Sunday, December 16, 2007

HIP STRIP IS NOT MONTEGO BAY

The recent signing of agreements totaling JA$95 million by Tourism Minister Ed. Bartlett is another sure sign that tourism officials are only thinking up to their noses for immediate gain, rather than long-term for sustainable economic benefits. This follows up on the JA$23.5 million Mobile Command and Control Police Unit in November, which is to enhance security along the same strip.

Now don’t get me wrong, a little “Spruce up” is definitely a good thing. My problem is that the “sprucing up” is concentrated in only one area of an entire city that has contributed more to tourism than anywhere else in Jamaica.

For tourism to thrive it must be understood, practiced and appreciated by the entire community. To this end the sharing of the benefits with the same community must be just and equitable. You can’t have one set of people enjoying the labour of the masses while the masses suffer economically and socially. Apart from the people who work on the hip strip and those who own the hip strip, who are the other direct beneficiaries of the large sums that are being invested?

Don’t tell me that when people get their pay, they will spend it in the larger community or that when taxes are paid the larger community benefits too. The rest of Montego Bay pays their taxes to fix roads, pay electricity bills and take care of the entire city too. In fact they have contributed in some way or the other to the nearly JA$119 million that is going to be spent. Don’t you think that more of them need to benefit directly? Most of the products/services that are sold on the Hip Strip are not even bought or made in Montego Bay.

Why not spruce up Sam Sharpe Square so that tourists can go to the magnificent edifice called "Montego Bay Civic Center" and learn more about our heritage and history? Perhaps while they are there they can buy an ice-cold jelly from the jelly man, enjoy the natural taste of real Jamaican fruits from the fruit vendor or perhaps a sky juice from the juice vendor? What about fixing up the other streets so that a busload of tourists can take a walk into the history of the St. James Parish Church, the Dome on Dome Street or the Burchell Baptist church where Samuel ‘Daddy’ Sharpe, one of our national heroes was buried?

The industry talks everyday about community tourism, but all that talk is a ‘bag a mout.’ The tourism ministry’s action is nothing more than shortsightedness and runs parallel to the transportation of cruise passengers pass the craft markets to the in bond stores, or the all-inclusive hotels keeping tourists locked away from the real Jamaican experience.

When tourists go to destinations in the United States, France or wherever, they visit churches, monuments, dead yards, swamps, alligator fields and the places that make the best old fashion cuisine. I remember going to Cuba some years ago and part of the tour was to an old broken down upstairs bar, where the guy made one of the best local drinks. We paid I think, US$3.00 for a taste. That was part of a tour. They also had a tour to one of their oldest churches that had outside, a lady who was the best voodoo/palm reading practitioner in Havana, who by the way was charging for her services. This is how these other places ensure that communities benefit. They don’t give lip service to community tourism they practice it as well.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Let's Start The Local Governance

Now that the local government elections are over and the parishes have selected their mayors, we hope that the business of good local governance will start.

The new local government administrations, based on the pledges of the central government, will have their hands full, as their roles and responsibilities will undergo significant changes. The Bruce Golding administration has promised that the local government “must be local and governmental.”

Accordingly, his reform as oulined in the party's maifesto, will include:
  1. Giving constitutional status to the local government system
  2. Clearly defining the functions of local government and separating them from control or interference by central government
  3. Providing a statutory guarantee for funding of local government authorities
  4. Providing a fixed term of three years for governance
  5. Improving capabilities in general management, technical services, financial administration, audit and community relations.
  6. Using the National Contracts Commission to regulate the procurement of goods and services
  7. Having mandatory preparation, presentation and approval of budgets
  8. Enforcing of strict procedures for the certification and authorization of expenditure
  9. Monthly presentations of contracts awarded
  10. Auditing by the Auditor General
  11. Subjecting decisions of parish councils to judicial review

So far, this is one area in which the government seems to be serious. Come January 1, 2008 they will be giving all of the property taxes collected, to the local authorities. This money, according to Minister of State Robert Montague is to be used for the payment of street lighting and solid waste collection.

There can’t be much disagreement with this reform policy and much commendation must go to the government for their foresight and vision in this area. By allowing local communities to be governed by local authorities, it frees up central government’s time to focus on issues of national importance. This can only bring about efficiency and cost savings nationally, provided that management oversight including accountability is carefully executed.

Locally it will mean more efficiency as well, and more resources to satisfy the wants of the people, thereby creating an opportunity for economic and social improvements, which will translate into better standard of living and quality of life. For example, the fact that the parish councils will now be paying the electricity bills for their parishes, they will now have to make sure that they are getting value for their money. With more street lights working, more neighbourhoods will be safer at nights. Safer neighbourhoods means more economic activities for local businesses and the cycle goes on.

With the parish councils now directing more of the local activities it will also take less time for projects to be implemented, as there will be less central government bureaucracy. This will give a sense of value to the electorate for their votes and the wider community for their taxes.

These positive changes will also demanded more from local authorities in the way of intelligence, management, leadership and accountability. Local representatives will now have to account for their time and efforts more than before. The days of sitting in the bars with friends when work is to be done or attending council meetings at will, may become activities of the past. The reform will also weed out the less educated politicians who can’t function, while inspiring more intelligence and brainpower to government.

Mayors will no longer be seen as civic and ceremonial figureheads who attend meetings, charity functions and special high society parties either. He/she will have to be more au fait with the developments and activities in their territory. It will mean more visibility, accountability and accessibility. To achieve economic success the mayor will have to be the best sales person for the parish at the national and international levels, in an effort to bring in investments and improve social infrastructure. More investments in a parish means more local taxes and more resources to use locally. He/she will also need to create harmony among the parish’s different constituencies and lead without partisan proclivity.

Since the parishes are microcosms of the wider society any positive result obtained at the micro level should translate into national achievement. It is therefore in the best interest of the administration, to ensure that these promises are kept, as this will only further their cause to govern for more than one term.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Azan Made The Right Choice

Note – The previous article on Mr. Azan was posted the night of his resignation. This is a response to the resignation.

Mr. Gassan Azan’s decision to step down from the chairmanship of the Jamaica Trade and Investment agency is nothing short of noble and dignified. Without any public pressure and only a request from the opposition PNP, referencing his company’s involvement in stolen electricity from JPS, the millionaire businessman has given himself an honourable discharge and saved Jamaica’s integrity both locally and abroad.

There is no doubt that this will be an embarrassment to the Bruce Golding administration and in particular Karl Samuda, the minister who appointed Mr. Azan. There was no way for Mr. Samuda to have predicted the JPS development but I believe that he erred in judgment, by not properly doing his due diligence on Mr. Azan’s record and qualification for the top job.

With this resignation Mr. Samuda now has a second chance to make an appointment based on talent, skills, character, experience and knowledge, which is what is required to execute the mission of this very important organization. His decision to appoint must take into consideration the goals of the government to create “a better way… for a better Jamaica.” Ingrained in this goal is the process of execution, which can only be carried out by the best minds that are available. I am in no way suggesting that Mr. Azan’s mind is not good. Only that there was a misfit between the position and the personnel.

Commendations must go to Mr. Azan for his desire and willingness to serve his country. But he should have turned down the job, knowing quite well that his past has been tainted with a few unfortunate blotches (see previous post), which could have made him a liability rather than an asset in his post. Through his companies he is making a valuable contribution to the nation’s labour market, productivity and economic growth. It is sincerely hoped that he will take solace in this contribution and move forward in his other endeavours.

As mentioned previously, the government’s goal of seeking parliament’s consensus in key appointments is a wonderful step in the right direction. The people of Jamaica will be the sole beneficiary of this process and I hope haste is given to the parliamentary process.

Is Gassan Azan the Best Choice?

When the JLP came out with their manifesto earlier this year I commented to a friend of mine that if the JLP achieves 60% of their plans, they would be in power for the next twenty years. Even though they have not given enough concrete evidence of how the objectives would be funded, it is still a good strategic document that can have a very positive impact on the Jamaica society if implemented.

Of particular importance to me is the first part that deals with governance. It is important because I fervently believe that good leadership can inspire ordinary people to achieve extra-ordinary results. And God knows, Jamaica needs a good dose of these results.

Part of the good governance package (there are 23 items) as outlined in the manifesto deals with the appointment of public officials. It states that there will be a requirement that “appointment to sensitive posts that are critical to the delivery of good governance be approved by a two-thirds majority in each house of parliament thereby requiring consensus between the government and the opposition.”

It went on to list the public officials as Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, Director of Public Prosecution, Public Defender, Contractor General, Judicial Services Commission, Public Services Commission, Police Services Commission and the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica. It further stated that they “will require appointments to ambassadorial posts and statutory boards be subject to scrutiny and approval by parliament.”

I am going to submit that the reason for this kind of approach by the visionary Bruce Golding, is not only to gain consensus in parliament, but also to ensure that the best person is given the job, if the country is to move forward. Not the friend of the minister, not the biggest political contributor, not the loudest political supporter but the best person!

In the United States these appointments are recommended by the Whitehouse and is then approved by the congress after much questioning and debate. These sessions allow the congress to dig deep into the life of the prospects to make sure that they are squeaky clean and possess the required knowledge and experience to carry out their duties.

In Jamaica things are done differently and so the best persons are not always placed in the positions where their skills, talents, knowledge and experience can be put to work for the good of the country. Sometimes some of these appointees have checkered history but are still appointed because due diligence was not done or a blind eye was turned to their past.

Take the Jamaica Trade and Investment agency (JTI), formerly JAMPRO. Here is an organization that has as its mission to “enhance trade and investment for the economic benefit of Jamaica by providing facilitation, promotion and advisory services to Investors, Exporters and Producers as well as policy and technical advice to Government.” This is the organization that is responsible for increasing foreign and domestic investments into the country, and as a result increases job creation opportunities, economic growth, standard of living and quality of life for all. Investment is one of the foundations of the government’s plans to create “a better way…for a better Jamaica.”

Anyone who heads JTI must therefore have a proven track record of leadership, experience and accomplishments in the areas that the organization defines as its mission and strategic goals. The person must be creative, proactive and be able to stand tall in the visionary class because we cannot afford the pittance of growth that existed over the last thirty years. He or she must be the leader and not the follower and must be au fait with the workings of trade and investments, locally and internationally.

So with the above said, I was very surprised when I read that Gassan Azan was the choice of Karl Samuda to head the agency. Mr. Azan comes to the chairman’s seat from a family of fine longstanding Jamaican icons, whose primary business has been the retail trade.

Azan went to school in the US but dropped out of college in 1977 and returned home. He wanted to work in his father’s business but his dad said that he was “not qualified.” He then borrowed JA$30,000.00 from his mother and became a route distributor for Carreras selling cigarette. He reportedly made a profit of $12000.00 from his investment, paid back his mother and started his own trading business, buying goods from higglers and selling them back to people including his father.

Since that time he has built two trading empires, namely Bashco and MegaMart. Bashco is all over the island and he just opened his third MegaMart in Montego Bay. Together the three MegaMarts occupy approximately 234 thousand square feet of space. He was awarded the PSOJ job creation award twice and was nominated for the Business Observer Business Leader award in 2000.

Not withstanding his success, Mr. Azan has been embroiled in controversy over the years. In 1999 he was sued by US giant Costco Corporation for infringement rights arising out of the use of “Costco” in his company’s name. The US company also claimed that Mr. Azan was a member of their discount club in the US and that his “business is operated with standards of service and general presentation which are substantially lower than those associated with the plaintiffs' retail operation and feature the sale of counterfeit goods and other substandard items which is particularly damaging to the plaintiffs' because of the detrimental impact of such activity on the plaintiffs' goodwill." Mr. Azan subsequently changed the name to Bascho.

That same year the Revenue Protection Division brought suite against Mr. Azan for importing and having 30,986 pairs of counterfeit sneakers, following complaints from Nike, Adidas and Caterpillars.

Fast forward to 2007 and the millionaire businessman is at the heart of another controversy. This time it has to do with unrecorded electricity that was used at his MegaMart stores in Kingston and Portmore. In a statement from Mr. Azan he claimed that, “unknown to the management of the company, an employee responsible for the maintenance of both properties, in a bid to save energy, collaborated with engineers at the time visiting the island some time last year, to place the devices on the system".

Now I can say this much, Mr. Azan must have one of the greatest human resource machinery at his companies. This is the only acceptable reason why an employee who has nothing to gain from his own action, went out of his way to procure an illegal device to save his employer money without the employer’s knowledge. If there were more persons in Jamaica with this kind of employee loyalty and dedication Jamaica’s GDP would be hovering near to that of China. Currently Mr. Azan is conducting more detail investigation and of course we wait with curiosity, to hear the outcome of this one.

Now I must admit that the controversies Mr. Azan has been implicated in are not many. At the heart of the few however is a common thread of deceit that seems to follow him. Put in places of great significance, such as the head of the JTI, is it possible that this trend would continue? If it does then what will the implication be for the country?

So back to where we started and the following questions become germane. What were the criteria that Mr. Samuda used to appoint Mr. Azan? Is Mr. Azan the best person to lead this 15-man board to achieve the government’s objectives? Is Mr. Azan’s experience sufficient to handle a board and a national entity this large and this important? Was there a list of candidates for the Job? I am sure the answers will not come. In the meantime I will look forward to having Mr. Golding’s dream of having the best people in the most important positions, through a selection process in parliament.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

The Real Mr. Warmington Has No Apology

Minister of State for Transport and Works Everald Warmington finally came down from his high horse yesterday and apologized to the people of Jamaica for his brainless utterance on December 2nd, when he told voters that they would not get hurricane relief if they didn’t vote for the JLP in local government elections. While the G2K and the JLP would want us to believe that the unsigned apology issued to the Jamaican people is sincere and represents the real thoughts of Mr. Warmington, there is enough evidence to prove otherwise.

Firstly, the apology came ten days after the MP’s outburst and from this we can conclude that it was not a slip of the tongue by him but a deliberate and calculated statement coming from his own character convictions. People hardly ever apologize for actions or comments they believe in or that they are convinced is right. They may do so just to appease others or to minimize the hurt caused.

Secondly, it took not only ten days but also a meeting with the Prime Minister to wring the apology from the brains of Mr. Warmington. From this we can make two assumptions. The first is that the MP apologized because he wants to save his job and secondly Mr. Golding may have reminded him about the kind of promises he made to the people of Jamaica, about the style of politics and governance they would get under his leadership. Mr. Warmington knows that it would have been easier for the Prime Minister to fire him rather than compromise his promises to the people.

Thirdly, according to the Gleaner, the apology was not signed. This is the mother of them all and a big slap in the face of the Jamaican people. A signature does three things; it provides provenance for the document, it shows the intent or will of the person signing the document and it shows the commitment of the signor. Without Mr. Warmington’s signature none of these exist and therefore cannot be taken as sincere.

But this is not the first time that Mr. Warmington has displayed his arrogance and contempt for integrity and morality. We can recall his May 2004 parliamentary speech in which he said, “people who don't vote in elections should not expect support from elected representatives." In that same speech he also stated that his motto was: "If you don't vote, you don't count."

Mr. Warmington’s history of outrageous and erratic behaviour does not stop there however and has landed him on the wrong side of the law on at least two occasions. On March 9, 2004 he was in the Spanish Town Registrate Court to answer charges of punching a bus driver in his face with whom he had an accident in December the previous year. In 2005 he was back in court on a similar charge, this time for allegedly pushing one Edris Nembhard, a dressmaker, in her stomach which caused her to fall on her back and injured herself. According to the Jamaica Observer of September 16th, it was stated in court that “Mr. Warmington stormed out of the office in a very boisterous manner, telling her to leave, as she had not voted for him and she had no right to be there.”

It may have been this type of behaviour that led members of his constituency to lock him out of his office last year while placing placards on the fence reading “Warmington is disrespectful,” “Warmington must go,” and “Away with Warmington.” At that time he blamed four NDM returnees to the party who wanted him out of office.

Last year Mr. Warmington resigned from the post of JLP Area 2 council Chairman. He sited as his reason the party’s selection process in the council. He added that he did not feel “comfortable with the current methods by which decisions are made by the officers of this party” and that he could not allow his presence as chairman of the Council to “legitimize the constant illegal decisions being made by the group.”

From all indication the MP stepped down from his post as a matter of principle. But principle in any way, sort or form we now know does not exist in his bone.

With this much baggage one wonders how did Mr. Golding make his choice when considering Mr. Warmington. With all the talk of decency in politics and governance, was the due diligence process followed or was it a case of picking the best of all the evils? As part of the current government's plans to have good governance, they have outlined in their manifesto that they will "enact provisions for the impeachment of public officials for misconduct, corruption, abuse of office or betrayal of public trust." We hope the accelerator is pressed hard and fast to the floor on this one because what has happened in the past and what is happening now cannot go on any longer.

Derrick Smith and Leadership

In 2004 when Edward Seaga went to Derrick Smith’s house for a gathering and announced that he was stepping down as party leader, Derrick’s ‘glad bag’ must have exploded, as this was the chance for him to take over the reigns. Smith had been harbouring the thought of running the JLP for some two years before, which resulted from, as he puts it in a Gleaner interview on July 5, “Persons in the party approached me and said they thought I could provide the type of calm, balanced leadership the Jamaica Labour Party needs.”

In that same interview he admitted that he does not have the strong personality that is characteristic of the JLP or its leaders but that he has “the ability to balance the ship.” “I have held several posts within the party and never shown any confrontationalist or autocratic style. I have never been involved in any serious personality clashes within the party, differences yes, but I have been trained enough to succeed in that area.” Smith added.

Mr. Smith’s leadership skills were developed in the Jamaica Jaycees, a member of a worldwide leadership organization that trains young people to be leaders of society. He went into politics in 1980 and was one of the persons who mobilized the East Kingston constituency. Edward Seaga appointed him Senator in 1981 and he won the West Central Kingston seat in 1983 snap election and became the MP. In 1985 he became MP for North West St. Andrew. He is the deputy leader for the party in charge of area one and was the leader of opposition business in parliament.

So with twenty-four years of politics under his belt Mr. Smith felt that he was the man for the job, at the coaxing of his friends in the party. The good thing for Jamaica however was that he never started the race, because he “wasn't satisfied with the level of commitment from certain key functionaries that…was vitally important to have fully on board to guarantee a victory."

Jamaica was indeed spared, especially in light of how the minister has started his role as security minister. If it seems that he cannot manage one ministry, can you imagine him overseeing all the ministries and business of Jamaica as the prime minister?

The shocking revelation is that Mr. Smith has the experience, on paper that is. He was a member of the Consultative Committee on the National Security Crime Plan as well as the National Committee on Crime and Violence. He has been understudying the PNP for nearly eighteen years as opposition spokesman, enough time for a child to be conceived, attend basic school, primary school, secondary school, university and then start working. So on paper he is definitely the guy for the job. What has happened to all those years and experience is anyone’s guess. Couldn’t he imagine that one day he may become the minister?


Over the years Mr. Smith has done a lot of talking on crime albeit while in the opposition. In fact his name appeared in online news articles more than any other JLP cabinet member apart from Bruce Golding and Audley Shaw. The disturbing trend over the years however is that his talk generally support political endevours rather than genuine contribution to the solution. For example, on September 6, 2006, speaking on behalf of his party and referring to the government’s use of citizen as voluntary special constables to help fight crime, Mr. Smith stated that “This is the Home Guard of the past in a different (guise),"and “the Opposition is not going to sit back and allow any political militia to be reintroduced into this country. We are going to resist that most strenuously." One year later however as part of the JLP’s crime plan in its 2007 manifesto, it is stated that they will:

1. “Establish traffic Corps made up of civilians to relieve the police of traffic duties and enable them to focus on law enforcement.”

2. “Establish a police reserve similar to the JDF reserve drawn from civilians…”


There is enough evidence to suggest that the minister really knows how to oppose and very little in the proposal and execution departments. But talk is cheap and easy. Real work in search of real results is hard and a lot more challenging. No wonder he finds the current crime problem "mysterious and suspicious."

Frankly I do not believe that Mr. Smith understand that his role as security minister deeply affects his party’s ambition of creating a “better way …for a better Jamaica,” more than any other portfolio. Until he understand that there is a link between social infrastructure, economic benefits and crime, he will continue to put more emphasis on reforming the police force.

In a Gleaner article of December 21, 2004, Mr. Smith challenged the then Security minister Dr. Peter Phillips to speak to the crime issue in his broadcast to the nation with “forthrightness, honesty and candour.” Eight months later he was asking Prime Minister PJ Patterson to fire Phillips for non-performance. We all know the tale of how “cock mout kill cock” and we can be certain that if Mr. Smith fails to reduce the crime rate and bring back some level of decency to our society, he will step down.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Politicians should go to school

Politicians are employed to manage our society. Before they are given the job there is an interview process that is called election campaigning. This is where they show us their resume outlining their experience, education and ability to do the work.

At the interview they promise us the world; how they are going to grow the country, increase jobs, improve quality of life and standard of living and make life better than we have it now. Since this is what we badly wanted and deserve we consulted with a majority of our colleagues and then we employ them for a five-year term, based on the interview process. But the minute we said “you are hired” the process stops for the next five years! There is no annual evaluation yet there are periodic salary increases and there is certainly no way to say, “you are fired!” Our fate is in their hands unless there is a coup.


Politicians’ decisions affect us in everything that we do. Their decisions affect how much we spend or save, whether we work or stay at home, how much we earn or how much salary increase we get, how much food we buy and what type of food we buy. They decide if we buy a car and what type as well as our choices of gas to put in the car.

Their decisions affect where we live, how we live or whether we live at all. Whether we send our children to public or private school, whether we grill every nook and cranny of our house or leave our doors open. We depend on their decisions to help us decide our quality and standard of living, whether we see a medical specialist or use home remedies. It does not matter what we want to do, they are involved in our existence.

With that kind of responsibility, being a politician is not an easy job or one for the faint-hearted. It requires people who not only have brains, but who insist on using it productively. They should be people who are part of the solution and not part of the problem. To be a politician requires the types that are creative and skillful at overcoming challenges, the ones who can manage resources efficiently and see opportunities that are hidden to the naked eye. Politicians must be selfless, compassionate, honest, brave, caring, decisive and meticulous. They must govern with impartiality and consistency.


Politicians can destroy a society or make it abundantly better and all this can be achieved by the stroke of their pens or the words out of their mouths. We therefore should have a lot of confidence in them when we elect them. Confidence alone is not enough however. We need to prove to our self but more importantly let them prove to us that they can manage the job that they are hired to do. You wouldn’t employ someone for five years without checking him or her out thoroughly and making sure that they are qualified, would you? So why do the same for our politicians.

To hold office, politicians should not only have high moral and academic qualifications, they should qualify with high standards as well. They should be seen as good examples for others to follow and their performance should provide inspiration for others aspire to. They should not go into office because their parents were there or that they are financially endowed through relatives or business. Popularity, physical beauty, age or pay back should not be considerations either and neither should friendship.

Holding political office should not be the point of self-actualization on the hierarchy of needs, desired only because one has achieved a satisfactory level of wealth and social status. It should be like any other career, a deliberate and strategic move that is supported by investments in experience and education.

Unlike moms or dads who learn through nature and nurture, politicians should qualify educationally just like doctors or lawyers. There should be a school for politicians where they learn the meaning of governance. The subjects covered should include standard English so they can read, speak and write properly; public speaking to allow them to deliver their speeches and presentation effectively; accounts to give them an understanding of assets, liabilities, budgets, profits and losses; finance to show them how to raise, distribute and manage money; morality so that they can uphold the acceptable standards of conduct; decision-making to make them more decisive, and negotiation so that they can achieve domestic and international justice and fairness for the people.

No politician should leave the political school unless he/she has learnt leadership so that they can achieve extra-ordinary results for the country by inspiring the people; history so that can learn and appreciate their past and use it to help the future; technology to know how to use computers, and management to know how to unify the differences in people towards achieving common goals. Politicians must also learn creative thinking, which is needed in times of challenges; sociology to know about the behaviour of individuals and groups, and economics to learn how to use the scarce resources of the country to satisfy the wants of the people. The learning should not stop here however as just like doctors or accountants, politicians engage in lifelong learning to keep abreast of the latest developments in their profession.

I believe that politicians should be specialist at what they do and should be placed in areas that they have a comparative advantage. This holds true, unless you believe that it is OK for the plumber to run the electricity for your dream house or your lawyer should remove the cancer in your brain. If it is not OK for the mechanic to unclog your artery then why put unqualified politicians in places to decide your fate and the fate of your future generations?

One of the pillars of economic growth is education. An educated society will become one that is more productive. More production means more resources available to government to satisfy the wants of the people. But if you have uneducated politicians managing the wealth of the nation then one of the main purpose of education would have no value.

Political parties should set high standards for their members, especially those who aspire to lead and manage our country. If we cannot get a school of politics then qualified people should give courses to those aspirants. Uneducated politicians with a good economy is a recipe for disaster but with a bad economy it is a one way journey to a catastrophic Hiroshima destruction.