdom and knowledge, making one super-omniscient.

Just look at what he wrote:

"But now it has come from a prime minister who was previously Legal Counsel to the Secretariat of the 15-nation Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) and, earlier, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies deeply immersed in the many challenges and limited prospects of small States. His remarks, therefore, come with a special authority and should be a reality jolt for all Caribbean leaders in government, opposition political parties, the private sector and the labour movement."

To the discerning, if this a repetition it hardly qualifies as a jolt.

Next, there is absolutely nothing up there that says anything specifically about political economy, the substantive part of today's economics.

So where are all the qualifications to say that "The sky is falling", just because one making that call cannot or is unable to see any way to peer through the clouds?

Granted, there may be some responsibility to know when such conditions exist. Nonetheless, this is a far cry from, or is not the same thing as equating this with having the capacity to do so, and most of all ... correctly.

Economic forecasting can be just as far wrong as weather forecasting. I would not put great store on such statements in today's complex global economic environment coming from some WITHOUT the necessary disciplinary background and counsel.

It is noteworthy that Saint Lucia is still struggling with the formation of a nominal national economic advisory group. Any substitute that exists and that is being listened today does not inspire much confidence.

Anonymous said...

@ 11:56 am: Another bar stool pundit.Think economies of scales my friend.

Anonymous said...

Economies of scale? Say what? Really? Did that term just happen to be taught in yesterday's class? Please identify the profitable production process (processes) that has (have) to be scaled up to fill an unsatisfied demand to achieve those economies? Please do.

Waiting ..............