Vision for Jamaica

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller made her inaugural Budget presentation in the House of Representatives on May 9, where she focused on a number of areas that would receive special attention during the 2006/07 fiscal year.

Vision for Jamaica

            “My position is not merely  political, it is also deeply philosophical. The well-being of any society depends on the well-being of all its people. The measure of a good society, therefore, is how it treats the poor, the aged, those with disabilities and our women and children.” 

            “We must remind ourselves therefore, that people are the ultimate end, and not the means to the political or personal ambitions of others.  We must remind ourselves that the worth of a person is not based on their economic, social or political status, but on their God-given possession of free will, ability to reason and, importantly, on the moral values they possess. We must never allow anyone to be encumbered by the geography of birth, social or economic status,” the Prime  Minister said.

            Mrs. Simpson Miller said she had a clear vision of Jamaica becoming a country that, “will reach a stage where we have universal literacy and an education and training system that produces a first class human being capable of competing within any sector of the world economy… a Jamaica where our people will all have access, across the board, to first class health care, and to safe and reliable transportation”.

            She explained  that her vision was one of community participation, where “we create the space - the environment - where people see their involvement in national life as their right”.

            “My vision is about empowerment; where citizens take responsibility for the management of their economic, health, educational, cultural and recreational needs, supported and facilitated by the government”.

            Turning to some of the key priorities Mrs. Simpson Miller said: “This means that the communities throughout Jamaica will play an important role in defining what is to be done and in ensuring successful implementation of the development programme.” 

Investment Programmes

            Turning to investment programmes, Mrs. Simpson Miller said a most impressive package of investments was underway.

            “These investments are related to strategic industry clusters, identified in the National Industrial Policy, including: Tourism, Mining, Shipping and Berthing, Information and Communications Technology and Agro-processing.” Many of these investments were now being implemented, and  “we need to organise ourselves in way that will maximise, nationally, at the enterprise level,      at the community level and for       individuals the impact of these investments”.

            Transforming Lives

            Mrs. Simpson Miller stated her intention to accelerate the process of Educational Transformation, which would lead to major progress in several aspects of the programme.

            It was the responsibility of the State to provide the environment and support for each young person to discover his or her unique gift and develop this to its full potential.Youth development must be focused on positive issues surrounding the appropriate transition strategies from childhood to     adolescence and into adulthood.

            “It must not see young people as problems and therefore mired in finding strategies to "fix" the youth,” she said. It was to this end, she noted, that for this year, the National Youth Service (NYS) would be expanded from 3,000 to 5,000 participants, facilitated by a provision of $500  million.

Housing the Nation

            Turning to the National Housing Trust, the Prime Minister said tourism workers must be properly housed in communities that were convenient to their place of employment. This year some 12 new projects consisting of 1,872 new units are to be constructed in the parishes of Westmoreland and Hanover. In addition, she informed the House that  some 1,205 housing solutions would be delivered in the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Trelawny, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland.

Job Creation

            Mrs. Simpson Miller said the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) was expected to play a significant role in providing more jobs for people. Through the Lift-up Jamaica programe, Phase II, this year, another 11,500 persons would be employed, she disclosed, adding that these individuals would also be trained and certified,    giving them a skill for life.

            In addition to jobs created through the activities of the UDC, many more jobs would be created through the construction of housing developments at Hellshire Park and Johnson Hill in St. Catherine, Mount Edgecombe in Westmoreland, Success in Montego Bay, and the Caymanas Development.

            “We are not taking a chance with people's lives, where they may win or lose. By creating jobs, we are seeking to balance the lives of the people,” she reiterated.

Urban Renewal

            On Urban Renewal Programmes, Mrs. Simpson Miller said she was “insisting” that the people at the grassroots level be consulted in the development of projects at the community level. This approach was adopted by the UDC as part of the Rural Township Re-development Programme for Port Maria.

            Some $23 million would be provided by the UDC for specific projects chosen by the people. “This is how we intend to empower the people of our communities both in the urban and rural areas of Jamaica,” she said     

            Commending the country’s sports men and women for the outstanding performances that they had achieved on the world stage over the years, Mrs. Simpson Miller said that over the next year, the government through the Sport Development Foundation, would undertake a detailed study of the contribution of sports to the Gross Domestic Product of Jamaica.

            “My office will assess how much development potential lies unused in our communities and how to put it to the best use.  Then, we will assemble a complete plan to determine how we can become an even bigger player in this growing sector, so that we can use sports to boost every other linked industry, such as tourism and entertainment,” she informed.

            Mrs. Simpson Miller also used the opportunity to assure the nation that National Insurance Scheme funds were secure and that the interest of contributors would not be jeopardized. She explained that the investment of $1 billion from the National Insurance Fund (NIF) for micro and small business credit was “part of the strategic thinking of the NIF Board to participate in projects that have a significant developmental impact, specifically geared at economic growth and employment     creation”.

Regional Partnership

            The Prime Minister said that while working with development partners in the international community to assist the country in achieving the broad visions and objectives, her administration would be paying particular attention to the completion of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

            “It should be noted that our capacity as a region to complete the important negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) now taking place between CARICOM /CARIFORUM and the European Union depends critically on our completion of the CSME arrangements,” she said.

            On the issue of gender, Mrs. Simpson Miller said she was committed to finding new and creative ways to work towards a more secure and      prosperous society for women, men and children.

            “To this end, I will be emphasizing strategies that lead to the achievement of gender justice, equality, development and peace,” she said.

            She added that there were still some serious social issues that were defined by rural and urban poverty, the feminisation and threat to sustainable development of the HIV AIDS pandemic, cross border and internal human trafficking, which expose young girls to dehumanizing sexual experiences, the rise in gender-based violence and the abuse of children, the educational under-achievement of the poor in general and poor boys in particular and the need to empower women and girls to take their rightful place in the Jamaican society.

            “My emphasis on community empowerment and partnership with all stakeholders will result in the strengthening of the governmental and non- governmental sectors in the delivery of gender-sensitive programmes and policies,” she said.

            Mrs. Simpson Miller said she would enter into a process of consultation with the country’s established international and national partners to plan a more pro-active and sustainable approach to the achievement of gender justice and equality in the Jamaican society

            Turning to Constitutional reform, Mrs.  Simpson Miller said that, “there is now no major obstacle standing in the way of the agreement necessary to change the Constitution to a republican form of Parliamentary Government”. She indicated that discussions between the Attorney General and the Parliamentary Opposition members who speak on legal affairs, and the Senate had now “arrived at a point where a formula acceptable to both sides could be reached”.