Jamaica PM Portia Simpson Miller
Jamaica Opposition leader Andrew Holness
Jamaica, Jan. 1, CMC – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has urged Jamaicans to recommit to the Vision for Jamaica in 2015.
In her address to mark the start of the new year, Simpson Miller said 2015 is an opportune time to recommit to the Vision for Jamaica “a vision in which our never-ending hope in a brighter future is based on a realistic and shared understanding of the present and our role in building that better future.”
She also pointed to some of the achievements in 2014, noting that on the economic front, Jamaica recorded significant achievements and met targets under Jamaica’s Economic Reform Programme supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The country successfully passed its sixth consecutive performance assessment by the IMF Board.
The visit during the year of the heads of both the IMF and the IDB (International Development Bank), signaled the international community’s respect and growing support for Jamaica’s discipline and success in implementing the painful but necessary economic reforms.”
Concerning job creation, she said while still not enough, there was a reduction in the overall unemployment.
She added that the country welcomed new investments and built new infrastructure.
According to the Prime Minister, her administration has resolved to “ achieve greater levels of investment, economic growth and job creation in 2015, the Government that I lead is also committed to preserving the social gains and the programmes to protect the less fortunate.”
She said Jamaica joins other nations in observing the start of the Decade for People of African Descent as declared by the United Nations.
“Within the UN system and other global platforms, Jamaica will continue to participate actively in the Post 2015 Development Agenda as we advance equitable and sustainable development for all people.
In this New Year, I give the commitment that our Government will continue to be faithful to the prudent and transparent management of the affairs of Jamaica.”
Other areas of focus for the new year include continuing the economic reform programme , the physical and economic infrastructure ,the start-up and conversion of more efficient, less expensive energy production plants to boost growth potential and jobs.
Leader of the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Andrew Holness in his message called on the government to among other things focus on better management of the public health system.
“Regardless of our economic challenges, the health of Jamaicans must be a priority. The government must place resources in the Health Sector to support necessary services. A progressive society cannot hold the view that persons who are unable to pay for health care at the time they need it, should be denied access.”
Holness also welcomed the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba and said Jamaica needs to re-examine its foreign policy with a view to focusing on the Northern Caribbean. Cuba, Haiti, and Dominican Republic.
“All have markets that are at least three times the size of our population. It is true that while they are geographically close to us all the infrastructure for trade and investments may not presently exist. A part of our growth strategy must be how we position ourselves to participate in external markets,” he said.
