Politics
Portia Simpson-Miller: Jamaica severing ties with UK monarchy a priority
She said removing the Queen as head of state and replacing the London-based Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Jamaica’s top appeals tribunal “are two things that I would wish for Jamaica to concentrate on”.
Ms Simpson-Miller said her administration was focused on whittling down Jamaica’s heavy debt by spurring economic development and job growth. The island has debts totalling about US$ 18.4 billion, or 130 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) – about 10 percentage points higher than debt-troubled Italy.
The prime minister has urged companies on the island to hire at least one unemployed Jamaican and her administration says it will soon launch an emergency employment programme that was the center-piece of its winning election campaign.
She said her government was pushing for more foreign investment and wanted more diversification in Jamaica’s tourist businesses, including more eco-tourism and health tourism offerings. The island’s hospitality industry is mostly known for all-inclusive resorts.
Copyright 2012 The Press Association.
