The sanitisation of our public finances in the last few years has been relatively successful, but it came at a cost. The time is right for a structured approach to investment in the economic infrastructure that does not feature promin-ently in the country’s public accounts, but which is a reality we ignore at our own risk.

The last several months have shown that we are a gridlocked island that can no longer realistic-ally expect to get by with the mediocre traffic management system that is causing disruption on a large scale in the economy and in the lives of people. Ideas abound on how the problem could be addressed. New roads, new school hours, free public transport and restrictions on heavy vehicle use of our roads at certain times of the day have all been mentioned as possible partial solutions.

The reality is that even with all the good intentions in the world and with a bottomless pocket full of cash, there are limits to the number of new roads that can be built or old roads that can be widened to handle more traffic.

Our political leaders need to look at best practices in other countries rather than resort to knee-jerk reactions to reduce the number of cars on our roads. They also need to rely on expert advice as few ordinary people can really come up with the right combin-ation of measures to rid the island of its present traffic mayhem.

One very unpopular solution – but possibly a very effective one – is to make the use of cars on the roads more expensive. Large cities like London introduced congestion taxes with some success, but to the utter disgust of drivers.

Infrastructural investment is also badly needed in the distribution network of electricity, water and drainage. We now have more reliable and modern electricity generation capacity that should see us through the next couple of decades without the risk of under-supply in the face of the growing demand of a vibrant economy. But the distribution system remains weak, as evidenced by the frequent power cuts in certain areas.

Our political leaders need to look at best practices in other countries rather than resort to knee-jerk reactions

The same problems exist in the distribution of water, with leakages still a waste that could be mitigated by better investment.

My own priority for immediate investment would be in the area of education. I am not referring to building of new schools, however much the EU is prepared to contribute to the improvement of the physical infrastructure of our educational system. My concern is about the investment in human resources – or more specifically the teaching profession who ultimately will make the difference as to whether we continue to rank among the mediocre in the EU league of educational achievement or run with the best of breed.

Teachers, like nurses and the police, are among the worst-paid professionals in our country. This is leading to demotivation, which is a bad omen for achieving more successful results in educational attainment. The profession may be attracting the wrong kind of graduates who look at teaching as a part-time commitment that is lowly paid but at least does not demand high standards of performance and offers long holidays.

More radical thinking is needed if we want the investment in our young people to give the kind of returns that will guarantee us a better economic future. We need to invest in our best graduates who must be paid well but also held accountable for achieving the kind of results that we need. Money should not be the main motivating factor. Respect for the profession from society is crucial, and part of this respect must come from paying teachers a more just salary.

Further investment is also needed in our public health infrastructure. In the past decade this sector attracted major capital investment, but this investment was riddled with waste and mismanagement that has cost taxpayers dearly.

Physical medical facilities are sorely needed to cater for the growing number of people who need sheltered accommodation as they grow older and can no longer live independently. Few can afford the cost of such accommodation on offer by private investors who are increasingly providing such services for the elderly.

Finally, as a caring society we cannot ignore investment in limited social housing for those who have fallen below the poverty line and can no longer aspire to bring up their children in a decent environment that can guarantee them a productive future.

johncassarwhite@yahoo.com