PUBLIC FORUM WITH
The Right Honourable P.J. Patterson, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA
On Friday, 1999 June 04 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
at 6:30 p.m.
• Welcome - Consul General Herman LaMont
• Blessing
• Introduction of H onfJ
High Commissi ,
,I
/
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Speaking notes
Live and direct-Toronto Convention Centre
June 4, 1999
Introduction
• "what a tum out"
"mi heart kick puppa lick with joyfulness
• 1994 just starting 2nd term
In second year of historic third term
1994 ... on verge of leaving to witness inauguration of Nelson
Mandela
During this week
mantle passes to Mbeki
Evil system of apartheid is dead
South Africa now able to add a voice of power to cause of
developing world
• Welcome return of civilian rule to Nigeria and election of
General Obasanjo
~ .
At this time, must not allow the legacies of slavery and colonialism
to separate us
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• We must use our collective power to build a world of justice
and redress centuries of economic imbalance and exploitation
• When last here, an orchestrated campaign was building up to
stereotype Jamaican "'~,/n negative light
to ostracise us
to dump through the back door the problems of drug
trafficking and adiction appearing here in other cities of North
America
• We will not deny our own, or refuse entry of our citizens
• This will not change when we move from monarchy to
becoming a republic
• But we will not be silent when our rights as human beings are
threatened or violated anywhere UWI LIBRARIES
• Signed two agreements in Ottawa
mutual legal assistance in criminal matters
sharing of forfeiture assets
• New step in bilateral cooperation
Taking into account the .growth of transnational activities,-
particularly illegal drugs and flow of firearms
/ammunition/ explosives
• Will collaborate in investigation/ prosecution/suppression of
cnme
• Reflect reciprocal in principle of sovereign equality
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Crime
• Jamaica not only country suffering from escalating crime
1994 - pledged not to make partisan politicss interfere in crime
fight
• Today
Politics no longer the cause
Instead
Gangs fighting for drug turf
violent propensities of certain age groups
material greed
• 'Police re-organised
training
equipment
improved intellegence
greater co-peration with other jurisdictions
UWI LIBRARIES
• Guns/ammunition brought in barrels
• Crime is also a problem flowing from Jamaican Communities
abroad
• Number of felonies going down but homicides still too high
• Hanging
Not affected by privy council decision
Will resume after death row persons have exhausted all legal
appeals
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Demonstrations
• Pursuit of fiscal prudence
• Reduced fiscal deficit
• Required increased taxes
• Security forces acted professionally and maintained law and
order
• Criminal element used demonstrations as cover and opposition
had their own political agenda
• Government acted through the consultative process and did a 50
percent roll back
Country back to normal UWI LIBRARIES
To understand the need for taxes
14 billion dollar road improvement
4.5 billion transport to improve transport system
School bus system
Bridges
Highway project Negril to Mo-bay to Port Antonio
• Indeed a national consultation had recommended a petrol
increase to meet necessary expenditures for road improvement
and the transportation network.
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FINSAC
Financial sector
Our progress on the economic front has suffered from some recent
fallout in the financial and insurance sector :
cause
- a mismatch of assets and liabilities
weak management
Undue speculation in real estate
Indeed swift and decisive action has averted our going over the
prec1p1ce
• Century problem was dealt with and all depositors fully
refunded by government
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Finsac misunderstood
• It has protected the saving and remittances of our overseas
nationals and will continue to do so
repayments will be in currency in which deposited
finsac has already returned some level of stability to the
sector.
Protected the saving of thousands
Rationalised the number of institutions created sense of
security and stability
Divestiture
non-core businessses
hotels
real estate
banks/insurance companies
These areas represent investment opportunities
q
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Education
major priority
creating knowledge based society
major portion of budget
new degree programmes
producing multi-skilled graduates
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Jamaican community
living together/ working together/ sharing
at home and abroad
contributions appreciated
cash and kind
Each to consider themselves
Ambassadors
Always looking at ways to foster greater involvement of overseas
nationals
Proposal by overseas group for special bond issue now being
analysed by Ministry of Finance
Use your influence , Let your voice be heard.
\ (
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Millenium
• A defining moment - a once in a lifetime experience - a
landmark
Special committee established to recommend calendar of activities
• Not all about celebrations - looking at National projects which
will contribute to economic life blood of country
• Port Royal/Downtown/Spanish Town - Historic Triangle -
already identified
• Millenium scholarships
• Jamaica homecoming
UWI LIBRARIES
THE NEW P ARADIGN)
Ir
"THE NEW JM1.CAN IS THE PRODUCT OF THE
DEEPANDFUNDAMENTALCHANGESTHAT
HA VE TAKEN PLACE GLOBALLY AND AT
HOME"
" THIS NEW JAMICAN IS MORE DEMANDING
THAN EVER TO BE INVOLVED IN A
MEANINGFULL WAY IN SHAPtING HIS OR HER
DESTIN\Y"
WE MUST CHANGE OUR APPROACH TO
GOVERNANCE AS THE NEW SOCIAL ORDER
REQUIRES GREATER PARTICIPATION AND
INFORMATION SHARING.
UWI LIBRARIES
SOUND BITES
Your government at home is involved in dynamic programs to:
► To provide titles to forty thousand land owners for the first
time
► tin-precedented levels of land distribution
New approaches to governance and people participation
► A LIFT UP JAMAICA PROGRAM TO BRIGHTEN THE
FACE OF OUR TOWN AND VILLAGES AS WE
PREPARE FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM
► INNITIATIVES TO CREATE A MORE TRANPARENT
AND msT SOCIETY
► INFORMATION HIGHWAYS FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
► THE USE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO
IMPROVE PEOPLES LIVES
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