ON THURSDAY, we celebrated 47 years of Independence. The enjoyment of a well-organised Grand Gala was counterbalanced by the news that the reputable international rating agency, Standard and Poor's, had downgraded Jamaica's sovereign debt to a CCC rating. This downgrade is bad news for our economy. Countries that are given CCC ratings are more likely than others to default on their debt. The contrast of joy and sorrow together at Independence, this year, adds fuel to the debate as to whether it was better for Jamaica to have remained a colony rather than become independent. Some believe that our country's underdevelopment is rooted in our independence.

This debate is taking place against the background of the overwhelming majority of Jamaicans having no experience of life under colonialism. The Economic and Social Survey of Jamaica 2008, published by the Planning Institute of Jamaica, reveals that of a current population of 2.7 million, over 80 per cent, or approximately 2.2 million of our citizens, were born after Jamaica became independent. This younger generation wants answers to our country's underdevelopment, and this is a good thing.

Let me declare up front that I believe Independence was the correct choice. Let me hasten to add that the colonial masters also saw us as a burden to them. For them, our days of usefulness were fast ending. Today, Jamaica is certainly not where it should be economically. The aim of economic independence with a robust economy and a more prosperous people remains elusive. We have missed some opportunities along the way, but make no bones about it, as a country, we have come very far from where we were in August 1962. Today, very few of our children go to school barefooted. Many of us still bear the scars of 'bucking our toes' on the way to or from school. Our people enjoy better health and educational opportunities today than then. Social amenities, such as water, electricity and telephones, are in abundance today relative to then. More Jamaicans are able to own a part of and participate in the economy than then.

Our physical infrastructure has also improved by leaps and bounds. Today in Jamaica, there is also less social strife between the races, as exists in most colonies. Just as Jamaica is yet to maximise our potential, we should not be blinded to the fact that 'jolly ole England' also has had her own share of problems over the last 47 years. I wonder how well she would have been able to maintain us while facing her own difficulties.

In the main, our economic underdevelopment is self-inflicted . Yes, there have been external factors which have adversely affected us. So, too, in recent times have climatic conditions impacted us negatively. But the greatest problem has been our disunity. We went into Independence divided as a nation and, up to today, we remain lacking in national unity.

Partisan competition dominates

The way we conduct our politics has so divided us that partisan competition dominates over the need for national cooperation. Too often, the desire for power leads our politicians to oppose good ideas or policies, which would strengthen our ability to grow our way to economic independence and prosperity for our people. Both major political parties have been guilty of this practice. Valuable time and momentum are lost when good ideas are rejected in opposition, but then belatedly embraced when they become government.

For example, there were a number of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) initiatives, like the National Insurance Scheme and the National Lottery, that the People's National Party (PNP) had opposed before 1972. Similarly, the JLP opposed the policy of 'Eat what you grow, and grow what you eat', as well as the free education and free health care of the 1970s. For opportunistic reasons, both parties danced around the potential of casino gambling and mechanising of the sugar industry for fear of political 'one-upmanship'. Both parties wasted the over US$4 billion collected from the bauxite levy in the last 35 years. Instead of focusing this resource on real capital development of our country, creating sustainable industries and jobs, we spend most of it on short-term, feel-good measures.

While competitiveness has led to stability in our democracy, and we must take great pride in that reality, we have failed to find the required balance between competing and cooperating for the national good. Two years ago, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding and the JLP were vehemently opposed to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his PetroCaribe arrangement made with the then PNP government. Today, Prime Minister Golding is striving tooth and nail to maintain the same policies that he and his party so vigorously opposed. Back then, one private-sector leader and backer of the JLP was so rude as to tell Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to "make the tourists swim in oil", because she stoutly refused his overtures for her government to vote for the George Bush-backed Guatemala in opposition to Venezuela for a seat on the United Nations security Council.

Imagine the positive impact on our country if, instead of those moments of political opportunism in the past that unnecessarily divided the country, we had chosen national cooperation over partisan competition. Maybe we could hope that in the next three years, when we would have come to celebrate a half century of Independence, our political leaders could find the will to adopt more of the cooperative rather than the competitive approach to nation building. A significant reduction in crime and the promotion of good values and attitudes among our people are two areas of national life where cooperation must replace partisan competition. If we can achieve these goals in three years, then our future Independence celebrations will be more joy rather than sorrow.

Lambert Brown is president of the University and Allied Workers' Union and can be contacted at Labpoyh@yahoo.com.