Salutations
SPEAKING NOTES
FOR
THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER
FOR
LIVE & DIRECT
AT
HARBOUR VIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1998
The founding concept of Live and Direct to afford:
■ Direct communication with the people at the
community level.
■ Interchange of ideas and suggestions to inform
Government policies
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■ Hearing from the ground how programmes are
perceived and how effectively they are working
■ The series were suspended while we were in the
exercise of flying the gate.
■ Now time for resumption
HARBOUR VIEW
This location was chosen because of my visit to the area
during the election campaign. At that time, certain issues
of concern were evident.
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Issues of particular importance to this, and out-lying
communities but which have significance to other areas.
These issues include:
♦ Infrastructural development
♦ Matters affecting the environment
♦ Education and training
to mention a few.
Tonight's occasion will provide opportunity to air some
of these issues, to indicate current actions being taken, to
examine short-term solutions, as well as to examine
possible long-term approaches.
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The election campaign is now over.
- most peaceful in recent history
The team has been assembled - Cabinet, Parliament,
Statutory Boards are in place.
The Government will have to provide the leadership,
fashion the policies and implement the programmes that
will enable Jamaicans to fulfil their true potential and
cope successfully with the demands of the new
millennium.
To achieve this, we must pool the resources of all the
people, regardless of colour, class, creed or political
affiliation.
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THE QUALITY SOCIETY
What is the quality society?
It is one that produces a better way of life for the nation
as a whole and for every citizen within our borders on
the economic front -
- in our spiritual orientation,
- in our social order, and
- in our physical environment.
It is a society that is:
♦ Spiritually oriented, caring, disciplined, just and
equitable
♦ Educationally and technologically attuned
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OTHER HALLMARKS OF THE QUALITY
SOCIETY
♦ Productive, creative
♦ Social and industrial harmony
♦ Rewards excellence and discourages indolence
If we are to succeed in achieving this Quality society, all
of us have to work together, in a coherent and
coordinated way.
This series will be an instrument of communication and
monitoring how, and at what pace, we reach our goal of
building that quality society.
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THE ECONOMIC PICTURE
We have to continue on the path of a low-inflation
model, in order to protect and enhance the goals we have
achieved.
INFLATION
December- below 1 %
April - December 1998 - 7 .19%
Compares to 9 .1 7% for calendar year 1997
Normal to review current status of economy.
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However:
■ Budget soon to be presented when more detailed
information will be available
Also:
Economy is more than macro-economic facts and figures
But-
Also dependent on correct attitudinal environment.
Have decided to direct my attention to that aspect.
Notwithstanding, there is a current matter of public
interest, which warrants my response.
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MISCHIEF REGARDING JAMAICA AND THE IMF
At the cessation of borrowing, Jamaica continued to
exercise its rights for on-going consultations
Because of:
■ IMF's central role in international economy
■ Its experience
■ Access to its economic Data Base and technical
advice
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October 1997 meeting - part of the process
Current meeting is follow-up
Meeting is not to do with :
► IMF Programme
► Economic prescription
But for consultation, as is our right,
The Opposition Leader's resumption of his role as
prophet of doom is attempting to shift ground from his
earlier un-fulfilled prediction of a return to IMF
borrowing.
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His new prediction of massive devaluation 1s also a
follow-up to previous un-fulfilled predictions.
But
It is damaging to the economy
It is irresponsible
Those who believe, will hoard dollars and or spirit them
out of the country.
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I assert:
None of the current macro-economic statistics indicate
any depreciation in the currency, beyond the minor
fluctuations which have been the experienced within the
last few months.
Remind that the rate is market determined.
Prior to General Elections there was speculation that the
currency would have depreciated.
This has not occurred.
Those who are minded to act on the Opposition Leader's
false prediction, do so at their own peril.
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The Government's response to the problems · of the
financial sector has begun to bear fruit.
We are on the way to creating a more stable financial
environment.
Government has also been looking at the weaknesses,
which have surfaced in our major agricultural exports.
Recognising the pivoted role of our sugar and coffee for
example, we are providing financial and technical
support to ensure that those commodities can continue to
make their contributions to the national production and
export efforts.
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More importantly, in the process, we are protecting the
future livelihood of the thousands of farmers, who are
engaged in the cultivation of these crops.
Job generation and sectors with the potential to generate
employment will be receiving our immediate attention.
I repeat commitment to maintain the education and
training priority.
This is the most important consideration, if we are to get
ourselves in a state of readiness for future challenges.
Inter-linkage between economic growth and social order
- mutually re inf arcing.
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Manifestations of indiscipline -
■ "Dat a no nutten"
■ Growing lawlessness
■ Disregard for life
■ Squatting
■ Road driving
■ Disrespect for the rights of others -
► Vulgar conduct
► Lewd and lascivious behaviour
► Coarseness
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REGGAEBOYZ
Welcome exception from the trend.
Outstanding performance of our Reggae Boyz, in the just
concluded Gold Cup.
The successes they have achieved, is indicative of how
Jamaicans can perform, once they are motivated to rise to
an occasion.
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A SERVICE CULTURE
Improving the quality of service we offer throughout the
nation.
The agencies of the State must ensure that when citizens
seek services from Government, these are readily
accessible, are efficiently delivered with courtesy and
respect.
Reliable information must be made available on a prompt
and timely basis.
The government has embarked on a deliberate
programme to secure significant improvements in
government customer service.
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I have written every Minister, Permanent Secretary and
Head of Department requiring compliance with our
targets for better service delivery in the selected entities.
A number of agencies are already well advanced in
developing and implementing Citizens Charters under
which they undertake to guarantee certain minimum
levels of service.
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OUR DETERMINATION
We are determined to build the Quality Society.
But, to do so, will require the involvement, cooperation
and commitment of the entire society.
So even as we examine and discuss issues which appear
problematic, we need to recognise that only the united
efforts of all of us, can provide the final solutions.
The participation of civil society, is a significant factor in
good governance. Communities themselves, have the
capacity to contribute to their own development.
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Communities are the building blocks of the Jamaican
society. By seeking to rectify socio-economic problems
within them, we are able to build a stable nation.
We have:
■ To continue and accelerate the process of
constitutional reform.
■ We seek to promote the concept of a great
Jamaican partnership, to create a united force
against which no obstacle can prevail
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■ We aim to fashion the future of Jamaica, based on
the creative talents and the energies of our young
people, we will leave no stone unturned in
providing them with the very best in educational
and training opportunities. We want them to join
in the building of a new Jamaica.
The job is not mine alone.
It is the job of all Jamaicans.
As we embark on this leg of the journey, my call is to this
nation to join with me, so that together we can go
forward, serving all the people, all of the time, and
creating for this country, a future in which we can share
the fruits of our labour.
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PRIDE
Bayshore, Melbrook Farms and St Benedict.
A strong community organization registered as a Provident Society
has been established in these three (3) surrounding communities.
Their members have entered into sales agreements with the
Ministry of Environment & Housing and as such are legal owners
and custodians of the entire property. They have been asked to
police the property to prevent 'new' squatting.
The Harbour Heights Provident Society is also being assisted by
PRIDE. The Provident Society will act as its own developers with
assistance from private developers and mortgage/financial
institutions.
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SCHOOLS
Harbour View Primary -$500,000 to improve roof.
St Benedict
-$1 M to improve roof
-$500, 000 on sanitary convenience.
Donald Quarrie
-was upgraded to Comprehensive High
-$1.9 M to refurbish science lab.
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ROAD IMPROVEMENT
Harbour View roundabout back through to Bull Bay into St
Thomas.
Nine miles to Bito/Blackworth (main/farm roads) -$40 M
Constitution Hill -$35 M
W estvale -$10 M
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ENVIRONMENT
Dust Pollution
The Caribbean Cement Co, under the directive of the NRCA has
- Introduced measures to improve air quality.
-To maintain silt trap and improve disposal of solid waste
Completion of implementation by March 98.
NRCA to monitor to ensure Cement Co carries out the
Environmental Action Plan
Kingston Harbour
Plans have been drawn up for the early implementation of a project
to prevent the emission of sewage into the harbour.
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