Suffering from myopia

The Editor:

The medical name for short-sightedness is myopia. Short sight leads to blurred distance vision, but close vision is usually normal. This problem seems to be very common within the PNM administration starting from its leader.

As the good book says, “where there is no vision, the people perish.” Dr Rowley seems to lack vision for two main reasons; firstly, the current Minister of Energy had the vision to realise that a lot had to be done to enhance our dwindling oil and gas reserves. With that in mind, he has been fortunate to stimulate exploration in the energy sector. He also mentioned plans to resuscitate fields that may still have large known oil in place by proper R&D preceding redevelopment. This will enhance our reserves and provide more hydrocarbons for sale for a longer period. All Dr Rowley and his team have been commenting on is the fluctuation in the price of oil. It seems as though they haven’t realise that we are a gas based economy and that gas prices are much higher than the price used in our national budget.

Secondly, Dr Rowley used old rejected plans to build his 2030 vision. This will lead to his demise because the voting population rejected these plans in 2010. The big question is why should he try to impose them on us again?

Leadership is inspiring others to pursue your vision within the parameters you set, to the extent that it becomes a shared effort, a shared vision, and a shared success. How can he do this when his policies lack vision? I would like to add that dissatisfaction and discouragement are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision. If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise. Is this the compromise that we really want? Do we all have to perish in the future because one leader suffers from myopia?

Dr Paula Ramjohn
via email