Jamaican Economy vs Barbados Economy

In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later. However based on how the Jamaican economy has been doing it can not be said that experience has been utilized the way it ought to be (if it has been taken) and it is even more obvious that the cash has not come and seems so far away.

Quite frequently it has been heard that 'nothing nah gwan fi we' in terms of how well the Jamaican economy has been doing. When asked what have led to this, the answers usually include: too much poor people deh bout, too much violence and poor economic policies. As it relates to these answers one may wonder which is more responsible for a stifling effect on our economy and what ought to be done so that Jamaica may bask in economic glory (a dream that seems quite far fetched).

In Barbados (our Caribbean sister country) the economy seems 'to be moving on up.' In comparison to the Jamaican economy, the economy of this country may be described as an eagle which keeps soaring to new heights as opposed to a common hen which keeps perking about. Is it fair however to compare both economies when Barbados boasts a literacy level which is far above that of Jamaica, a lower rate of violence and economic policies which are 'stricter than strict.' Money is not easily sent out of Barbados ( it was not until recently that money could be sent from Western Union) as permission has to be received from the Bank of Barbados as opposed to Jamaica where one can send and receive money as he\she likes.

Additionally, i recently expressed an interest to open a US account in Barbados and was told that i would have to receive permission from the Bank of Barbados and that this was a privilege usually reserved for 'big businesses' as an equivalent of 500,000 Bajan dollars would always have to be in the account. Restrictions, restrictions and more restrictions. However this begs the question of whether the Jamaican economy would have been better if it was fashioned with such restrictions as the Bajan economy.

It is time for a change, a change I am sure we all have been waiting for when the Jamaican economy can have a positive turn around. As a nation we need to stop biting off more than we can chew, and then chewing anyway. Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. Countries like Barbados should be viewed as hustlers (the government gets 2% of every dollar that comes into the country and it makes it extremely difficult for any to get out). Let us stop hoping to do and begin to do as that is the only way things will get better.