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Empowering the "small man"

Besides her thought-provoking comments on current political issues, President Kumaratunga's observations on the need for a national economic revival, represented another bright ray of inspired thinking in her address to the nation on the occasion of this country's 56th anniversary of independence.

Essentially, what the President insisted on was an economic rejuvenation, based on the efficient utilization of local resources, both human and material. In other words, self-reliant and not dependent development.

We believe it is high time this note on self-reliant development was forcefully struck. Needless to say, the story of the Lankan economy has been one of abject dependence on external sources of sustenance, from the mid Seventies when the UNP went overboard on a ridiculous interpretation of an open economy.

In the mania for externally-induced "development", the need for a strong indigenous agricultural and industrial base was, more or less, forgotten.

This has been a tragic flaw in our development strategy. Consequently, we launched ourselves on a course of dependent development which only ensured our growing dependence and indebtedness to global financial institutions.

There is no quick-fix to this sad scenario but the foundation needs to be laid afresh for self-reliant development, to the extent possible.

Such initiatives could gain considerable inspiration from President Kumaratunga's insistence on the rural, small and medium-scale entrepreneurs being brought "actively into the economy to play a role in its reconstruction".

In other words, we need another era of the common man, but a far more vibrant and resourceful common man needs to be brought into being.

There is no doubt that our people do not lack the basic capabilities for self-empowered development. But they need to be assisted initially with some "blast-off" monetary and material capital. For, poverty gets in the way of entrepreneurial development and the zest for business enterprise.

Our lead article on yesterday's Op-Ed page should have thrown some light on these problems.

The article essentially said that important technologies developed by the National Engineering Research and Development Centre for the middle level and small-scale industrialist and agriculturist, were going abegging because the target markets didn't possess the financial resources to buy them.

For instance, a paddy storage device, based on the local Wee bissa, wasn't having many takers on account of this financial disability on the part of the "small man".

If the President's economic vision is to materialise, the small-scale industrialist and agriculturist should obtain the necessary financial clout to acquire the wherewithal for business.

Perhaps, commercial banks should tie-up with local research bodies, such as NERD, to enable the small and medium scale entrepreneur to acquire the relevant purchasing power for self-reliant, independent business.

The Rainbow Nation

South Africa held the first non-racial elections 10 years ago, ending more than three centuries of white domination and 46 years of apartheid rule. Nelson Mandela's African National Congress swept the elections, ushering in a new era for the 45 million inhabitants of the "Rainbow Nation".

A Government of National Unity was established and South Africa was readmitted to the United Nations after 20 years.

Ten years on, South Africans are set to reaffirm their commitment to racial harmony and democracy at the Parliamentary elections in April. President Thabo Mbeki, who succeeded Mandela after elections in 1999, is expected to be elected for a second term.

This country, which has one of the world's most liberal Constitutions, is a "nation that works" despite a plethora of social and economic problems. The African giant's transition from apartheid rule to a pluralistic democracy was mostly smooth, although most pessimists expected a bloodbath.

Its leaders, who probed the country's gloomy past in the full glare of international publicity, are now looking forward to a bright future devoid of discord.

It was only last year that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission headed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu made its final report after seven years of hearings on human rights violations during the apartheid years. The Commission recommended compensation for 22,000 victims.

Now, South Africa is a voice which must be heard in international fora. A founding member of the African Union, it has brokered peace in some of Africa's trouble spots. Its business interests have spread around the globe. Its sporting prowess has been recognised worldwide.

The modern South African economy is a far cry from the pre-1994 era - the Rand was the world's best performing currency in 2002 and 2003.

Yet, the challenges facing South Africa are immense. Poverty and unemployment are rampant. The country has the world's greatest number of HIV-positive citizens - an estimated 5.3 million (2002). The crime rate has increased drastically.

South Africans have tasted 10 years of freedom amid all these woes. White, black, mixed, Asian or indigenous, every South African must be proud of what they have achieved during this period. They must now face daunting challenges and welcome the future with hope and determination.

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