Politics
Jamaica celebrates 51 years of Independence
“Let us give full expression to the words of our Motto “Out of Many One People” as we celebrate the blending of our races and cultures and their contribution to nation building. Let us remember that Jamaica is more than a brand, more than a name, it is the pride of a people. Let us work towards creating a just, equitable, harmonious, productive and confident people.”
Opposition Leader Andrew Holness acknowledged the country’s achievements but also recommended critical changes to the economic model in order to reap long-term benefits.
He encouraged Jamaicans not to totally rely on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement, as it is not the cure-all for the country’s economic problems.
“The country will not have success in its economic programs unless it can show the political will to implement meaningful structural changes. One such change must be tax reform which will see lower tax burden for all, a wider tax net and greater tax revenue.
“Let us renew our commitment to improving the productivity and efficiency of our economy by ensuring that all our labor force is trained and certified and that businesses are able to retool and incorporate the latest technology in their production.”
In May, the IMF approved Jamaica’s application for a four-year US$932.3 million extended fund facility.
The agreement unlocked more than US$ 2 billion of loan support, including those from the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Holness, who served as education minister and eventually prime minister in the last Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) administration, said that other changes should include ensuring that the education system is of the highest standard and measures are implemented to boost performance among both teachers and students. -(CMC)
