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| (l-r) Group
Leader Eris Schoburgh and rapporteur Indianna Minto |
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| The
Role of Institutional and Administrative Capacity in Development:The
Jamaican State Since Independence |
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GROUP
LEADER |
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Dr.
Eris Schoburgh, Lecturer,
Public Sector Management, Department of Government, UWI, Mona
Campus
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RAPPORTEUR |
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Ms.
Indianna Minto,
Ph.D. Candidate, Law Regulation, London School of Economics,
United Kingdom
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Institutional
Endowment
The
term institutional endowment is multifaceted. It relates to the
whole system and arrangements for “the provision of capital,
land, labour and the market for goods and services… (Importantly),
it contains the governmental and political traditions and decision-making
practices, as well as, the attitudes and basic values characterising
the area: the religion, moral beliefs and culture” (Eskelinen
2001: 54).
A nation’s institutional endowment refers to features or characteristics
of its judiciary, the executive and legislature (also termed political
institutions), the administrative system, norms and custom, as well
as the nature and balance of power between contending groups (Levy
and Spiller 1996: 4-7). The first three forms are traditionally
seen as the arms or constitutional components of the state. The
latter two are more informal and can be grouped under the heading
of cultural institutions. This definition also finds resonance in
that given by Jones and Mills who describe institutional endowment
as the political and administrative arrangements and its various
structures, processes, relationships, viewpoints, norms and values
(1989: 105). |
This
group’s task is to examine the role of Jamaica’s institutional
endowment and administrative capacity since independence. More specifically,
the group aims to firstly, assess whether Jamaica’s institutional
endowment in 1962 had been adequate to undertake the task of development.
Secondly, we will assess the performance of the state’s administrative
apparatus from independence to present. Finally, corruption has been
held as one of the main stumbling blocks in the nation’s path
to development. In spite of this general view, the jury is still out
on whether the increase in corruption locally is real or perceived
and whether corruption has been unusually problematic in Jamaica when
considered comparatively. As such, an additional task is to assess
the nature and role of corruption in Jamaica and its impact on administrative
and institutional capacity.
All this is with the aim of assessing the choices and options taken
by successive governments since independence in order to chart a path
for the future. Such a study comes at an opportune time. There is
presently a mood of expectancy and re-awakening with the election
of the nation’s first female Prime Minister and pronouncements
from leaders and international organisations that the island is poised
for growth. The findings from this study hold the potential to make
a significant contribution by highlighting the role played by the
state and its citizens in the (under)development of the Jamaican state
as well as in informing the choices and decisions of present and future
leaders.
Initial findings have made it clear that Jamaica’s institutional
endowment in the post-independence period cannot be divorced from
its pre-independence and colonial experience. Additionally, it is
clear that successive leaders since Independence, as well as the general
administrative apparatus, have yet to make good on expectations of
progress and growth but have been affected by a lack of foresight.
The method of government and policy making from independence to present
has not been inclusive or facilitative of nation building. Sporadic
outbreaks of violence; social, industrial and political unrest have
further served to frustrate efforts of development planning and implementation,
making it difficult to sustain development initiatives while depleting,
trust, credibility and heightening the costs of development planning.
Recent efforts made over the last two decades in the areas of administrative
reform and liberalisation have been useful in laying the foundation
for the Jamaican government to now make good on attaining growth and
development across sectors.
Finally, it is clear that problems in attaining growth and development
rest not only in the inefficiencies and failures of the political
and administrative apparatus but with Jamaicans at all levels of society.
This is so as the actions of each individual will have an overall
impact on the ability of successive administrations and the public
bureaucracy to govern. This view moves away from the tendency among
some Jamaicans to see themselves as victims who refuse to acknowledge
that individual action and choice at the micro-level ultimately has
an impact at the macro.
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Institutional
and Administrative Capacity