Gre e ting s Mr. Spe a ke r, Ho no ura b le Me mb e rs, d isting - - PDF document

JAMAICA: G O ING FO R G RO WT H AND DEVEL O PMENT

• UNL

EASHING O UR PO T ENT IAL 2013- 14 Budg e t Pre se nta tion By Prime Ministe r Po rtia Simpson Mille r, O .N., M.P. T ue sda y, April 30, 2013

Gre e ting s

• Mr. Spe a ke r, Ho no ura b le Me mb e rs, d isting uishe d Me mb e rs o f the Diplo ma tic

a nd Co nsula r Co rps, Me mb e rs o f I nte rna tio na l Org a nisa tio ns, F e llo w Ja ma ic a ns. I tha nk the Almig hty, fo r his lo ve a nd kind ne ss to wa rd s me . I pra y tha t he will c o ntinue to g uid e my pa th a nd b le ss o ur na tio n. I pa use a t the b e g inning o f this pre se nta tio n to e xpre ss my g ra titud e to my e na b ling te a m a t ho me , my b e st frie nd a nd husb a nd , E rrald a nd the o the r me mb e rs o f my fa mily, inc lud ing Ma rva . I also wish to tha nk me mb e rs o f my Ca b ine t a s we ll a s the me mb e rs o f the Pub lic Se rvic e , Ministrie s a nd Ag e nc ie s. I must spe c ia lly tha nk my Co unc illo rs fo r the supp o rt a nd the c o nstitue nts o f So uth We st St. And re w fo r allo wing me the privile g e to se rve fo r the se ma ny ye a rs. I am g ra te ful fo r the ir lo ving suppo rt a nd und e rsta nd ing o f the c halle ng e s tha t c o me with b e ing the Pre sid e nt o f a Po litic a l Pa rty, Me mb e r o f Pa rliame nt a nd He a d o f Go ve rnme nt.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, the c hild re n ha ve b e e n a n e nd uring so urc e o f inspira tio n to me .

T he y a re o ur future le a d e rs. I am g ra te ful to a ll Ja ma ic a ns, a t ho me a nd a b ro a d , who c o nsta ntly pra y fo r me a nd o ffe r the ir e nc o ura g e me nt a nd suppo rt. Mr Spe a ke r, I pa use to pa y trib ute to so me o utsta nd ing Ja ma ic a ns ha ve ma d e the ir tra nsitio n in the pa st ye a r, a mo ng the m - the Ho n. Ma uric e F a c e y, OJ; Dr. the Ho n. Olive L e win, OJ, CD; Mr. Arthur H. Williams, OD; Mr Ge o rg e K e rr, OD; Ho n. Ja me s d e Ro ux CD; a nd Mr T

• ny L

a ing . 1

Pe rmit me , Mr Spe a ke r to sing le -o ut a no the r o utsta nd ing Ja ma ic a n o ne fro m a mo ng us in this Pa rlia me nt – fo rme r Se na to r, Ministe r o f Sta te , Pre sid e nt o f the Ja ma ic a T e a c he r's Asso c ia tio n, sc ho o l princ ipal, Ministe r o f the Mo ra via n Churc h, a nd c o mmunity a c tivist. I spe a k o f the la te No e l Mo nte ith. We ho no ur the ir wo rk a nd c o ntrib utio n.

Intr

• duc tion
• Mr. Spe a ke r,

All o f us in this Ho use , if we a re true re p re se nta tive s o f the pe o ple must a d mit tha t the re is a se g me nt o f o ur so c ie ty, pre se nt a nd visib le in e a c h o f o ur c o nstitue nc ie s whic h is hurting .

• Mr. Spe a ke r, I

spe a k o f the rura l po o r o r tho se in the inne r c itie s who e xist o n the fring e s o f the so c ie ty a nd a re in d e spe ra te ne e d o f spe c ia l a tte ntio n a nd o ur suppo rt. T he stra in o n the e c o no my a nd the p re ssure o n the d o lla r c a use d b y the pe rsisting re c e ssio n, ha ve ha d a d ire c t impa c t o n fo o d a nd c o mmo d ity pric e s. T

• tho se me mb e rs o f the Ja ma ic a n fa mily, I

sa y to yo u this a fte rno o n - ‘ I kno w it is ha rd a nd I kno w it is d iffic ult b ut yo u ha ve no t b e e n fo rg o tte n.’ T he a d ministra tio n tha t I le a d is e nsuring tha t a n a ppro pria te mix o f po lic ie s a nd pro g ra mme s is d e sig ne d to b ring g re a te r se c urity to yo ur live s a nd to e nsure tha t yo ur situa tio n is impro ve d . As a na tio n we have c o me to o fa r a nd wo rke d to o ha rd to se e the ste ps to wa rd s pro g re ss re ve rse d . As we d id with JE E P, a uniq ue c o mb inatio n o f pro je c ts will b e d e ve lo pe d to pro vid e so c ia l a nd e c o no mic pro te c tio n a nd se c urity fo r yo u a nd yo ur fa milie s. Amo ng the first to p a rtic ip a te in the re d e sig ne d Rural E c o no mic De ve lo pme nt I nitia tive s (RE DI) a nd the PAT H Ste p to Wo rk Pro g ra mme will b e tho se a t g re a te st risk. T his stra te g y will e nsure tha t tho se o f o ur wo me n who a re mo st vulne ra ble a nd pla c e d a t g re a te st risk b y rural a nd inne r-c ity po ve rty, will ha ve a c c e ss to a ppro pria te tra ining a nd fina nc ing to pa rtic ipa te a s sha re ho ld e rs in c o tta g e ind ustrie s. 2

• Mr. Spe a ke r, in a ye a r o f suc h fisc a l c o nstra ints – we ha ve ha d to wo rk with le ss

re so urc e s tha n we d id last ye a r. T his a d ministra tio n is d uty b o und to e xe rc ise the g re a te st c a re tha t e ve ry d o lla r is wise ly spe nt thro ug h b e tte r c o o rd ina tio n a nd ta rg e te d inte rve ntio n to pro te c t the mo st vulne ra ble me mb e rs o f the Ja ma ic a n fa mily. Our wo me n, pe rso ns with d isa b ilitie s, the yo ung a nd the e ld e rly a re pa rtic ula rly vulne ra ble to po ve rty in time s like the se . It is the y who g ive me the impe tus e a c h d a y to d o a ll tha t I c a n to ma ke the ir live s b e tte r.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, I am po sitive a b o ut Ja ma ic a a nd o ur future .

It is with the kno wle d g e tha t Ja ma ic a ha s e me rg e d with o ne o f the stro ng e st a nd mo st re c o g niza ble na tio na l b ra nd s tha t I wa ke up e ve ry d a y d e te rmine d to put thing s rig ht. It is with the kno wle d g e tha t, a ll o ve r the wo rld , c o mpanie s a re se e king to c a pita lize o n ‘ Bra nd Ja ma ic a ’ , inc lud ing o ur na tio na l symb o ls, o ur music , o ur la ng ua g e , o ur fo o d s a nd o ur a thle te s – tha t I kno w tha t we ha ve within us, tha t spirit a nd d e te rmina tio n to suc c e e d .

• Mr. Spe a ke r, a s a c o untry we ha ve e nd ure d o il c rise s, fre q ue nt a nd se ve re

na tura l d isa ste rs a nd c o ntinue to fa c e the mo st se rio us re c e ssio n in mo re tha n 60 ye a rs. Ye t, in this o ur fifty-first ye a r a s a p o litic a lly ind e pe nd e nt na tio n, we sta nd stro ng a nd pro ud , re silie nt a nd fo c usse d o n c re a ting the future we wa nt fo r all Ja ma ic a ns. It is the re fo re with c o nfid e nc e tha t we c o nfro nt the c urre nt so c io -e c o no mic pre ssure s. We a re d e te rmine d a s a pe o ple to suc c e e d , to a c hie ve De ve lo pe d Co untry Sta tus a nd c re a te a g o o d q ua lity o f life fo r a ll o ur c itize ns. Our jo urne y a s a na tio n ha s b e e n c ha ra c te rize d b y ma ny twists a nd turns. We ha ve ha d o ur ups a nd d o wns. We ha ve fa c e d ma ny c halle ng e s a nd ha ve ha d ma ny d iffic ult p e rio d s b ut we ha ve ne ve r surre nd e re d . I ha ve a n a b id ing fa ith in o ur pe o ple , c o nfid e nc e in o ur pro g ra mme s a nd

• p timism a b o ut o ur future .

3

T he se c o nsid e ra tio ns will g uid e us a s we pre ss fo rwa rd – Go ing fo r Gro wth and De ve lo pme nt, Unle ashing o ur F ull Po te ntial.

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T he me a sure s re q uire d to ta ke o ur na tio n fo rwa rd ha ve ma d e life d iffic ult fo r ma ny. I und e rsta nd the pa in a nd pre ssure s b e ing fa c e d b y mo st o f o ur pe o ple . We will ho we ve r c o ntinue to d o e ve rything we c a n to mitig a te the e ffe c t o f the d iffic ult me a sure s we ha ve ha d to ta ke , in o rd e r to put rig ht, a n e c o no my g o ne wro ng . T he Ministe r o f F ina nc e ha s d e sc rib e d the c halle ng e s fa c ing o ur e c o no my. He ha s o utline d the ne c e ssa ry me a sure s whic h we a re ta king to a d d re ss the se c halle ng e s, re sto re ma c ro -e c o no mic sta b ility a nd re d uc e o ur d e b t. It wo uld ha ve b e e n mo re d iffic ult to survive the la st 16 mo nths witho ut the invo lve me nt a nd c o mmitme nt o f o ur sta ke ho ld e rs. T he b usine ss a nd fina nc ial se c to rs a nd d e po sito rs ha ve b e e n ve ry impo rta nt pa rtne rs in this re g a rd . I n a sho w o f pa trio tic c o mmitme nt the y pa rtic ipa te d in the Na tio na l De b t E xc ha ng e a nd he lpe d sta b ilize the a iling e c o no my tha t we inhe rite d . I salute the m fo r the ir c o ntrib utio n. Our public se rva nts a nd the pub lic se c to r T ra d e Unio ns ha ve a lso ma d e tre me nd o us sa c rific e s. T he y ha ve pa rtne re d with us a nd ha ve , o nc e a g a in, a g re e d to wa g e re stra ints. Whe the r the y a re te a c he rs, po lic e o r so ld ie rs, he alth pro fe ssio na ls, a c c o unta nts

• r so c ial wo rke rs, te c hnic al o r e xe c utive pro fe ssio na ls, a dministra to rs, c le ric al,

a nc illa ry wo rke rs o r d rive rs; this c o untry c o uld no t o pe ra te witho ut o ur c o mmitte d a nd d e d ic a te d public se rva nts. T ime a nd time a g a in, the y ha ve ‘ ste ppe d up to the pla te ’ to he lp Jama ic a . We o we the m a hug e d e b t o f g ra titud e . 4

I wa nt to a ssure the m tha t we ha ve no t ta ke n the ir sa c rific e s fo r g ra nte d . T his is the re a so n we will alwa ys c ho o se d ialo g ue a nd b e re spe c tful to o ur pub lic se rva nts.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, a t my instruc tio n, the Ministry o f T

ra nsp o rt, Wo rks a nd Ho using ha s id e ntifie d 250 a c re s o f la nd a t E b o ny Pa rk in St. Ca the rine , whic h will b e use d fo r the c o nstruc tio n o f ho use s fo r pub lic se c to r wo rke rs. T his will re duc e the c o st o f ho using fo r this se c to r. T he g o ve rnme nt will also id e ntify o the r suita b le pa rc e ls o f la nd fo r the sa me purpo se , whic h will be a nno unc e d a t a n a ppro pria te time .

E stablishing Conte xt

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

I ha ve liste ne d inte ntly to the pre se nta tio ns d uring this Bud g e t De b a te a nd ta ke n no te o f the sug g e stio ns fro m the Oppo sitio n. We we lc o me all sug g e stio ns. T he se no w fo rm pa rt o f the pub lic d isc ussio n, a nd a re g o o d fo r o ur d e mo c ra c y. Ho we ve r, we ne e d to put this d isc ussio n in c o nte xt. We ne e d to re mind the na tio n o f so me thing s sa id in the pa st b y c o lle a g ue s o n the o the r sid e o f this Ho no ura b le Ho use . I n 2009, while the Op po sitio n L e a d e r wa s a Me mb e r o f the Ca b ine t, the p o sitio n ta ke n b y his a d ministra tio n o n Ja ma ic a ’ s e c o no mic c o nd itio n, wa s a s fo llo ws: (a nd I q uo te ) “T he g lo b al re c e ssio n was no t part o f o ur manife sto b ut it has b e c o me part o f the pro b le m we must o ve rc o me , a hug e hurdle

• ve r whic h we must stride .

I t is a hard ro ad to trave l and it mig ht b e a mig hty lo ng way to g o … ” E nd q uo te

• Mr. Spe a ke r, it is still a mig hty lo ng wa y to g o .

5

I n this Ho no ura b le Ho use a no the r pro no unc e me nt o n the e c o no my wa s ma d e b y the Ad ministra tio n o f whic h he wa s a pa rt. Ag a in I q uo te : “T he ac tio ns that we must take , the adjustme nts that we must make are no t all g o ing to b e e asy o r painle ss…” E nd q uo te .

• Mr. Spe a ke r, whe n we c a me into o ffic e , we e xpe c te d c halle ng e s.

Wha t we fo und , ho we ve r, wa s fa r wo rse tha n we c o uld ha ve ima g ine d . We inhe rite d a n e c o no my tha t, b y the ir o wn a sse ssme nt, ha d b e e n se t o n “a hard ro ad to trave l and a mig hty lo ng way to g o ”. We fo und a n e c o no my tha t wa s se t up fo r “b itte r me dic ine ” a nd ‘ hard, painful adjustme nts”. T ha t wa s no t o ur d o ing . It wa s pa sse d o n to us.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, this is wha t we no w se e k to c o rre c t.

T he sta nc e no w ta ke n b y the Opp o sitio n, is c e rta inly no t re fle c tive o f the po sitio n the y e xpre sse d while in Go ve rnme nt. Pe rha ps sixte e n mo nths is e no ug h time fo r the m to b e c o me fo rg e tful.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, I

ha ve liste ne d c a re fully to the c o mme nts a b o ut the d e la ys in se c uring the Ag re e me nt with the I MF . No o ne c o uld te ll fro m tho se c o mme nts tha t und e r the fo rme r administra tio n, the re la tio nship with the I MF ha d c o mple te ly b ro ke n d o wn, fro m a s fa r b a c k a s Se p te mb e r 2010. I also liste ne d in d isb e lie f a s the y sp o ke a b o ut ta x re fo rm. No o ne c o uld te ll fro m tho se c o mme nts tha t und e r the ir a d ministra tio n, fo r fo ur ye a rs, the y c o nsta ntly po stpo ne d ta x re fo rm. T he y spo ke a b o ut d o ing it in 2008. T he y spo ke a b o ut d o ing it in 2009, in 2010 a nd a g a in in 2011. T ha nkfully, the y we re no t g ive n the o p po rtunity to c o ntinue to ta lk fro m a po sitio n o f a utho rity in 2012, o r the y wo uld still b e ta lking a b o ut it. 6

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T he L e a d e r o f the Oppo sitio n in his pre se nta tio n sa id we must ro ll b a c k ta xe s. I n re sc uing Jama ic a , we c a nno t pla y to the g alle ry. I n re sc uing Ja ma ic a, tho se o f us c ha rg e d with the re spo nsib ility o f le a d e rship must first think b e fo re we spe a k, we must ta ke se rio usly ma tte rs o f na tio na l impo rta nc e . Whe n we spe a k, o ur wo rd s c irc ula te the g lo b e a t the spe e d o f lig ht. A wid e va rie ty o f a ud ie nc e s re c e ive tho se me ssa g e s. T he me ssa g e s we se nd impa c t the ir d e c isio ns a nd the ir pe rc e p tio ns o f us a s a pe o ple . As le ad e rs, we must b e c le a r a b o ut the sig na ls we wish to se nd to the wo rld . T ho se wo rd s ma y ha ve a ne g a tive impa c t o n o ur c o untry a nd a d ve rse c o nse q ue nc e s fo r o ur pe o ple .

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

No g o ve rnme nt like s to inc re a se ta xe s. Ho we ve r, my a d ministra tio n ha d no c ho ic e b ut to g o tha t ro ute . We we re c o mpe lle d to d e sig n the e c o no mic pro g ra mme in re spo nse to the d ire sta te o f the e c o no my we inhe rite d . T he ta x p a c ka g e is o ne o f the to o ls we had to use to re d uc e o ur d e b t. I f we d o no t re d uc e o ur d e b t fro m 1.7 trillio n d o lla rs, o ur c hildre n, the ir c hild re n, g ra nd a nd g re a t g ra nd c hild re n will ha ve tha t d e b t a s a b ind ing sha c kle .

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

I f we we re to fo llo w the Oppo sitio n L e a d e r’ s a d vic e , the re wo uld b e no I MF a g re e me nt. T he I MF a g re e me nt is ne c e ssa ry to fa c ilita te the sta b ility a nd g ro wth o f o ur e c o no my. 7

I f the c o untry is to b e ne fit fro m this a g re e me nt, we must e nsure tha t we me e t all

• ur o b lig a tio ns; a nd we a re c o mmitte d to d o ing so .

Ho we ve r, we also kno w tha t a n I MF a g re e me nt o n its o wn will no t b e e no ug h to so lve o ur e c o no mic pro b le ms. We ha ve to g ro w o ur e c o no my in o rd e r to a c c e le ra te na tio na l d e ve lo pme nt. T ha t is the d ire c tio n in whic h the Ad ministra tio n I le a d is g o ing . We invite a ll the sta ke ho ld e rs in the so c ie ty inc lud ing the Opp o sitio n to jo in us. We must wo rk to g e the r in unity. Mr Spe a ke r, d e spite pro phe c ie s o f d o o m a nd g lo o m b y so me :

• It is in time s like the se tha t Ja ma ic a ns ha ve b e e n kno wn to pull
• urse lve s to full he ig ht a nd sta nd ta ll.
• It is in time s like the se tha t we ha ve pull o n tho se inne r re se rve s, the

re se rve s tha t ma ke us run fa ste r, sing swe e te r, a nd wo rk ha rde r. And so Mr Spe a ke r, I n this time , in this plac e we sa y c o nfid e ntly a nd b o ldly: Jamaic a is g o ing fo r g ro wth and de ve lo pme nt. We will unle ash the full po te ntial o f a natio n that pro duc e d g re at Jamaic ans in spo rt, c ulture , b usine ss, ho spitality, law, me dic ine , ag ric ulture , ac ade mic s, sc ie nc e and te c hno lo g y and many o the r are as. I sa y ‘ we ’ , Mr. Spe ake r, b e c a use it will ta ke e ve ry sing le o ne o f us, wo rking in unity to b ring a b o ut the g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt we se e k. We c a n d o it. Afte r a ll, we a re Ja ma ic a ns. We a re so ns o f d a ug hte r o f g re a t me n a nd wo me n a nd we shall o ve rc o me .

T he Gr

• wth and De ve lopme nt Age nda

Mr Spe a ke r, I no w turn my a tte ntio n to wha t is pe rha ps the mo st pre ssing a nd c ritic a l ta sk b e fo re us; tha t is, the c ha lle ng e o f a c hie ving me a ning ful e c o no mic g ro wth a nd susta ina ble d e ve lo pme nt. 8

Mr Spe a ke r, wha t d o we me a n whe n we spe a k o f a “Na tio na l De ve lo pme nt a nd Gro wth Ag e nd a ”? T he Gro ss Do me stic Pro d uc t is a n ind ic a to r o f the we alth o ur e c o no my. It is the me a sure me nt use d to q ua ntify the to ta l value o f g o o d s a nd se rvic e s pro d uc e d in a c o untry a nnua lly. Ho we ve r, GDP g ro wth b y itse lf is no t a suffic ie nt ind ic a to r o f e c o no mic d e ve lo pme nt. We ha ve ha d the e xpe rie nc e in this c o untry o f hig h GDP g ro wth ra te s, ye t po ve rty wo rse ne d a nd jo ble ssne ss inc re ase d . T he 1960’ s wa s a c la ssic pe rio d whe n the e c o no my ha d fa irly sig nific a nt a ve ra g e a nnua l g ro wth ra te s, ye t le ve ls o f po ve rty a nd une mplo yme nt we re hig h. My e mpha sis is o n susta ina b le d e ve lo pme nt whic h ta ke s into a c c o unt no t o nly GDP g ro wth b ut a lso e mplo yme nt, jo b c re a tio n a nd huma n de ve lo pme nt. Whe n I sa y tha t we a re ‘ b a la nc ing the b o o ks while b ala nc ing pe o ple s live s’ , I a m pla c ing e q ual e mpha sis o n g ro wth a nd huma n d e ve lo pme nt. ‘ Ba la nc ing the b o o ks while b ala nc ing pe o ple ’ s’ live s is a jo urne y, no t a n e ve nt. T ha t b a la nc ing se e ks to c o rre c t a histo ry o f ine q ua lity a nd a c ulture o f ine q uity tha t ha s e xiste d in o ur so c ie ty fo r c e nturie s. We must ma ke e ve ry e ffo rt to mo ve a ll Ja ma ic a ns alo ng a pa th – fro m we lfare to wo rk, fro m wo rk to we ll-b e ing and fro m we ll-b e ing to we alth c re atio n. T ha t, Mr. Spe a ke r is wha t we me a n b y the ‘ Gro wth a nd De ve lo pme nt Ag e nd a ’ . My Go ve rnme nt’ s o b je c tive s a re ro o te d in Visio n 2030 a nd g uid e d b y the Pro g re ssive Ag e nd a . We ha ve a lre a d y b e g un to la y firm fo und a tio ns fo r the ne xt fifty ye a rs. T ha t is why it is no t e no ug h to se e k ‘ sto p-g a p’ fixe s to o ur pro ble ms. We ha ve to se e k e nd uring a nd susta ina b le so lutio ns. 9

I n o rd e r to a c hie ve o ur o b je c tive s, we a re fo c use d o n a c hie ving e c o no mic g ro wth, b y a c c e le ra ting De ve lo pme nt Pro je c ts.

Ac hie ving Me aningful E c onomic Gr

• wth and De ve lopme nt

Mr Spe a ke r, it ha s b e e n a ske d , ho w d o we pla n to a c hie ve e c o no mic g ro wth a nd na tio na l d e ve lo pme nt? T he F ina nc e Ministe r a nd the Ministe r o f E ne rg y ha ve a lre a d y spo ke n to so me issue s a ffe c ting the e c o no mic g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt a g e nd a . Othe r Go ve rnme nt Me mb e rs will pro vid e mo re d e ta ils o n pro g ra mme s a nd initia tive s within the ir re spe c tive p o rtfo lio s d uring the upc o ming Se c to ra l De b a te .

Ove r c oming Constr aints to Gr

• wth
• Mr. Spe a ke r, the Wo rld Ba nk ha s id e ntifie d so me o f the ma in issue s a ffe c ting

Ja ma ic a ’ s e c o no mic g ro wth pro spe c ts. T he se a re

• ma c ro -e c o no mic insta b ility,
• the c o sts o f d o ing b usine ss inc lud ing tra nsa c tio n c o sts,
• unfrie ndly b usine ss e nviro nme nt
• ina d e q ua te la b o ur pro d uc tivity a nd c rime a nd vio le nc e .

T he y a ll hind e r o ur a b ility to g ro w. I n re spo nse , my g o ve rnme nt is imple me nting a ra ng e o f me a sure s to ta c kle the se c o nstra ints in o rd e r to unle a sh o ur full po te ntia l fo r g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt. Ove r the la st 16 mo nths, my Ad ministra tio n ha s fo rmula te d , a nd we a re imple me nting a po lic y fra me wo rk d e sig ne d to : E nsure ma c ro e c o no mic sta b ility thro ug h fisc al prud e nc e

• Ad d re ss the issue s a sso c ia te d with e ne rg y;
• De ve lo p o ur huma n c a pita l;
• Stre ng the n o ur inte rna tio na l re la tio nships a nd o p timize tra d e a nd inve stme nt;
• Ad va nc e justic e a nd Na tio na l Se c urity;
• Re so lve o ur so c ial a nd e nviro nme nta l c halle ng e s, a nd

10

• I

mple me nt o ur tra nsfo rma tio n initia tive s. Gro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt c a n o nly e xist whe re the re is a c o mpre he nsive a nd inte g ra te d g o ve rna nc e pro c e ss tha t inc lud e s all o f the se e le me nts. I n this De b a te , spe a ke rs o n this sid e ha ve spo ke n e xte nsive ly o n ma ny o f the se issue s, inc lud ing ma c ro e c o no mic sta b ility a nd e ne rg y. Othe r spe a ke rs will pro vid e furthe r d e ta ils o n the ir re spe c tive po rtfo lio s in the Se c to ra l De b a te . T he re a re , ho we ve r, a fe w po ints I wish to hig hlig ht. E ne rg y

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

I will lo o k first a t the issue o f e ne rg y. Che a pe r e ne rg y is a n urg e nt impe ra tive o f o ur g ro wth a g e nd a . We ha ve to se e k the b e st, mo st e ffic ie nt a nd e ffe c tive so lutio ns to o ur e ne rg y pro b le ms. Co nse rva tio n is a c ritic al e le me nt o f this. T he Offic e s o f the Prime Ministe r a nd the Ca b ine t, in pa rtne rship with the Ministry

• f Sc ie nc e , T

e c hno lo g y, E ne rg y a nd Mining , ha ve und e rta ke n a n e ne rg y c o nse rva tio n pro g ra mme whic h ha s re sulte d in e le c tric ity c o nsumptio n le ve ls b e ing the lo we st the y ha ve b e e n in the la st two ye a rs. Simila r e ne rg y-e ffic ie nc y a nd e ne rg y c o st-sa ving me a sure s we re a lso intro d uc e d a t the Na tio na l Ho using T rust, De ve lo pme nt Ba nk o f Ja ma ic a , K ing 's Ho use , Bure a u o f Sta nd a rd s, the Civil Avia tio n Autho rity, Ja ma ic a I nfo rma tio n Se rvic e a nd the Ministry o f L a b o ur a nd So c ial Se c urity, d uring the pa st six mo nths. On the supply sid e , my ma nd a te to the E ne rg y Ministe r is tha t no viab le e ne rg y

• ptio n must b e rule d o ut as we se e k to dive rsify o ur fue l mix.

Bo ld d e c isio ns ha ve b e e n a nd will c o ntinue to b e ta ke n a s we g o fo r g ro wth a nd unle a sh o ur full po te ntia l. 11

De ve loping Human Capital

Mr Spe a ke r, tra nsfo rming live s a nd tra nsfo rming the e c o no my d e pe nd o n the q uality o f o ur e d uc a tio n a nd tra ining syste ms. I n a ye a r whe n fisc al d isc ipline ma ke s it a b so lute ly ne c e ssa ry to c o nstra in e xpe nd iture , we ha ve g ive n prio rity to E d uc a tio n a nd T ra ining . T his fina nc ial ye a r, the re will b e a stro ng fo c us o n te c hnic al a nd vo c a tio na l e d uc a tio n a ime d a t e ffe c tive pre pa ra tio n fo r the wo rkpla c e . E ve ry yo ung pe rso n must le a ve sc ho o l with a ma rke ta b le skill. T he HE ART T rust NT A la unc he d two wo rkfo rc e c o lle g e s d uring la st ye a r spe c ialising in ICT tra ining a nd b e a uty se rvic e s. Ano the r two wo rkfo rc e c o lle g e s a re to b e la unc he d d uring this fina nc ia l ye a r whic h will spe c ialise in c o nstruc tio n se rvic e s a nd ho spita lity. E mpo we rme nt a nd fa c ilita tio n will b e the hallma rk o f the d e ve lo pme nt o f o ur huma n c a pita l, a s we g o fo r g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt a nd se e k to unle a sh o ur full po te ntia l. I n re spe c t to L a b o ur Ma rke t Re fo rm, I ha ve instruc te d the Pla nning I nstitute o f Ja ma ic a (PIOJ) a nd the Ministry o f L a b o ur a nd So c ial Se c urity to und e rta ke a c o mpre he nsive la b o ur ma rke t re fo rm stud y. Co nsulta tio ns ha ve alre a d y b e g un a nd tra ining se ssio ns will c o mme nc e this ye a r. T he Inte r Ame ric a n De ve lo pme nt Ba nk (IDB) is a lso c o lla b o ra ting with the Go ve rnme nt thro ug h a n I nte g ra te d So c ia l Pro te c tio n a nd L a b o ur Ma rke t Pro je c t. T his will inc lud e b a se line stud ie s to suppo rt the d e ve lo pme nt o f a Na tio nal E mplo yme nt Stra te g y. Our a ppro a c h to d e ve lo pme nt is e vid e nc e -b a se d a nd d a ta -d rive n in o rd e r to :

• E

nha nc e wo rk fo rc e tra ining to fa c ilita te jo b c re a tio n;

• Ad d re ss o ur c urre nt ‘ misma tc h’ b e twe e n tra ining a nd e mplo yme nt;
• De te rmine the le ve l o f fe male invo lve me nt in the la b o ur ma rke t;
• Re -tra in the une mplo ye d in ne w skills;

12

• Dive rsify pro g ra mme o ffe ring s in te rtia ry a nd tra ining institutio ns to wa rd

hig h d e ma nd a re a s;

• E

nha nc e o ur d ispute pre ve ntio n a nd se ttle me nt me c ha nisms; a nd

• Alig n la b o ur ma rke t a c tivitie s a c ro ss the ke y Ministrie s o f L

a b o ur, E d uc a tio n a nd Industry. T his is jo ine d up g o ve rnme nt a nd pla nne d d e ve lo pme nt a t wo rk.

Str e ngthe ning inte r national r e lationships and optimising inve stme nt

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T he Gro wth a nd De ve lo pme nt Ag e nd a is no t c o nfine d lo c ally. T he g ro wth o f o ur e c o no my is d ire c tly re la te d to d e ve lo ping po sitive re la tio nships with the ne a rly thre e millio n me mb e rs o f o ur Dia spo ra , a s we ll a s b ila te ra l a nd multila te ral pa rtne rs. Inve stme nt a nd inte rna tio nal tra d e g o ha nd in ha nd – a no the r e xa mple o f jo ine d up g o ve rnme nt a t wo rk. Ja ma ic a , tho ug h small, vulne ra ble a nd hig hly ind e b te d , is c o nsid e re d inte rna tio na lly, a s a mid dle inc o me c o untry. T his ma ke s it d iffic ult fo r us to a c c e ss c o nc e ssio na ry fina nc ing . T his issue is a c halle ng e uniq ue to CARICOM a nd o the r Small I sla nd De ve lo ping Sta te s.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, Ja ma ic a c o ntinue s to a d vo c a te fo r a re fo rm o f the thinking within

the inte rna tio na l fina nc ial c o mmunity a nd fo r the re c o g nitio n o f CARICOM sta te s a s a spe c ia l c a te g o ry a mo ng small, vulne ra ble , hig hly ind e b te d middle inc o me c o untrie s. T he hig h le ve ls o f de b t in se ve ral Ca rib b e a n sta te s d o no t allo w us suffic ie nt ro o m to fully re spo nd to o ur d e ve lo pme nt ne e d s. E xte rna l sho c ks, like na tura l d isa ste rs se t us b a c k e c o no mic ally. It is e stima te d tha t the c o st o f d a ma g e fro m hurric a ne s a nd flo o d s sinc e the Po rtla nd flo o d s o f 1998 is muc h a s $118 b illio n d o lla rs. T he se a re the re a litie s we fa c e . T he y a ffe c t the ra te o f g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt. 13

T his is the re a so n, no w mo re tha n e ve r, a s a small a nd o pe n e c o no my, Ja ma ic a must ta ke a d va nta g e o f a ll tra d e o ppo rtunitie s. We c o ntinue to g ive prio rity a tte ntio n to o ur e c o no mic d iplo ma c y, in o rd e r to inc re a se tra d e a nd inve stme nts. T his Go ve rnme nt ha s alwa ys pursue d a no n-alig ne d , pro g re ssive a nd e nlig hte ne d fo re ig n po lic y. We c o nsid e r o urse lve s ‘ Go o d Ne ig hb o urs’ to a ll.

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

While we we re still an infa nt na tio n a nd e ve n while o ur vo ic e wa s b a re ly a ud ible

• n the inte rna tio na l sta g e , we we re the first c o untry to impo se tra d e sa nc tio ns

a g a inst Apa rthe id So uth Afric a .

• Mr. Spe a ke r, whe n it wa s still risky a nd unpo pula r with e ve n so me Ja ma ic a ns, we

re c o g nize d Cub a a nd China a s me mb e rs o f the g lo b al family. Ja ma ic a re ma ins to tally c o mmitte d to the One China Po lic y, whic h ha s re sulte d in a vib ra nt a nd mutually b e ne fic ial b ila te ral c o -o pe ra tio n pro g ra mme a nd le d to sig nific a nt Chine se inve stme nt in the Ja ma ic a n e c o no my. We ha ve spe nt time a nd e ffo rt re b uild ing o ur re la tio nships, o ur ima g e a nd o ur c re d ib ility within the inte rna tio na l c o mmunity.

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

We will c o ntinue to stre ng the n o ur c he rishe d re la tio ns with tra d itio na l pa rtne rs suc h a s the Unite d Sta te s o f Ame ric a , the Unite d K ing d o m, the E uro pe a n Unio n, Ca na d a a nd Ja pa n. We a re wo rking to d e e pe n o ur re la tio nships with stra te g ic e c o no mic pa rtne rs suc h a s Bra zil, Russia , I nd ia , China a nd So uth Afric a a s we ll as the Gulf Sta te s. We re ta in stro ng , histo ric a l tie s with Ve ne zue la a nd o the r c o untrie s in L a tin Ame ric a a nd in Afric a . T he se pa rtne rships will ad va nc e mutua l e c o no mic b e ne fits a nd furthe r e nha nc e the re la tio nships b e twe e n o ur re spe c tive pe o ple s.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, we ha ve a d isting uishe d histo ry o f pro g re ssive inte rna tio na lism.

At this p o int I c o ng ra tula te the Mo st Ho no ura b le P.J. Pa tte rso n, F

• rme r Prime

Ministe r who re c e ive d So uth Afric a ’ s hig he st a wa rd pre se nte d to no n-na tio na ls, 14

T he Ord e r o f the Co mpa nio ns o f O.R. T a mb o fro m Pre sid e nt Ja c o b Zuma a t the Annual F re e d o m Da y c e re mo ny in Pre to ria , So uth Afric a o n Sa turd a y. T he umb ilic al c o nne c tio n b e twe e n the c o untrie s o f Afric a a nd the Ca rib b e a n is und e nia ble , a s is the a nc e stra l he rita g e so ma ny o f us sha re . We a re mo ving to d e ve lo p mutua lly b e ne fic ial pa rtne rships in the fie lds o f tra d e , c ulture a nd huma n d e ve lo pme nt. I inte nd to b e a t the upc o ming Afric a n Unio n Summit in Add is Ab b a , E thio pia a nd will re pre se nt Ja ma ic a ’ s c o mmitte d po sitio n to wa rd s o ur re la tio nships with the na tio ns o f Afric a . Within the wid e r Ca rib b e a n Re g io n, we will c o ntinue o ur thrust to ma ke CARICOM wo rk fo r o ur e c o no mic b e ne fit a s we ll a s the b e ne fit o f a ll o ur Ca rib b e a n ne ig hb o urs. Co untrie s o f the re g io n must wo rk mo re c lo se ly to g e the r. I am ve ry se nsitive to the c o nc e rns o f the Ja ma ic a n ma nufa c ture rs re g a rd ing tra d e with CARICOM Me mb e r Sta te s.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, o ur fo re ig n po lic y will no w b e mo re fo c usse d o n c a pita lizing o n all

tra d e pro spe c ts, a s we g o fo r g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt a nd se e k to unle a sh o ur full po te ntia l.

Busine ss F ac ilitation: Optimizing L

• c al Inve stme nt
• Mr. Spe a ke r, if we a re g o ing to a c hie ve g ro wth, we must d o e ve rything po ssib le

to fa c ilita te the g ro wth pro c e ss. We ha ve b e e n so c o nc e rne d a b o ut the unsc rupulo us amo ng us tha t we ha ve re d -ta pe d o ur e c o no my into d e c line . We c a nno t c o ntinue to stifle b usine ss b e c a use o f a fe w unsc rupulo us ind ivid uals. We ha ve to fre e up the b usine ss se c to r fo r g ro wth. We must a c tiva te the syste ms to c a tc h a nd punish the c o rrup t, who e ve r the y a re a nd whe re ve r the y a re . We ha ve to c ut the re d -ta pe . T he re is muc h tha t ne e d s to b e a d d re sse d a nd suppo rte d b y ke y sta ke ho ld e rs to ma ke it e a sie r to d o b usine ss in Jama ic a . 15

I am c o nvinc e d , sinc e re turning to o ffic e , tha t g e tting the Public Se rvic e to a d d re ss the ma tte r o f Do ing Busine ss, is the first o rd e r o f Pub lic Se c to r Re fo rm. I sa y this Mr Spe a ke r, re c o g nising tha t the re a re a lo t o f o the r impo rta nt re fo rm ma tte rs to b e a d d re sse d suc h a s me rg e rs, sha ring o f c o rp o ra te se rvic e s a nd so

• n.

Ho we ve r, impro ving the c lima te o f Do ing Busine ss ha s to b e g ive n the hig he st prio rity; a nd this we will d o , this time ro und . I kno w ma ny will sa y ‘ we ha ve he a rd this time a nd time a g a in’ a nd so ha ve little fa ith tha t we me a n b usine ss. T

• b e fa ir to o ur Pub lic Se rva nts so me thing s ha ve b e e n a c hie ve d , pe rha ps no t

e no ug h o f the m a nd fa st e no ug h, b ut a c hie ve me nts ne ve rthe le ss. T he ‘ L e g isla tio n a nd Re g ula tio ns Re fo rm Pro je c t (L E GS a nd RE GS)’ d uring the pre vio us PNP Ad ministra tio n in c o o pe ra tio n with USAID a nd the Ja ma ic a n Priva te Se c to r a c hie ve d so me thing s. A pro mine nt pro je c t wa s the ‘ One -Sto p Sho p’ whic h wa s e ve ntua lly o pe ne d a t Be rth 11 in K ing sto n in April 2009. Mr Spe a ke r, b a se d o n re po rts I ha ve se e n, fro m the Pub lic Se c to r Mo d e rnisa tio n Divisio n o f the Ca b ine t Offic e , so me inte re sting thing s a re b e ing und e rta ke n. So , a ll is no t lo st! T he Pub lic Se c to r Mo d e rnisa tio n Divisio n ha s a d va nc e d wo rk o n a se c o nd ‘ One - Sto p Sho p’ to b e lo c a te d in Mo nte g o Ba y a nd to b e o pe ne d d uring the la tte r pa rt o f the ne xt F ina nc ial Ye a r. I n re g a rd to sub d ivisio n a nd b uild ing applic a tio ns, the Ap plic a tio n a nd Da ta Auto ma tio n (AMANDA) syste m in the Po rtmo re Munic ipality is ne a rly c o mple te d . T his AMANDA syste m ha s b e e n insta lle d in e ig ht L

• c a l Autho ritie s a nd will b e

ro lle d o ut to a ll lo c al a utho ritie s a nd o the r ke y re fe rra l a g e nc ie s b y April 2015. T he Public Se c to r Mo d e rnisa tio n Divisio n ha s also fa c ilita te d He lp De sks in the Cla re nd o n, T re lawny a nd St E liza b e th Pa rish Co unc ils.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, e ntre pre ne urs a re the life blo o d o f a ny suc c e ssful e c o no my.

T his a d ministra tio n is c o mmitte d to pro mo ting a nd suppo rting e ntre pre ne urship . 16

T he Go ve rnme nt will e nc o ura g e a nd c re a te a n e nviro nme nt to e mpo we r a nd fa c ilita te pro spe c tive e ntre pre ne urs to g e t into the fra me o f mind fo r b usine ss. We c a nno t g ro w o ur e c o no my unle ss we g e t o ur pe o ple to e xp a nd e xisting b usine sse s o r to sta rt up ne w b usine sse s. Busine ss g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt a re o ur urg e nt prio ritie s a s we g o fo r g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt a nd unle a sh o ur full po te ntia l.

Advanc ing National Se c ur ity and Justic e

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

I no w turn to the ma tte r o f Na tio na l Se c urity. T he Na tio na l Se c urity c halle ng e s we no w fa c e hind e r o ur d e ve lo pme nt a nd a re d ire c t impe d ime nts to g ro wth. T he sta ke s a re to o hig h fo r us a s a c o untry to re tre a t. F

• r us to e ffe c tive ly b a ttle the d ra g o n o f c rime a nd vio le nc e , we must g e t the

c o o pe ra tio n o f the e ntire c o untry. T he Ministe r o f Na tio nal Se c urity ha s b e e n wo rking with va rio us sta ke ho ld e rs in the pub lic a nd priva te se c to rs to impro ve the c a p a c ity o f the na tio n’ s se c urity a ppa ra tus.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, mo re tha n 1.2 b illio n d o lla rs wa s spe nt la st ye a r to impro ve the fle e t
• f the JCF

, JDF a nd c o rre c tio na l se rvic e s; re furb ish a nd c o nstruc t po lic e sta tio ns- inc lud ing the sta te -o f-the -a rt F a lmo uth Po lic e Sta tio n; a nd upg ra d e the Po lic e Ac a d e my a t T wic ke nha m Pa rk. Sig nific a nt wo rk ha s b e e n d o ne b y the Ministry o f Na tio na l Se c urity a nd the JCF a s we mo ve to wa rd s imple me nting the re c o mme nd a tio ns o f the JCF Stra te g ic Re vie w. T his ye a r, we ha ve allo c a te d o ve r two -b illio n-d o lla rs to b o lste r the o pe ra tio na l c a pa b ilitie s

• f

the Ja ma ic a De fe nc e F

• rc e

(JDF ) a nd the Ja ma ic a Co nsta b ula ry F

• rc e (JCF

). I n o rd e r to stre ng the n o ur c a pa c ity to re spo nd , the Go ve rnme nt fa st-tra c ke d the pa ssa g e o f ke y le g isla tio n to ma ke ne w pro visio ns fo r o ffe nc e s re la te d to lo tte ry sc a ms, a nd o the r fra ud ule nt tra nsa c tio ns. 17

T he re a re fo ur ma jo r pie c e s o f se c urity le g isla tio n tha t will b e b ro ug ht to Pa rliame nt this ye a r to stre ng the n o ur c a p a c ity to fig ht the sc o urg e o f c rime . Ad d itio na lly, the Co mmunity Re ne wal Pro g ra mme is b e ing imple me nte d in 100 vo la tile a nd vulne rable c o mmunitie s a c ro ss Ja ma ic a .

• Mr. Spe a ke r, the re is mo re to b e d o ne .

We must c o ntinue to inc re a se the use o f sc ie nc e a nd te c hno lo g y a s pa rt o f o ur c rime -fig hting a rse nal. We must c o ntinue to impro ve the re la tio nship b e twe e n the pe o ple a nd the se c urity fo rc e s, a nd we must c o ntinue to e d uc a te a nd tra in o ur pe o ple to b e the b e st tha t the y c a n b e .

Re solving our Soc ial Challe nge s

• Mr. Spe a ke r, we will ne ve r b e a ble to b uild a q uality e c o no my if we c a nno t

b uild a q uality so c ie ty. Simply put, yo u c a nno t b a la nc e the Bud g e t if yo u d o no t b a la nc e pe o ple ’ s live s. T his is the pra c tic a l ma c ro -e c o no mic s b y whic h we o n this sid e a re g uid e d . No b usine ss c a n survive a nd thrive if the re a re no t e no ug h c usto me rs who c a n purc ha se its g o o d s a nd se rvic e s. No b a nk c a n re ma in via b le if the re a re no t suffic ie nt c lie nts to ma ke d e po sits a nd a ffo rd lo a ns. No e c o no my c a n g ro w if the mid dle c la ss is shrinking a nd the ma jo rity o f the po pula tio n c a nno t p a rtic ip a te in e xpa nd ing e c o no mic a c tivitie s. I n fa c t, Mr. Spe a ke r, the re will b e no so c ial o r e c o no mic sta b ility, a nd no Bud g e t c a n b e b ala nc e d if we d o no t b a la nc e pe o ple ’ s live s. Pro te c ting the mo st vulne ra ble amo ng us – the po o r, o ur c hild re n, se nio r c itize ns a nd pe rso ns with d isa b ilitie s, is o ur c e ntral c o nc e rn, a s we g o fo r g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt a nd se e k to unle a sh o ur full po te ntia l. De spite the se ve re e c o no mic pre ssure s, we ha ve allo c a te d re al ra the r tha n no minal inc re a se s, in so me impo rta nt a re a s. 18

T he T r ansfor mation Impe r ative

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

Ha ving e xa mine d so me o f the po lic ie s, pro g ra mme s a nd pro je c ts tha t fo rm o ur pla tfo rm fo r g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt, I no w turn to so me ne c e ssa ry c ha ng e s tha t we , a s a pe o ple will ha ve to c o nsid e r, if we a re se rio us a b o ut g o ing fo r g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt. T he e c o no mic c o nd itio ns we fa c e , re q uire tha t we all ma ke so me d ra stic c ha ng e s. We c a nno t re a lize c ha ng e if we pla n to d o thing s in the sa me wa y. We must d ra ma tic ally c ha ng e ma ny o f the wa ys we think, b e ha ve , a nd a ppro a c h o ur live s if we wa nt to a c hie ve g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt. Mr Spe a ke r: T his a d ministra tio n is a tra nsfo rma tive o ne ! We a re sta rting in o ur o wn ‘ b a c kya rd ’ . Ac hie ving the o b je c tive s we ha ve se t fo r o urse lve s re q uire s e ffe c tive a nd e ffic ie nt g o ve rna nc e syste ms. We ha ve no t ig no re d the Pub lic Se c to r T ra nsfo rma tio n pro c e ss. I n fa c t, in c o mpo sing the Ca b ine t, I to o k into a c c o unt so me o f the re c o mme nd a tio ns in the White Pa pe r o n Public Se c to r Mo d e rniza tio n. No w tha t the ne g o tia tio ns in re la tio n to the I MF ha ve b e e n c o mple te d , the Ministry o f F ina nc e a nd Pla nning will b e pla c ing g re a te r fo c us o n the imple me nta tio n o f wha t ha s b e e n a g re e d upo n fo r the mo d e rniza tio n o f the public se c to r.

Public Se c tor T r ansfor mation Unit

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T he Go ve rnme nt will c o ntinue to d o e ve rything p o ssible to e nsure tha t we ha ve the mo st e ffic ie nt public se c to r. One tha t is c usto me r frie ndly, a nd whic h will ma ke it e a sie r fo r me mb e rs o f the pub lic to d o b usine ss. 19

I n this re g a rd , I will be na ming , ve ry so o n, a to p le ve l public se rva nt to a ssume the le ad e rship o f the Public se c to r T ra nsfo rma tio n Unit, whic h ha s the re spo nsib ility to b ring o ur public se c to r into first wo rld pra c tic e s. I ha ve instruc te d the Ministry to wo rk with the T ra d e Unio ns thro ug h the Public Se c to r Mo nito ring Co mmitte e to fa st-tra c k the ne c e ssa ry c ha ng e s. T he public se c to r tra nsfo rma tio n tha t we a re a c tive ly wo rking to wa rd s, re vo lve s a ro und fo ur e sse ntia l fo c a l po ints.

• Our pub lic se c to r must b e pe o ple -frie ndly.
• Our pub lic se c to r must b e c o me mo re b usine ss-frie ndly;
• Our pub lic se c to r must b e drive n b y a c ulture o f pro duc tivity and the use
• f te c hno lo g y;
• Our pub lic se c to r must b e c o me g ro wth-o rie nte d.

Mr Spe a ke r, pe rmit me a mo me nt to sha re a n e xpe rie nc e . Whe n I first e nte re d the Ministry o f L a b o ur a nd So c ial Se c urity a s a yo ung Ministe r, I fo und a n e nviro nme nt whic h wa s no t a s pe o ple frie ndly a s it o ug ht to ha ve b e e n. T he e ld e rly ha d to wa it fo r lo ng ho urs. Pro spe c tive fa rm wo rke rs e nd ure d the ind ig nity d uring the se le c tio n pro c e ss. Ma ny sle pt o n the stre e ts a s the y wa ite d . Mr Spe a ke r, I b ring the se two e xa mple s to this Ho no ura b le Ho use in o rd e r to d e mo nstra te tha t it is po ssible to ma ke c ha ng e ha ppe n. T he syste ms a t tha t time re q uire d tra nsfo rma tio n. T he y re q uire d le a d e rship. Und e r my le a d e rship, the Ministry se t a b o ut c ha ng ing the c ulture s o f se rvic e . Re spe c t, ho no ur a nd d isc ipline b e c ame the hallma rk o f se rvic e d e live ry. It re q uire d re so urc e s a nd fa c ility. F ro m the ‘ b ig thing s’ , like a ne w b uilding fo r the pro c e ssing o f pro spe c tive fa rm wo rke rs, to smalle r thing s like te a a nd c o ffe e fo r se nio rs, who ha d tra ve lle d fro m fa r a nd ne a r to d o b usine ss with g o ve rnme nt. T he re we re also the ‘ me g a pro je c ts’ o f-the -time inc lud ing the tra nsfo rma tio n o f the Na tio na l I nsura nc e F und tha t no w sta nd s a t 65 b illio n d o lla rs. 20

Mo st o f a ll, tha t tra nsfo rma tio n re q uire d fo rwa rd -thinking a nd the will to c ha ng e the wa y we d e live re d se rvic e s to o ur pe o ple . It re q uire d ke e ping the pe o ple we se rve , a t the c e ntre o f a ll we d id . It re q uire d find ing the rig ht sta ff fo r the rig ht jo b s a nd tra ining tho se who ne e d e d to impro ve the ir skills. It re q uire d liste ning to the pe o ple we se rve d a nd re spo nd ing to the ir ne e d s. At the e nd o f tha t e xe rc ise , se rvic e d e live ry sig nific a ntly impro ve d . We ha ve d o ne it b e fo re . We a re d o ing it no w. We will c o ntinue to tra nsfo rm public se rvic e d e live ry.

T r ansfor mation and L e ade r ship

Mr Spe a ke r, whe n I spe a k a b o ut mo de rn g o ve rna nc e , I spe a k no t o nly o f c ha ng ing a d ministra tive syste ms, b ut also o f tra nsfo rming c ulture s a nd tra nsfo rming live s. T he d e c a d e s o f tra nsfo rma tive le a d e rship pro vid e d o n this sid e o f the Ho use b e g a n with the d re a m o f mo ving this Ja ma ic a fro m c o lo ny to ind e pe nd e nt na tio n – a nd g e tting it d o ne ! T he tra nsfo rma tive le a d e rship pro vid e d fro m this sid e o f the ho use is b e ing re spo nsive to the c rie s o f o ur pe o ple . It is a b o ut tra nsfo rming he a rts, mind s, spirits, so uls a nd b e ha vio urs fo r the b e tte r. T ra nsfo rma tio n is a b o ut unle a shing the ve ry fulle st o f the Ja ma ic a n po te ntia l. Our tra nsfo rma tio na l le a d e rship puts the pe o ple a t the c e ntre , pa rtic ula rly the po o r a nd the mo st vulne ra ble .

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T ra nsfo rma tio n wa s se e n in the mo me nt, o ne re c ipie nt a t L

• ng ville in Cla re nd o n,

re c e ive d his ke ys to a n a ffo rd a b le ho using unit, thro ug h the NHT . 21

He ra ise d his ha nd s a nd his e ye s to the sky a nd sa id , “Bye -b ye re nt. Bye -b ye L a ndlo rd ”. T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! T ra nsfo rma tio n wa s fe lt whe n a n e ld e rly fa rme r c o lle c te d the title fo r his fa rm la nd , in Duff Ho use , Ma nc he ste r o n his 86th b irthd a y. He c a n no w re st a ssure d tha t his fa mily’ s le g a c y is se c ure – a nd he ha s the d o c ume nts to pro ve it. T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! T ra nsfo rma tio n is stre ng the ning the fa mily-life o f tho se who re c e ive d ho me s in the Inne r City Re ne wal Pro g ra m. T ra nsfo rma tio n is se e n in the g le am o f prid e in the e ye s o f the ho me -o wne rs a t Ca rib b e a n Pa lm in my c o nstitue nc y o f So uth We st St. And re w. T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! T ra nsfo rma tio n is ta king hund re d s o f ha rd wo rking sug a r wo rke rs a nd the ir fa milie s fro m 30 c o mmunitie s a c ro ss the isla nd , o ut o f the d e plo ra ble c o nd itio ns in whic h the y ha ve live d in b a rra c ks fo r c e nturie s; a nd pro vid ing the m with ind ivid ual ho using lo ts und e r the Ho using De ve lo pme nt a nd Co mmunity Re g ula riza tio n Pro g ra mme ! T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n!

• Mr. Spe a ke r, o ne o f the mo st re wa rd ing e xpe rie nc e s in my e ntire po litic al life ha s

b e e n b re a king g ro und fo r the c o nstruc tio n o f ho using fo r sug a r wo rke rs in Ha mp to n Co urt in St. T ho ma s, Spring fie ld in Cla re nd o n a nd o the r a re a s. I am no t sure whic h c a use s me g re a te r e mo tio n:

• the b itte rswe e t, so ul stirring c ha rg e , a s I

sta nd a mo ng so ns a nd d a ug hte rs

• f the stro ng me n a nd wo me n who se b lo o d , swe a t a nd te a rs wa te re d

a c re s o f o ur na tio n’ s c a ne fie lds fo r c e nturie s,

• the g lo ry o f the mo me nt o f re d e mp tio n o f tho se c a ne wo rke rs a s the y

fa c e the pro spe c t o f o wning ne w ho me s,

• my d isa ppo intme nt in kno wing tha t the re lo c a tio n pro je c t sta rte d in 2006

b ut re g re tta b ly it ha d b e e n te rmina te d , o r

• the prid e I

fe e l b e ing a ble to wo rk with Ministe r o f Ag ric ulture , Ro g e r Cla rke a nd the E uro pe a n Unio n to b ring the pro g ra mme b a c k into b e ing

• n re sumptio n o f o ffic e to ma ke the d re a ms o f the se sug a r wo rke r c o me

true . 22

Wha t I d o kno w, Mr. Spe a ke r is tha t we , o n this sid e a re c o mmitte d to tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! T ra nsfo rma tio n c o me s with e a c h e xa mina tio n pa sse d b y a c hild a ssiste d thro ug h sc ho o l und e r the Pa th Pro g ra mme . T his is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! Bre a king g ro und a t Up Pa rk Ca mp to b e g in the pro c e ss o f pro vid ing b e tte r living fa c ilitie s to e nsure tha t the me n a nd wo me n o f the Ja ma ic a De fe nc e F

• rc e ,

who fa ithfully se rve o ur na tio n, c a n live in d ig nity. T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! With e ve ry sing le swipe o f c hild re n fing e rs o n the sc re e ns o f the ta b le ts pro vid e d to sc ho o ls b y the Unive rsa l Ac c e ss F und , e xpo sing the m to the la te st to o ls o f c o mmunic a tio n, tha t Mr. Spe a ke r, tra nsla te s to ne w kno wle d g e a nd b rig hte r future s. T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! T ra nsfo rma tio n Mr. Spe a ke r, o c c urs whe n e ve ry ill c hild is he ale d thro ug h lo ve , c a re a nd a d va nc e d me d ic al sc ie nc e . Bre a king g ro und a t the Busta ma nte Ho spita l fo r Child re n to e xpa nd he a lth fa c ilitie s is o ne mo re ste p to wa rd s tra nsfo rming o ur c hildre n’ s live s. So , Mr. Spe a ke r, this a dministra tio n d o e s no t o nly ta lk tra nsfo rma tio n - we pra c tic e it. We sa y wha t we me a n a nd we d o wha t we sa y. T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! T ra nsfo rma tio n lie s a t the he a rt, o f the no tio n o f ‘ b a la nc ing the b o o ks while b a la nc ing pe o ple ’ s live s’ . It is a c all to a c tio n to c ha ng e the ve ry fa b ric o f Ja ma ic a . I will no t o nly ke e p re pe a ting this re fra in, b ut I will d o all I c an to a c hie ve tha t b a la nc e . We a re the g o ve rnme nt o f tra nsfo rma tio n! 23

Ne w Politic al Or de r

Mr Spe a ke r: I no w turn to a ma tte r whic h ha s pre -o c c upie d my mind fo r so me time - o ur po litic a l c ulture . T he o ve rly c o mpe titive na ture o f o ur Pa rlia me nta ry d e mo c rac y ha s c o ntrib ute d sig nific a ntly to so me o f the trib a lism a nd d ivisio ns within o ur so c ie ty. T his is a ma tte r fo r whic h we must ta ke c o lle c tive re spo nsib ility. I am c o mmitte d to d o ing e ve rything I c a n to c ha ng e the to ne o f the po litic a l d ialo g ue . No g o ve rnme nt c a n e ffe c tive ly le a d a d ivid e d na tio n. No g o ve rnme nt c a n suc c e ssfully a d va nc e the c a use o f a na tio n whe n the pe o ple ha ve little re spe c t fo r e a c h o the r. We c a mpa ig n a t e le c tio n time , a nd we c a mpa ig n vig o ro usly, fo r tha t is the na ture o f o ur po litic s. Ho we ve r, whe n the c a mpa ig n is o ve r, we must a ll fo c us o n na tio n- b uild ing . As we b e g in the ne xt 50 ye a rs a s a n I nd e pe nd e nt na tio n, we must rise to a ne w po litic a l pla in.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, o ne wa y o f fa c ilita ting this ne w po litic a l o rd e r, is to fo c us

Pa rliame nt mo re c lo se ly o n ma na g ing the c halle ng e s we fa c e a s a na tio n. F

• r this Pa rliame nta ry ye a r, we will le ad d e b a te s o n the impo rta nt issue s o f

E ne rg y, E c o no mic Gro wth a nd Crime . ‘ Co me le t us re a so n to g e the r’ a nd d e mo nstra te to the na tio n tha t we c a n lift the q ua lity o f the d ialo g ue a nd find prac tic a l a nd e nduring so lutio ns to the se c halle ng e s. All id e a s must c o nte nd . All pra c tic a l so lutio ns will b e vig o ro usly pursue d . We re c o g nize tha t no o ne sid e ha s a mo no po ly o n wo rka ble so lutio ns. T he spirit o f c o o pe ra tio n must a lwa ys pre va il. 24

T RANSF ORMAT IVE POL ICIE S, PROGRAMME S AND PROJE CT S Mr . Spe ake r ,

I turn no w to the imple me nta tio n o f tra nsfo rma tive pro g ra mme s a nd pro je c ts tha t a re d e sig ne d to a c c e le ra te Ja ma ic a ’ s g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt.

Me ga Pr

• je c ts
• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T his g o ve rnme nt is in the pro c e ss o f e sta blishing a numb e r o f sig nific a nt pro je c ts d e sig ne d to jump-sta rt o ur e c o no my, pro vid e jo b s, a nd inve stme nt o p po rtunitie s fo r o ur pe o ple . T he se a re tra nsfo rma tive pro je c ts. T he y a re pro je c ts tha t will allo w us to unle a sh the fullne ss o f o ur po te ntia l. T he first o f the se is the L

• g istic s Hub .

L

• gistic s Hub

T he L

• g istic s Hub is a c e ntra l pla nk o f o ur o ve ra ll g ro wth stra te g y a nd po te ntia lly

re pre se nts Nine b illio n US-d o lla rs o f F

• re ig n Dire c t Inve stme nt.

It ha s the pro spe c t o f g e ne ra ting te ns-o f-tho usa nd s o f jo b s in a va rie ty o f fie ld s d uring the c o nstruc tio n a nd o pe ra tio na l pha se s.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, the L
• g istic s Hub Initia tive , like ma ny o f the me g a pro je c ts I will
• utline to d a y, a re no t pro je c ts tha t c a n b e imple me nte d o ve rnig ht.

Wo rk c o ntinue s a pa c e o n the ro ll- o ut o f the e na b ling syste ms to re a lize the suc c e ssful imple me nta tio n o f this Initia tive . So fa r, we ha ve issue d Re q ue st fo r Pro p o sa ls (RF P) a nd ha ve re c e ive d po sitive re spo nse s. T he Ministe r will spe a k to this in g re a te r d e ta il in the Se c to ra l De b a te . We ha ve b e g un to mo b ilize inve stme nt pro spe c ts a nd we ha ve b e e n re c e iving se rio us inte re st fro m g lo b al po rt o pe ra to rs fo r the priva tiza tio n o f the p o rt. 25

Multi-la te ra l fund ing ha s also b e e n se c ure d fo r the d e ve lo pme nt o f the L

• g istic

Hub Ma ste r Pla n a nd we ha ve re a c he d a n a g re e me nt with Pa na ma fo r the tra ining o f p o rt o pe ra to rs. We ha ve e sta b lishe d the te a m tha t will d rive the pro c e ss to e nsure the spe e d y imple me nta tio n o f this la ndma rk d e ve lo pme nt pro je c t.

National T ask F

• r

c e

• Mr. Spe a ke r, putting in pla c e all the fa c to rs ne e d e d to e xplo it the c o untry’ s

lo c a tio n is no t a trivial jo b . It re q uire s c o -o rd ina tio n o f se ve ra l va ria b le s - a va ila b ility o f tra ine d la b o ur, infra struc ture ; re lia ble po we r a nd wa te r se rvic e s. Mr Spe a ke r, we ne e d all ha nd s o n b o a rd to c o o rd ina te the se d e ve lo pme nts.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, in re c o g nitio n o f the e no rmity a nd c o mple xity o f the ta sk, Ca b ine t

re c e ntly a ppro ve d the e sta b lishme nt o f a Na tio na l T a sk F

• rc e , c ha rg e d with

c o o rd ina ting the wo rk ne e d e d to e nsure tha t the c o untry b e ne fits fro m the sig nific a nt inte re st b e ing sho wn b y inve sto rs.

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

I am ple a se d a nno unc e tha t the Princ ip al o f the Mo na Ca mpus o f the Unive rsity

• f the We st Ind ie s, Pro f., the Ho n Go rd o n Shirle y, ha s a g re e d to c ha ir this

Na tio na l T a sk F

• rc e .
• Mr. Spe a ke r, this T

a sk F

• rc e is no t o pe ra ting a g a inst so me d ista nt ho rizo n.

T he y a re fa c e d with urg e nt wo rk, e ve n a s we spe a k. L e t me g ive a no the r spe c ific e xa mple . Yo u will re c all tha t ne a rly a ye a r a g o we a nno unc e d tha t the Po rt Autho rity ha d sig ne d a n MOU with China Ha rb o ur E ng ine e ring Co mpa ny (CHE C), fo r tha t c o mpa ny to e xplo re the fe a sib ility o f e sta b lishing a ne w tra ns-shipme nt po rt a t F

• rt Aug usta .

A fe w we e ks a g o , the princ ipa ls o f CHE C c a me b a c k to the PAJ, ind ic a ting tha t a fte r a sse ssing the F

• rt Aug usta lo c a tio n, the y no lo ng e r ha d inte re st in the

pro je c t. T he re a so n, Mr. Spe a ke r, is no t tha t the y ha ve lo st inte re st in Ja ma ic a ; ra the r the y ha ve ra d ic ally e xpa nd e d the sc o p e o f the ir pro je c te d inve stme nt inte re st in Ja ma ic a , b a se d o n the ir o wn pla ns, a s we ll a s the inc re a se d inte re sts fro m 26

• the r po te ntia l use rs o f the p o rt a nd lo g istic s fa c ilitie s; F
• rt Aug usta wa s simply

no t b ig e no ug h to pro vid e the spa c e the y ne e d . T he pro je c t, the fina l lo c a tio n fo r whic h is still to b e d e te rmine d , will b e a d ire c t inve stme nt o f CHEC a nd its pa re nt c o mpa ny, China Co nstruc tio n a nd Co mmunic a tio ns Co mpa ny (CCCC), a F

• rtune 500 c o mpa ny.

T he pre limina ry e stima te s o f this me g a inve stme nt is b e twe e n (US)$1,200 millio n a nd (US)$1,500 millio n. It will c o nsist o f tra nshipme nt fa c ilitie s, a lo g istic c e ntre , ind ustria l pla nts, a c e me nt pla nt a nd po ssibly, a po we r pla nt. T he e xte nsio n to the MOU, sig ne d b y CHE C a nd the Po rt Autho rity will run fo r a no the r ye a r to allo w fo r all the re le va nt stud ie s to b e c o nd uc te d , inc lud ing e nviro nme nta l a sse ssme nts. L e t me a ssure the c o untry tha t no spe c ial c o nc e ssio ns will b e g ive n in this re g a rd . T he pla n is to imple me nt the pro je c t o ve r a five ye a r pe rio d . During the c o nstruc tio n pha se , a p pro xima te ly 2000 wo rke rs will b e e mplo ye d . Whe n c o mple te d , the ind ustria l pa rk will e mplo y a ppro xima te ly 10,000 wo rke rs.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, it will be a no n-ne g o tia b le re q uire me nt tha t the ma jo rity o f the se

wo rke rs will b e Ja ma ic a n na tio na ls.

T

• ur

ism

• Mr. Spe a ke r, o ur to urism se c to r re ma ins a po we rful e ng ine fo r g ro wing the

Ja ma ic a n e c o no my. It c o ntinue s to pe rfo rm we ll, e ve n in the c urre nt e c o no mic c lima te . Ne w ho te l ro o ms a re b e ing b uilt b y Riu in Mo nte g o Ba y a nd o the r ma jo r pro je c ts a re und e r a c tive c o nsid e ra tio n. T he se will c o ntrib ute to g ro wth. Ne w inte rna tio na l b ra nd s ha ve jo ine d us - Blue Dia mo nd Re so rts ha s a c q uire d the T re la wny Be a c h Ho te l; Me lia Ho te ls ha s ta ke n o ve r the Bra c o Villa g e , a nd K a risma Re so rts ha s ta ke n o ve r the Po inc ia na in Ne g ril. 27

Sa g ic o r ha s b e c o me a n a g g re ssive pla ye r in the ma rke t b y ma king a third a c q uisitio n to b e o p e ra te d und e r the Je we ls b ra nd . T he y a re sho wing c o nfid e nc e in Jama ic a .

• Mr. Spe a ke r, the T
• urism E

nha nc e me nt F und ha s no w shifte d to a ne w le ve l o f pe rfo rma nc e tha t is c o nsiste nt with its o rig ina l ro le a s o utline d in the T

• urism

Ma ste r Pla n. Ministe r o f T

• urism a nd E

nte rta inme nt will g ive mo re d e ta ils whe n he spe a ks d uring the Se c to ra l De b a te .

Cultur al and Cr e ative Industr ie s: T e c hnology, Pe r for manc e , Innovation and Cr e ativity

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

Cultura l a nd Cre a tive I nd ustrie s a re a n impo rta nt pa rt o f o ur g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt a g e nd a . T he se c re a te a ve nue s fo r so c ia l e xpre ssio n, jo b s a nd will he lp g e ne ra te a d d itio na l stre a ms o f re ve nue . T he Unite d Na tio ns Co nfe re nc e o n T ra d e a nd De ve lo pme nt (UNCT AD), e stima te d tha t wo rld e xpo rts o f c re a tive ind ustry g o o d s a nd se rvic e s ha d g ro wn fro m US$267 b illio n in 2002 to US$592 b illio n d o lla rs in 2008.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, We ha ve b e e n ta lking a b o ut the so c ia l, institutio nal a nd e c o no mic

va lue o f the Cultura l a nd Cre a tive Ind ustrie s fo r ma ny ye a rs. We pla n to pro vid e the e nviro nme nt in whic h na tura lly ta le nte d , c re a tive a nd ind ustrio us Ja ma ic a ns c a n d e ve lo p. T he mo d e rn fo c us o n the c ultura l a nd c re a tive e c o no my re c o g nize s tha t it spa ns se ve ra l se c to rs, ind ustrie s, a s we ll as ministrie s, a g e nc ie s a nd d e pa rtme nts

• f g o ve rnme nt.

I n the pa st we ha ve fo c use d o n I CT ’ s, inno va tio n, a nd the tra d itio na l c ultural a nd c re a tive se c to rs inc lud ing d e sig n, music , b ro a d c a sting , pe rfo rma nc e a rts a nd e ve n spo rt. As pa rt o f o ur tra nsfo rma tive a ppro a c h, the se will b e ra tio na lize d a nd d e ve lo pe d into a d yna mic a nd impo rta nt e c o no mic se c to r. 28

T he Ministe r with re spo nsib ility fo r Sc ie nc e a nd T e c hno lo g y spo ke e xte nsive ly a b o ut inno va tio n a nd I nfo rma tio n Co mmunic a tio n T e c hno lo g y, (ICT ’ s). I CT ’ s, c re a tivity a nd inno va tio n g o ha nd -in ha nd . I am ple a se d to no te the suppo rt c o ming fro m the L e a d e r o f the Oppo sitio n re g a rd ing the T a b le t pro je c t. His sug g e stio n tha t we utilize a nd suppo rt lo c al so ftwa re d e ve lo pe rs to pro vid e a pplic a tio ns is in ke e ping with o ur e xisting po lic y o f e nc o ura g ing inno va tio n in I CT s.

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

We will b e se e king to so urc e all o f the c o nte nt fo r this pro g ra mme fro m lo c al b usine sse s. T he pro p o sa l to e sta blish a spe c ial suppo rt fund will b e e xamine d with a po ssib le so urc e b e ing the Unive rsa l Se rvic e F und . We will also suppo rt so ftwa re d e ve lo pme nt – whic h also falls und e r the umb re lla

• f c ultura l a nd c re a tive ind ustrie s d e ve lo pme nt.

I f we wa nt to g ro w, we must inno va te . Mr. Spe a ke r, the ta le nt a lre a d y e xists a mo ng o ur pe o ple . I ha ve no d o ub t a b o ut tha t. Our pe o ple c a n inve nt a nd inno va te a nd a s Go ve rnme nt we must e mpo we r, fa c ilita te a nd e xpa nd tha t pro c e ss. T he Go ve rnme nt suppo rts the c a ll fo r a po lic y fra me wo rk tha t pla c e s e mpha sis

• n:
• b usine ss d e ve lo pme nt a nd inc ub a tio n,
• suppo rtive fina nc ing struc ture s fo r the ind ustrie s,
• re se a rc h a nd d e ve lo pme nt,
• ma rke ting ,
• institutio na l stre ng the ning ,a nd
• tra ining , c e rtific a tio n a nd sta nd a rd iza tio n o f skills.

Mo st c ultura l a nd c re a tive e nte rprise s a re mic ro , small a nd me d ium size d e nte rprise s a nd will b e ne fit fro m the pro g ra mme s pre vio usly a nno unc e d during this d e b a te . 29

• Mr. Spe a ke r this Administra tio n ha s ta ke n a c tio n.

A Cultura l a nd Cre a tive Ind ustrie s Co mmissio n is b e ing e sta blishe d to pro mo te the g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt o f tho se ind ustrie s in Ja ma ic a . T he Co mmissio n will o ve rse e the d e ve lo pme nt o f the Cultural a nd Cre a tive I nd ustrie s Po lic y a nd Ma ste r Pla n, in c o nsulta tio n with ke y sta ke ho ld e rs.

Spor t

• Mr. Spe a ke r, o ur c o untry c o ntinue s to e xc e l in spo rt.

Our ind ivid ual spo rtsme n a nd wo me n a nd o ur o utsta nd ing spo rt a d ministra to rs a nd suppo rt te a ms c o ntinue to d e mo nstra te tha t g ive n the rig ht e nviro nme nt we c a n ma tc h, if no t d o b e tte r tha n a nyo ne e lse in the wo rld . Sinc e my la st b ud g e t pre se nta tio n, Ja ma ic a g a ve a g lo rio us g o ld e n pe rfo rma nc e a t the Olympic s tha t inspire d the wo rld . Ja ma ic a ’ s d o mina nc e c a use d the o rg a nize rs to re sc he d ule the 4 x100 Me tre s Re la y to b e the la st ra c e fo r the ve ry first time , so the Olympic Ga me s c o uld finish o n a hig h. Of c o urse , Mr. Spe a ke r, we ne ve r d isa ppo inte d . We b ro ke o ur o wn wo rld re c o rd a nd c a use d the e ntire wo rld to c ha nt ‘ Ja ma ic a , Ja ma ic a , Ja ma ic a ’ !.

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

At the la st Bo ys a nd Girls Cha mps, o ur yo ung a thle te s se t a n unpre c e d e nte d 30 ne w re c o rds. We d o mina te d the CARIF T A Ga me s, winning the mo st me d als a nd a g a in c o me

• ut o n to p.
• Mr. Spe a ke r,

I n Cric ke t, I wish to c o ng ra tula te Mr. Da ve Ca me ro n who wa s re c e ntly e le c te d the Pre sid e nt o f the We st Ind ie s Cric ke t Bo a rd ; 30

• Mr. Mic ha e l Muirhe ad who wa s a ppo inte d the CE

O o f the We st I nd ie s Cric ke t Bo a rd a nd Mr. Wa ve l Hind s who is no w the Pre sid e nt o f the We st Ind ie s Pla ye rs Asso c ia tio n. On the fie ld o f pla y, Chris Ga yle wa s a t his me rc ile ss b e st whe n he sc o re d 175 no t o ut o ff 66 b a lls, bre a king lite ra lly e ve ry b a tting re c o rd in T 20 ma tc he s. Ma rlo n Samue ls wa s re c e ntly name d o ne o f Wisd e ns pla ye r o f the ye a r. I n fo o tb a ll, we also c o ng ra tula te Ca p ta in Ho ra c e Burre ll who wa s re c e ntly e le c te d a Vic e Pre sid e nt o f CONCACAF . T he Sunshine Girls c o ntinue to shine a nd we a re pro ud o f the ir a c hie ve me nts. We se e sp o rt no t o nly a s a re c re a tio na l a c tivity b ut a lso a s a n e sse ntia l to o l in the d rive to d e ve lo p susta ina b le g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt. Spo rts is b ig b usine ss! Ve ry d e lib e ra te plans, pro c e sse s, po lic ie s a nd pro g ra mme s imple me nte d o ve r ma ny ye a rs b y g o ve rnme nt a nd b y the p riva te se c to r ha ve c a use d us to b e the spo rting g ia nts tha t we a re . T he Spo rts De ve lo pme nt F

• und a tio n, fo r e xa mple , spe nt $44.14 millio n o n

spo rting infra struc ture pro je c ts a nd pro vid e d $172.81 millio n in g ra nt suppo rt to fo rty-two (42) Na tio nal Spo rting Asso c ia tio ns. An a d d itio na l $45.62 millio n wa s pro vid e d to Go ve rnme nt Sp o rting E ntitie s fo r the fund ing o f spo rt pro g ra mme s a nd o pe ra tio na l suppo rt. It is the re fo re my ho pe tha t d e spite the d iffic ultie s, the priva te se c to r will c o ntinue to pla y its p a rt in the suppo rt o f spo rt in Ja ma ic a .

Planne d De ve lopme nt

Mr Spe a ke r, I ha ve alwa ys b e lie ve d in Pla nne d De ve lo pme nt. It is o fte n sa id tha t p o litic ia ns a re o nly c o nc e rne d a b o ut the ne xt e le c tio n a nd tha t the y ha ve no pla ns in pla c e fo r e c o no mic g ro wth a nd de ve lo pme nt. T ha t is why a s Ministe r o f L a b o ur a nd So c ial Se c urity, I to o k stra te g ic d e c isio ns with re spe c t to ho w we ma na g e the Na tio na l I nsura nc e F und . 31

T ha t is why we e sta b lishe d the Ja ma ic a Pro d uc tivity Ce ntre . T ha t is why we d e ve lo pe d the T

• urism Ma ste r Pla n fo r Susta ina b le De ve lo pme nt

whic h g uid e s o ur to urism pro d uc t until to d a y. T ha t is why I pilo te d the le g isla tio n fo r the e sta b lishme nt o f the Po rtmo re Munic ipality. Pla nne d d e ve lo pme nt is a c e ntra l e le me nt o f o ur Pro g re ssive Ag e nd a . It is d ire c tly linke d to the princ iple o f jo ine d -up Go ve rnme nt.

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T

• d a y I

sha re my visio n fo r Stra te g ic Urb a n Pla nning , a nd Rural De ve lo pme nt. I will first e xa mine stra te g ic urb a n pla nning .

Str ate gic Ur ban Planning

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T he L e a d e r o f the Oppo sitio n spo ke o f stra te g ic urb a n planning , a s the ‘ ne xt fro ntie r’ . I ha ve a g ift fo r the L e a d e r o f the Opp o sitio n. It is the Na tio na l Physic al Pla n, 1978 to 1998, Ja ma ic a . T his d o c ume nt wa s ta b le d in this Ho no ura b le Ho use in Oc to b e r 1978. T his pla n re se a rc he d , id e ntifie d a nd pro po se d pla nning a nd d e ve lo pme nt o f villa g e s, d istric t c e ntre s, sub -re g io na l c e ntre s, re g io na l c e ntre s a nd rural a re a s with struc ture d fa c ilitie s a nd se rvic e s o ve r the e ntire isla nd . Co nsiste nt with this pla n the fo llo wing d e ve lo pme nts we re und e rta ke n b y suc c e ssive PNP a dministra tio ns. We c o nstruc te d Hig hwa y 2000, the No rth Co a st Hig hwa y, a nd the d e ve lo pme nt

• f Po rtmo re , Gre a te r Po rtmo re a nd He llshire a mo ng o the rs. Out o f this pla n a

numb e r o f re so rt c e ntre s we re also d e ve lo pe d . F

• rme r Prime Ministe r P. J. Pa tte rso n id e ntifie d Cla re nd o n a nd St. Ca the rine fo r

g ro wth, b a se d o n stra te g ic d e ve lo pme nt pa ra me te rs. 32

Nine T ho usa nd (9000) a c re s o f la nd wa s b o ug ht a t Inve rne ss, 700 a c re s a t L

• ng ville a nd F

ive hund re d millio n d o lla rs ha s b e e n spe nt to ta ke wa te r to the se a re a s. Ove r fo rty tho usa nd (40,000) ho use s ha ve b e e n b uilt in the St Ca the rine / Cla re nd o n a re a . T he se ho use s we re fund e d b y the Na tio na l Ho using T rust. I n this Pla n, F almo uth wa s id e ntifie d a s a sub -re g io na l c e ntre a nd a re so rt e xpa nsio n a re a . 700 a c re s o f la nd we re a c q uire d a t Dry Va lle y, the Gre e nfie ld Sta d ium, a nd the Cruise Ship Po rt we re d e ve lo pe d . Ove r two –tho usa nd ho use s ha ve b e e n c o nstruc te d in re c e nt time s. T his is a n a re a tha t is ripe fo r g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, in ke e ping with my a ppro a c h to Pla nne d De ve lo pme nt:
• I

ha ve g ive n instruc tio ns to re vise the Na tio na l Physic al Pla n.

• I

ha ve also instruc te d tha t fo ur d e ve lo pme nt pla ns fo r Po rtland , T re la wny, Ma nc he ste r, a nd Ne g ril/ Gre e n I sla nd , whic h ha ve b e e n c o mple te d , b e pro mulg a te d this ye a r.

• T

he pla ns fo r St. Ca the rine , St. T ho ma s, Cla re nd o n, K ing sto n a nd St. And re w a re in a n a dva nc e d sta g e o f pre pa ra tio n.

• At the a ppro pria te time Ca b ine t will c o nsid e r the d ra ft T
• wn a nd Co untry

Pla nning Bill.

• T

his will c o mple me nt the Ma nual fo r De ve lo pme nt tha t I la unc he d , a s Prime Ministe r, in 2007. We a re c o mmitte d to e nsuring tha t Ja ma ic a ’ s c o ntinue d d e ve lo pme nt is g uid e d b y a c o mpre he nsive a nd inte g ra te d Na tio na l Spa tia l Pla n. Mr Spe a ke r, while we b uild ne w c itie s a nd to wns, we will also ma inta in a nd d ive rsify e c o no mic o ppo rtunitie s in e xisting a re a s.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, I ha ve liste ne d to the c o nc e rns o f d e ve lo pe rs a nd o the r

sta ke ho ld e rs re g a rd ing d e la ys in the pro pe rty d e ve lo pme nt pro c e ss. I will c o nsult with the m prio r to ta b ling a Ministry Pa pe r o n me a sure s to spe e d up the pro c e ss. 33

Rur al De ve lopme nt Str ate gy

I no w turn to the se c o nd c ritic a l pilla r o f o ur pla nne d d e ve lo pme nt a g e nd a – Rural De ve lo pme nt.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, Rural de ve lo pme nt is a s impo rta nt a s Urb a n De ve lo pme nt.

So me o f the wo rst a re a s o f po ve rty e xist in d e e p rural Jama ic a . An inte g ra te d pla n o f rura l d e ve lo pme nt will a rre st the tre nd o f rura l to urb a n mig ra tio n whic h plac e s pre ssure o n urb an c e ntre s. Rural d e ve lo pme nt is no t just a b o ut the e xpa nsio n o f a g ric ultural e nte rprise s. T he ma in e mpha sis fo r rura l d e ve lo pme nt will b e o n the b uild ing o f to wnships, e sta b lishme nt o f b usine ss e nte rprise s; pro visio n o f a c c e ss to he alth c a re fa c ilitie s, sc ho o ls, wa te r, ro a d s, e le c tric ity, te c hno lo g y a nd the c re a tio n o f o pp o rtunitie s fo r e c o no mic a d va nc e me nt. Within the c urre nt fina nc ial c o nstra ints, o ve r the ne xt thre e ye a rs, my a d ministra tio n will fo c us o n the fo llo wing e le me nts:

• Ag ro pa rks to b o o st a g ric ultura l pro d uc tivity a nd e xpa nd e mplo yme nt.
• Ag ro -ind ustrie s fo r ne w pro d uc t d e ve lo pme nt, inc lud ing ne utra c e utic als

a nd o the r va lue -a d de d pro d uc ts.

• Dro ug ht mitig a tio n.
• I

mpro ve me nt o f fa rm ro a d s.

• Co mmunity a nd E

c o -to urism.

• T

he e sta b lishme nt o f a d d itio na l ‘ c o mmunity a c c e ss po ints’ , inc re a se d a c c e ss to the inte rne t a nd re la te d se rvic e s.

• Ac c e ss to a ffo rd a b le ho using so lutio ns.
• De live ry o f o utsta nd ing la nd title s, a nd
• Busine ss d e ve lo pme nt.
• Mr. Spe a ke r, I will b e e sta b lishing a T

a sk F

• rc e o n Rura l De ve lo pme nt to

c o o rd ina te the se stra te g ie s.

T he Ur ban De ve lopme nt Cor por ation

Mr Spe a ke r, 34

I n 2012, the ne w Bo a rd o f the Urb a n De ve lo pme nt Co rpo ra tio n b e c a me a wa re tha t the sta te o f a ffa irs a t the Co rp o ra tio n wa s mo st unsa tisfa c to ry a nd tha t the UDC wa s in d ire fina nc ial stra its. T he ne w b o a rd d isc o ve re d pro b le ms whic h ha ve b e e n c le a rly d o c ume nte d in the Aud ito r Ge ne ra l’ s Pe rfo rma nc e Audit Re po rt whic h re vie we d the pe rio d e nd ing Ma rc h 2012. T he a ud it re ve a le d se ve ral b re a c he s re la te d to g o ve rna nc e , fina nc ia l a c c o unting a nd huma n re so urc e ma na g e me nt. Sixte e n re c o mme nda tio ns we re mad e b y the Aud ito r Ge ne ral a nd the Bo a rd a nd Ma na g e me nt ha ve re so lve d to imple me nt the m in a n e ffo rt to re sto re the via b ility a nd c re d ib ility o f the o rg a niza tio n. Mr Spe a ke r, I am ple a se d to re p o rt tha t to d a te , se ve ral o f the se re c o mme nd a tio ns ha ve b e e n imple me nte d . T he Bo a rd e xpe c ts to c o mple te imple me nta tio n o f the

• the r re c o mme nd a tio ns b e fo re the e nd o f this ye a r.

T he Co rpo ra tio n is b e ing re po sitio ne d to b e a b le to e ffe c tive ly fulfil its ma nd a te ‘ to ma ke d e ve lo pme nt ha ppe n’ . Ove r the ne xt thre e ye a rs the Bo a rd a nd Ma na g e me nt o f the UDC will se e k to :

• 1. E

nsure susta ine d fina nc ial via b ility;

• 2. Pla n a nd e xe c ute pro je c ts tha t supp o rt a nd e nc o ura g e susta ina b le

na tio na l d e ve lo pme nt;

• 3. Utilize the a sse ts o wne d b y the Co rp o ra tio n to c re a te tra nsfo rma tio na l

d e ve lo pme nt o ppo rtunitie s; a nd

• 4. Re d e sig n the c o rp o ra te struc ture a nd sta ffing to d e live r the d e sire d
• b je c tive s in the mo st e ffic ie nt wa y.

T he ra tio na le o f this a ppro a c h is to re d uc e e xpe nd iture , inc re a se re ve nue ,

• p timize a nd re fo c us sta ff, a nd d ive st no n-pe rfo rming no n-c o re a sse ts.

T

• this e nd , the UDC ha s d ive ste d the Oc e a na Ho te l to the Na tio na l He alth F

und whic h pla ns to c o nve rt it into a multipurpo se b uild ing fo r o ffic e spa c e , e nte rta inme nt a nd a pa rtme nts units. 35

T he UDC a lso so ld its sha re s in Gra nd L id o a nd a pro pe rty a t Ma ho g a ny Inn, Ne g ril a nd is e xpe c te d to re a lise a ppro xima te ly two b illio n d o lla rs fro m the se d ive stme nts. It is impo rta nt to no te tha t 75% o f the pro c e e d s o f sale will no w b e re ta ine d fo r the d e ve lo pme nt o f c a pita l pro je c ts in the na tio na l inte re st, whic h is a d e pa rture fro m the pre vio us b a sis o f using d ive stme nt p ro c e e d s fo r re c urre nt e xpe nse s. Mr Spe a ke r, the UDC is wo rking mo re c lo se ly with the Ministry o f T

• urism a nd

E nte rta inme nt a nd the Ja ma ic a T

• urist Bo a rd to e nha nc e o ur to urism pro d uc t in

the ma in to urist c e ntre s o f Oc ho Rio s a nd Mo nte g o Ba y. T he Ministe r o f T

• urism a nd E

nte rta inme nt will spe a k mo re a bo ut this e xa mple o f jo ine d -up g o ve rnme nt in his Se c to ra l De ba te pre se nta tio n. Mr Spe a ke r, the Go ve rnme nt will c o mme nc e c o nstruc tio n o f o ffic e s fo r the Ministry o f F

• re ig n Affa irs a nd F
• re ig n T

ra d e in this fina nc ia l ye a r in Do wnto wn K ing sto n. Mr Spe a ke r, the UDC a nd the Ja ma ic a Na tio na l He rita g e T rust a re in me a ning ful d ialo g ue re g a rd ing the re sto ra tio n o f he rita g e site s in Do wnto wn K ing sto n. K ing sto n must b e c o me a to urist c e ntre a g a in! T he priva te se c to r ha s sig nalle d a re al inte re st in b e c o ming a pa rt o f this sig nific a nt pro c e ss a nd we we lc o me the ir pa rtic ip a tio n. T ra nsfo rma tio n ha s b e g un! Mr Spe a ke r, d uring the ye a r no t o nly will I pro vid e to this Ho no ura b le Ho use a nd the c o untry with a n upd a te o n the pro g re ss ma d e , b ut the re will b e furthe r a nno unc e me nts o f spe c ific pro je c ts to b e und e rta ke n o r influe nc e d b y the UDC.

T he National Housing T r ust

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

I no w turn to the issue o f the Na tio na l Ho using T rust, whic h ha s b e e n imple me nting pro je c ts in a c c o rd a nc e with b o th the urb a n a nd the rura l d e ve lo pme nt ma nd a te s tha t I ha ve g ive n. 36

Housing Pr

• mise s Made and Pr
• mise s Ke pt

Whe n I spo ke in the Bud g e t De b a te o n June 5 la st ye a r, I g a ve c e rta in c o mmitme nts a s the Ministe r with p o rtfo lio re spo nsib ility fo r the NHT . I ha ve a d uty to re p o rt to this Ho use o n the pro g re ss o f tho se c o mmitme nts. I sa id the n tha t ne w ho using d e ve lo pme nts wo uld g o o n the ma rke t fo r L

• ng ville

Pha se 3 in Cla re nd o n, Pe rth in Ma nc he ste r a nd Cre ig hto n Ha ll in St. T ho ma s. We ha ve c o mple te d 918 so lutio ns a t L

• ng ville , 258 se rvic e d lo ts a t Pe rth a nd 140

se rvic e d lo ts a t Cre ig hto n Ha ll. Pro mise made , pro mise ke pt. T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n! We ma d e a c o mmitme nt fo r spe c ial c o nsid e ra tio n to b e g ive n to yo ung pro fe ssio na ls in the d e live ry o f ne w ho using so lutio ns. At L

• ng ville Pha se 3, Pe rth Pha se 1 a nd Cre ig hto n Ha ll, 61 so lutio ns we re

re se rve d fo r a llo c a tio n to yo ung pro fe ssio na ls, a g e s 25-35 ye a rs. Pro mise made , pro mise ke pt. Sta rting this ye a r we will b e wid e ning the a g e q ualific a tio n fo r this c a te g o ry up to a g e 40. We ha ve d e live re d o n o ur c o mmitme nt to pro vid e mo re ho me g ra nts to c o ntrib uto rs in the lo we st inc o me c a te g o rie s. We ha ve inc re a se d Ho me Gra nts fro m a to ta l $336 millio n to $390 millio n. Pro mise made , pro mise ke pt. Our ho te l wo rke rs pro vid e va lua ble se rvic e to the e c o no my. I pro mise d tha t c o ntrib uto rs in the ho te l se c to r e a rning le ss tha n $10,000 pe r we e k, wo uld re c e ive a o ne pe rc e nt ra te re d uc tio n o n mo rtg a g e lo a ns fo r the life o f the lo a n. Pro mise made , pro mise ke pt. T he first 74 o f the F irst Ste p Ho me s, whic h I a nno unc e d la st ye a r, a re b e ing b uilt a t Ha mpd e n T re lawny. T his is a pa rtne rship b e twe e n the NHT , Ministry o f T ra nsp o rt, Wo rks a nd Ho using a nd F

• o d fo r the Po o r.

I am ple a se d to re po rt tha t the d e mand b y ho te l a nd sug a r wo rke rs ha ve re sulte d in a ll 74 b e ing so ld with c lo sing c o sts b e ing pa id e ve n b e fo re c o mple tio n o f c o nstruc tio n. 37

T he pric e fo r e a c h ho me is 2.7 millio n d o lla rs a nd the NHT is a wa rd ing a g ra nt o f 1.2 millio n d o lla rs to e a c h c o ntrib uto r fo r ho me impro ve me nt. I b ro ke g ro und fo r the se - Pro mise made , pro mise ke pt. T hat is transfo rmatio n in ac tio n! Spe c ial sub sid ie s we re a llo c a te d to 229 c o ntrib uto rs in the o ne pe rc e nt a nd thre e pe rc e nt inc o me b a nd . Pro mise made , pro mise ke pt. I sa id the NHT wo uld intro d uc e g re a te r fle xib ility in q ua lific a tio n fo r a b e ne fit. T he Ag e nc y ha s c o ntinue d the Mo rtg a g e Pa rtne r Po lic y whe re o ne ho me o wne r with a t le a st 7 ye a rs o f unc la ime d re funds a nd with no inte ntio n o f a c q uiring a n NHT lo a n c a n use the se fund s to a ssist a no the r c o ntrib uto r to a c q uire a ho me . Pro mise made , pro mise ke pt

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

Gro und ha s b e e n b ro ke n fo r the re -d e ve lo pme nt o f the JDF b a rra c ks, o ffic e rs’ q ua rte rs a nd a d ministra tive fa c ilitie s a t Up Pa rk Ca mp. T his will pro vid e d e c e nt a nd mo re c o mfo rta ble fa c ilitie s fo r the d e d ic a te d me n a nd wo me n o f the JDF . Ye t ano the r pro mise made and ke pt. I mad e a c o mmitme nt to so me o the r sp e c ial g ro ups suc h a s ho te l wo rke rs a nd public se c to r wo rke rs. T he se g ro ups ha ve , sinc e la st ye a r, re c e ive d fa vo ura b le c o nsid e ra tio n in the allo tme nt o f NHT b e ne fits. Sinc e la st ye a r, 6,760 pub lic se c to r wo rke rs ha ve b e ne fite d fro m o ne pe r c e nt inte re st ra te re d uc tio n o n NHT lo a ns. Pro mise made , pro mise ke pt. All o f tha t, Mr Spe a ke r,is transfo rmatio n in ac tio n!

• Mr. Spe a ke r, I wish to sha re with yo u so me ne w initia tive s fo r the pe o ple o f

Ja ma ic a , to b e imple me nte d b y the Na tio na l Ho using T rust in this fina nc ia l ye a r. T he g o ve rnme nt ha s ta b le d a tig ht b ud g e t in ke e ping with the ma c ro - e c o no mic pro g ra mme . I n this c o nte xt, the NHT ha s c o mmitte d to pla y its pa rt, with ne w a nd impro ve d inc e ntive s fo r c o ntrib uto rs. 38

T he se inc lud e pro g ra mme s suc h a s: (i) Spe c ial Public Se c to r Wo rke r Po lic y:

• Mr. Spe a ke r, a s I

said e a rlie r, the c o untry o we s a g re a t d e b t o f g ra titud e to Public Se c to r wo rke rs. T his g o ve rnme nt, thro ug h the NHT is saluting the se wo rke rs a nd e xpre ssing g ra titud e with a d d e d inc e ntive s fo r this c a te g o ry o f c o ntrib uto rs. Public se c to r wo rke rs who re c e ive d a 1% inte re st ra te re d uc tio n up to Ma rc h 31, 2013, will ha ve this b e ne fit e xte nd e d fo r a no the r two ye a rs, to Ma rc h 31, 2015.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, the re is mo re !

E ffe c tive Ja nua ry 1, 2014, pub lic se c to r e mplo ye e s with NHT mo rtg a g e s will b e e lig ible fo r c o ntrib utio n re fund s d uring the fo ur ye a r pe rio d 2014 to 2017. Pre vio usly, it wa s the NHT ’ s po lic y tha t c o ntrib utio n re fund s d ue to mo rtg a g o rs a re a uto ma tic a lly applie d a s pa yme nts to the mo rtg a g e in Ja nua ry o f the ye a r whe n the re fund is to b e pa id . T his re stric tio n will b e re mo ve d fo r a ll public se c to r wo rke rs d uring the ne xt fo ur ye a rs. Sta rting Ja nua ry 1, 2014, Pub lic Se c to r wo rke rs c a n o pt to a pply fo r the c o ntrib utio n re fund s d ue fo r the ye a r 2006. T his initia tive will b e ne fit 31,000 pub lic se c to r mo rtg a g o rs a nd will g ive the m a c c e ss to a ppro xima te ly $790 millio n d o lla rs a nnually. T he re is still mo re fo r pub lic se c to r NHT c o ntrib uto rs! Sta rting Se p te mb e r 1, this ye a r, pub lic se c to r wo rke rs will b e g ive n a 15% d isc o unt o n pe ril insura nc e pre miums. T he y will also c o ntinue to b e ne fit fro m a 15% d isc o unt b e lo w NHT sta nd a rd insura nc e ra te s fo r the pe rio d thro ug h to Ma rc h 31, 2017. T his will c ha ng e the pre vio us a rra ng e me nt whe re the re wo uld b e a re b a te pa yme nt in De c e mbe r o f e a c h ye a r. We a re fro nt-lo a d ing this b e ne fit so tha t pub lic se c to r mo rtg a g o rs will pa y le ss sta rting in Se p te mb e r. 39

(ii) T he T rust will b e g iving spe c ial a tte ntio n to the Po lic e . I n fulfilme nt o f its b ro a d na tio na l d e ve lo pme nt ma nd a te , the NHT is a lso a ssisting with the d e ve lo pme nt o f physic a l infra struc ture fo r the Po lic e . T his inc lud e s wo rk whic h will b e a c c e le ra te d o n the re -d e ve lo pme nt o f the Ce ntra l K ing sto n Po lic e Sta tio n a t E a st Que e n Stre e t. We will also b e pro c e e d ing with the re lo c a tio n o f the Ce ntre fo r the I nve stig a tio n o f Se xual Offe nc e s (CISOCA) to ne w a nd b e tte r fa c ilitie s a t Surb ito n Ro a d . T his will fre e up the Ruthve n Ro a d pro pe rty fo r ho using d e ve lo pme nt. T he va lua ble wo rk b e ing und e rta ke n b y the se public se c to r wo rke rs re q uire s tha t e ve ry e ffo rt is ma d e to impro ve the ir wo rking e nviro nme nt. T hat is still no t all!

• Mr. Spe a ke r, No n Public Se c to r NHT

mo rtg a g o rs, will ha ve no inc re a se in the ir pe ril insura nc e ra te s fo r the c urre nt ye a r o f c o ve ra g e sta rting April 1, 2013 to Ma rc h 31 2014.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, e ffe c tive imme d ia te ly the NHT

will inc re a se lo a n limits o n se rvic e d lo ts in NHT sc he me s fro m 1.5 millio n d o llars to 2.5 millio n d o llars. T his will e na ble mo re NHT c o ntrib uto rs to purc ha se la nd . (iii) No o ne c a n d isa g re e tha t the Inne r City Ho using pro je c t ha s po sitive ly tra nsfo rme d the live s o f pe rso ns in so me c o mmunitie s suc h a s Mo naltrie , De nha m T

• wn, Ma je sty Ga rd e ns a nd T

re nc h T

• wn.

T his pro g ra mme wa s suspe nd e d und e r the pre vio us Go ve rnme nt. It ha s b e e n re -a sse sse d a nd the NHT will re start an I nne r City Re ne wal Pro g ramme as o f the 2014 financ ial ye ar. (iv) T his ye a r NHT will c o ntrib ute twe nty five (25) millio n d o lla rs to the “YUT E Build ” initia tive , whic h is tra ining o ne hund re d inne r-c ity yo ung pe o ple in c o nstruc tio n-re la te d d isc ipline s. T his is up fro m the te n (10) millio n d o lla rs la st ye a r. We a re pre pa ring the yo ung pe o ple o f Ja ma ic a to g e t up o ff the c o rne r a nd to “Arise a nd Build ”. 40

(v) As pa rt o f its d rive to stimula te a nd b uild the e c o no my, the NHT will allo c a te 10.6 millio n d o lla rs to b e a va ila ble a s prize mo nie s fo r a Spe c ial Small Busine ss E ntre pre ne urship Awa rd c a te g o ry in its Be st Sc he me s Co mpe titio n. T his will b e a va ila ble to mic ro -e nte rprise s c re a te d within NHT c o mmunitie s. T he prima ry purp o se o f the a wa rd is to e nc o ura g e the d e ve lo pme nt a nd c o mme rc ializa tio n o f pro mising id e a s e me rg ing fro m ho me o wne rs. T he c o mpe titio n will se e k to hig hlig ht a nd e nc o ura g e c re a tivity, inno va tio n a nd e ntre pre ne urship o rig ina ting a t the c o mmunity le ve l.

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

T he NHT is o n the mo ve ! T his ye a r, the NHT will intro d uc e Mo b ile NHT . T his is a ne w se rvic e d e live ry c ha nne l fo r re a c hing e xisting c o ntrib uto rs a nd mo rtg a g o rs a nd to sig n up ne w c o ntrib uto rs in rural and d e e p rural Jama ic a . T he NHT is le a d ing the wa y. My Administra tio n is c o mmitte d to c re a ting a re vo lutio n in ho w g o ve rnme nt d o e s b usine ss a nd se rve the pe o ple . We a re a lre a d y ta king Go ve rnme nt to the pe o ple a nd we a re c o mmitte d to e nsuring tha t pub lic se rvic e re a c he s the pe o ple in the ir c o mmunitie s.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, I c o uld no t c o mple te my pre se nta tio n o n the NHT

witho ut c o mme nting o n the sig nific a nt c o ntrib utio n tha t this o rg a niza tio n ha s b e e n c alle d o n the ma ke to the na tio na l e c o no mic pro g ra mme o ve r the ne xt fo ur ye a rs. T he re ha ve b e e n va rying re spo nse s to the NHT ’ s c o ntrib utio n. Ho we ve r, Mr. Spe a ke r, the T rust ha s re c o g nize d tha t it is c o ntrib uting to the ve ry surviva l o f Jama ic a in the se d iffic ult time s. Witho ut a sta b le Ja ma ic a the re will b e no NHT , a nd witho ut a Ja ma ic a in whic h

• ur c o ntrib uto rs c a n re pa y the ir mo rtg a g e s the re will b e no via b ility fo r the NHT

. T he Ad ministra tio n tha t I le ad is c o nsc io us o f o ur sa c re d a nd so le mn o blig a tio n to e nsure the surviva l a nd c o ntinue d g ro wth o f the NHT .

• Mr. Spe a ke r, this g o ve rnme nt ha s ta ke n b o ld d e c isio ns!

41

T ha t is tra nsfo rma tio n in a c tio n. We a re g o ing fo r g ro wth a nd unle a shing o ur full po te ntia l.

CONCL USION

• Mr. Spe a ke r,

We kno w we ha ve no t b e e n a b le to so lve all o ur pro ble ms. It c o uld no t ha ve b e e n b e d o ne in a sing le ye a r, b ut we ha ve mad e sig nific a nt strid e s. Afte r o ne ye a r a nd fo ur mo nths in Offic e , a nd d e spite the c halle ng e s, o ur re c o rd spe a ks fo r itse lf:

• We ha ve p a sse d twe nty-five c ritic a l pie c e s o f le g isla tio n.
• We ha ve se c ure d a n I

MF Sta ff L e ve l Ag re e me nt to he lp sta b ilize o ur e c o no my.

• We ha ve se c ure d c ritic a l fo re ig n inve stme nts a nd b ila te ra l e c o no mic

a g re e me nts.

• We ha ve ro lle d o ut the JE

E P a nd pro d uc e d 36,000 jo b s.

• We ha ve inc re a se d the minimum wa g e .
• We ha ve e xp a nd e d syste ms to pro te c t the po o r.
• We ha ve c o ntinue d to imple me nt impo rta nt so c ia l pro g ra mme s.
• We ha ve d e live re d o n o ur ro a d re pa ir pro g ra mme .
• We ha ve d e live re d o n o ur ho using pro mise s.
• We ha ve e xp a nd e d wa te r supply syste ms.
• We ha ve e xp a nd e d e le c tric ity se rvic e s.
• We ha ve upg ra d e d se ve ra l he alth c e ntre s.
• We ha ve re d uc e d te le pho ne ra te s, with mo re re duc tio n to c o me .
• We ha ve re a lize d g ro wth in the a g ric ultural se c to r.
• We ha ve re -e sta b lishe d impo rta nt lo c al pa rtne rships, a nd
• We ha ve re sto re d o ur inte rna tio na l ima g e , re puta tio n a nd c re d ib ility.
• Mr. Spe a ke r, to d a y the pe o ple kno w the y ha ve a Go ve rnme nt tha t liste ns.

T he y kno w the y ha ve a Go ve rnme nt tha t ke e ps its wo rd . 42

T he y kno w the y ha ve a g o ve rnme nt tha t d e fe nd s the ir rig hts, a nd T he y kno w no w the y ha ve a Go ve rnme nt tha t ha s the ir b e st inte re st a t he a rt.

• Mr. Spe a ke r, e ve ry Ja ma ic a n must ha ve a n o ppo rtunity to e a rn a d e c e nt living ,

ma ke a ho me a nd ra ise the ir fa milie s in o ur b e a utiful la nd . E q uality o f o p po rtunitie s is the ind isputa b le hallma rk o f this g o ve rnme nt. We will re ma in a Go ve rnme nt fo r a ll the pe o ple . It is in time s like the se tha t inno va tive spirit o f the Ja ma ic a n inc re a se s; It is in time s like the se tha t Ja ma ic a n spirituality d e e pe ns; It is in time s like the se tha t Ja ma ic a ns b a nd to g e the r; It is in time s like the se tha t the re silie nt spirit o f o ur a nc e sto rs rise up in o ur so uls. T hro ug h the live s the y live d a nd the sa c rific e s the y ma d e - o ur a nc e sto rs - o ur he ro e s a nd he ro ine :

• …re mind us – a s Na nny d id - tha t mo ving fro m sla ve ry to fre e d o m

re q uire d stra te g y, e ffo rt, ste e ly d e te rmina tio n a nd stre ng th – b ut tha t it wa s po ssible !

• T

he y d e mo nstra te d - a s Pa ul Bo g le d id - tha t a walk fro m Sto ny Gut to Spa nish T

• wn is a sho rt jo urne y in yo ur mind , if it b ring s fre e d o m a little

c lo se r!

• T

he y instille d in us – as Ge o rg e William Go rd o n d id – a se nse o f na tio na lism a nd pa trio tism - the no tio n tha t b uild ing Ja ma ic a must b e a pa ra mo unt c o nsid e ra tio n fo r a ll.

• T

he y sho we d us – a s Sa m Sha rpe d id - tha t o ur fa ith must b e o ur c e ntra l mo tiva tio n fo r pro g re ss a nd tha t d ivine inte rve ntio n is c ritic a l fo r a ny jo urne y!

• T

he y pro ve d – a s Ma rc us Mo sia h Ga rve y d id - tha t suc c e ss a nd c o nfid e nc e lie within this mig hty ra c e a nd tha t we “…c a n a c c o mplish wha t we will”.

• T

he y b e lie ve d - a s Busta ma nte d id – tha t the wo rking me n a nd wo me n in

• ur little isla nd ha ve la rg e he a rts a nd e ve n la rg e r spirits a nd the ir re silie nc e

ma ke s the m the b a c kb o ne o f this na tio n. 43

• T

he y re mind e d us - as No rma n Wa shing to n Ma nle y d id – tha t the re is ho pe fo r e ve ry o ne o f us whe n we wo rk to g e the r. He sa id , the “po o r, the humble and the se e ming we ak…first b e g an to b lo w o n the living but small and hidde n flame o f fre e do m, and ble w till it so are d like a to rc h and all the land b e g an to lig ht up aro und us” T he y d e mo nstra te d tha t the tra nsfo rma tio n o f a pe o ple , fro m sla ve s to fre e me n a nd wo me n; fro m c o lo nial to ind e pe nd e nt, fro m d ise mpo we re d to e mpo we re d , fro m ho pe le ss to ho pe ful, re q uire s c re d ible , inspira tio na l le a d e rship fro m a so urc e tha t the pe o ple trust. Mo st o f a ll the y sho we d us tha t tra nsfo rming o ur so c ie ty is e ntire ly po ssible . T he ir spirits sho ut to us lo udly a nd c le a rly – “if g ro wth a nd d e ve lo pme nt is wha t yo u no w se e k, a t this pha se o f yo ur jo urne y, Ja ma ic a ; yo u c a n d o it! Unle a sh the fullne ss o f yo ur p o te ntia l! ” T a ke he a rt, my pe o ple . T

• g e the r we c a n o ve rc o me a ny c ha lle ng e tha t

c o nfro nts us. T

• g e the r we will win this strug g le a nd , b y the g ra c e o f Go d , to g e the r, we will

thrive . Ma y Go d ble ss all o f o ur le a d e rs. Ma y Go d ble ss all o f o ur pe o ple . Ma y Go d ble ss Jama ic a , L a nd we lo ve . 44