l ~
Salutations
SPEAKING NOTES
FOR
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER
P.J. PATTERSON, Q.C., P.C., M.P.
FOR
LIVE AND DIRECT
SOUTH TRELAWNY
TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1 998
Grateful for opportunity to meet "Live and Direct" with the
people of South Trelawny.
Presence is "A promise made and a promise kept".
Many issues of concern and several aspects of the social and
economic life of the constituency and Parish which have
been on the agenda for some time.
UWI LIBRARIES
Before turning to those issues a general word about the
national economic picture and to up-date you on
developments which are of interest to the entire country.
THE ECONOMY
♦ Stability Path being maintained
• Inflation continues to be controlled
• NIR remains strong to protect Jamaican dollar
against inflation
• Good international credit rating
2
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ Confidence Abounds
,last week's UD$250M successful Bond issue
• Finance Minister Successfully put Jamaica's
case to international financial community
• Presented entire picture, negatives and
positives, and won acceptance of the
economic path being pursued
3
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ New Investments
• Ritz Carlton under construction
• Canadian Company's US$25M purchase of
former Wyndham, heralding return of the
prestigious HILTON HOTEL CHAIN
■ Company seeking other Jamaican
investment
• Other new hotels being readied for construction
to start
4
UWI LIBRARIES
• Citi Bank planning expansion of its operations in
Jamaica
5
UWI LIBRARIES
FINANCIAL SECTOR
♦ Problems faced have been adequately dealt with to
protect interest of savers
♦ Major overhaul of monitoring and inspectorate to
ensure no repeat
♦ Safe to say problems now behind us and we are well
on the way to returning to a properly run dynamic
financial sector in which all Jamaicans have
confidence
6
UWI LIBRARIES
AGRICULTURE
♦ Government providing required financial support to
shore-up
• Sugar
• Coffee
♦ Revitalised Agricultural Extension service
♦ Special programme to rescue citrus from the dreaded
disease which is threatening to wipe out the industry.
7
UWI LIBRARIES
ON THE SOCIAL SIDE
♦ Jamaica Social Investment Fund continues to address
community related needs.
♦ Forging ahead with Local Government Reform,
which will go a far way in addressing the day to day
problems of communities
♦ Major increases in the amounts of loan funds
available to Small Business sector to start new
businesses
8
UWI LIBRARIES
TURNING TO THE LOCAL SITUATION
Begin with acceptance that there are problems,
But
Each problem can be translated into an opportunity, and
that is to be the manner in which we should approach our
deliberations at this Live and Direct.
9
UWI LIBRARIES
WHAT ABOUT THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THINGS?
♦ Jamaica Social Investment Fund Projects
Eleven applications for projects received. Eight are
now being evaluated
Projects include:
- Road Repair
- Sports/ community centre repair
- School repair
- Agro-processing
10
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ Education
- New block being added to Wait-A-Bit Primary
School (but behind completion schedule)
- New block being built at Westwood high School
(also having delays in completion)
efurbished at Wake
1 1
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ Agriculture
- Project being written in collaboration with MIDA
to reintroduce cultivation of strawberry
- Project (JAMPRO/Scientific Research
council/Jamaica Social Investment Fund) to
establish yam processing factory
12
UWI LIBRARIES
repaired Wakefield Health Centre.
The pro amme provided for renovation and
refurbishin works to the existing health facility
and staff resi ence, as well as provided furniture
and equipment or the delivery of health care.
13
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ Security
- Area strengthened with additional personnel in
recent months. Improved relations with
community. Crime under control.
14
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ Sports/Recreational Facilities
- The Sports Development Foundation has almost
completed a multipurpose sports complex at
Elleston Wakeland for $6M as follows:
1 00 ft. of perimeter wall
Renovated football field and cricket out-field
4 ft. spectator fence around field
multipurpose asphalt court
Clarke's Town complex to commence and be
completed during this financial year.
15
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ Culture
- Successful staging of yam festival - no praise too
high for this local initiative - must become
permanent fixture on the Trelawny Parish
calendar
- High level of enthusiasm shown in celebration of
Emancipation/Independence and other activities
organised by JCDC
16
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ Skills Training
Some four centres, including one in North
Trelawny, offer skills training in a variety of
disciplines.
17
UWI LIBRARIES
♦ Environment
Activities of the Natural Resources Conservation
Authority (NRCA):
► Parish served by a resident
Environmental Warden under NRCA
► Inspection of quarry sites
► Training of farmers in proper land
husbandry
at
18
UWI LIBRARIES
SOME PROBLEM AREAS
Health
The Ministry of Health is making efforts to identify an
ambulance to be made available within the next three
months/In relation to communication, the radio used in
emergency communication is now scheduled for repairs.
We are also working towards placing another doctor in the
health district to provide better medical services for Ulster
Spring and Albert town/Discussions with the operator of
the morgue are underway to determine whether or not he
will be able to provide more capacity.
19
UWI LIBRARIES
I have instructed the Minister of Health to meet with the
Member of Parliament, citizens and regional health
Administrator to discuss the health needs in the
constituency.
Security
Consideration being given to improving the overall
position, and your Member of Parliament will be assisted in
her efforts to find a suitable location for a police post in
Albert town.
20
UWI LIBRARIES
Environment
. Problems include:
► De-forestation for yam sticks
► Soil erosion
There is# need for public education on these matters, and
I am pleased to learn that there are plans for re-forestation,
and the planting of special fast-growing trees for use as yam
sticks.
21
UWI LIBRARIES
LAND AND PEOPLE
Government continues to empower people through access
to land.
PRIDE and other land projects in the constituency will be
subject to whatever needs to be done to bring them towards
completion.
ROADS
The problems are enormous, but government intends to
systematically tackle them, especially within farming
communities where proper roads are so important to the
community.
22
UWI LIBRARIES
WATER
Government's recognition of its importance resulted in
appointment of a Minister of Water.
He is attacking the problems, manfully, systematically,
meaningfully, within the constraints of the budget available
to him.
There is a particular proposal to construct a series of wells to
supply some one million gallons per day to Albert Town and
Clarke's Town.
23
UWI LIBRARIES
• I \
AGRICULTURE
Aware of effects of drought
► Government has been playing its part through
provision of fertiliser and seedlings
There is need for crop diversification
Therefore pleased to learn of plans to re-establish on
sounder more secure footing the Trelawny Strawberry
project
24
UWI LIBRARIES
CONCLUSION
Trelawny has a rich history, culturally, educationally and
agriculturally.
The Parish is ripe for development and has many
possibilities.
With a community spirit, a participatory approach, and
exhibition of initiative, co-operation and hard work by
everyone, the future can be one from which all can benefit.
Government stands ready to play its part.
25
UWI LIBRARIES
