KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica is celebrating its 63rd anniversary of political independence from Britain on Wednesday with the eyes of the political leadership of the country firmly fixed on the upcoming general elections that some political observers say could be held early in September.
Prime Minister and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader, Andrew Holness (Left) and Opposition Leader and Leader o the main opposition, People’s National Party (PNP), Mark Golding (File Photo).While Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen urged Jamaicans to continue building a “Jamaica that reflects the dreams of our ancestors and the aspirations of every citizen,” the message from the leadership of the two main political parties was geared towards voters in the country.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who in 2016, aged 43, became Jamaica’s youngest ever elected head of government, is seeking a third consecutive term in office at the helm of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). He is being challenged by Mark Golding, the leader of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP).
This year’s independence is being observed under the theme “’Be Proud. Be Bold. In the Black, Green and Gold’ and Holness said that Jamaicans should be “proud of our progress, in macroeconomic stability, record employment, resilient growth, reduction in crime, reduction in poverty and increased national confidence”.
He said that while the country continues to suffer from indiscipline, social inequities and low productivity, at “63 years young, Jamaica is still writing its story.
“We have come far, but our best chapters lie ahead. Independence is not a gift. It is a responsibility, a daily discipline. The strength of a nation lies not only in the capabilities of its government but also of its people, to work, build, and yes – sacrifice for the future of their families and communities.”
Holness said that the role of government is to create the conditions where the sacrifice of the people is not in vain, their efforts are rewarded and there is hope for a bright and prosperous future.
“That is why we continue to pursue policies that expand opportunity, promote ownership, and reward productivity. We are building a Jamaica where law-abiding citizens have the freedom to work and play without fear, and the freedom to elevate, through education, enterprise, and effort.
“It is with that responsibility in mind that we have intensified our efforts to restore order to communities long held hostage by criminal gangs. Make no mistake: there can be no prosperity without peace, and no peace without law and order. We must never allow our independence to be undermined by lawlessness. The rule of law must be respected, upheld, and defended, without apology.”
Holness said that the government is also renewing institutions, adding that “the work we are doing to improve the public bureaucracy, for example, is geared toward making the State more efficient, accountable, and citizen-centred”.
Holness said that while every Jamaican value their independence, the government is “ committed to creating and maintaining the conditions that will protect and expand your independence..
“This Independence Day, I challenge every Jamaican to choose the Jamaican future you would like to see, be active in your contribution to building it, and be strong in taking responsibility for your corner of it,” Holness said.
For his part, Golding said that while Jamaica is celebrating another independence anniversary, citizens “cannot accept a stagnant economy in which national productivity has fallen by over 20 per cent since 2007”.
He said that “the annual rate of economic growth trudges along at one per cent, where foreign direct investment is today less than one-third of where it was in 2016, where unemployment statistics hide the reality of life in low wage jobs while our people struggle to survive the high cost of living, and where the poverty statistics hide the suffering of 55 per cent of our people who are enduring moderate to severe food insecurity.
“We cannot accept an education system that delivers such poor outcomes for our students, with over 30 per cent leaving primary school without basic literacy and numeracy skills, and less than 20 per cent leaving secondary school with five subjects including Maths and English.
“We cannot accept a health system that is delivering worse rates of infant and maternal deaths than Jamaica had achieved 30 years ago, and where the daily lived experience of our people in public hospitals is sub-standard and demeaning.”
Golding said that Jamaicans “cannot accept a shoddy, dilapidated road network which has suffered from years without proper maintenance, and an inadequate system of water storage and distribution which leaves so many of our communities without piped water in their homes.
“We cannot accept an inefficient system of delivery of public services, with a bureaucracy which makes doing business in Jamaica so slow, frustrating and costly, and provides impetus for corrupt practices.
“We cannot accept the undermining of critical institutions of transparent and accountable governance, such as the Integrity Commission, the Financial Investigations Division, and the Office of the Political Ombudsman, and the alarming creep towards more autocratic tendencies that undermine the foundational principles on which our democracy has been built.”
Golding said that Jamaica has the highest level of brain drain in the Western Hemisphere “as our people seek to move overseas to build their future because what is happening here at home cannot meet their daily needs and cannot carry them forward to fulfil their dreams”.
He said that the promise and hope of independence are in danger of being lost “if we fail to move the country forward out of the quagmire of the challenges that make daily life so hard for so many of our people.
“We have the capacity to turn this around, and to overcome our adversities and build a strong economy that delivers opportunities for advancement for all our people,” Golding said, adding “however, to solve these deep and pressing problems will require honest and diligent leadership that is caring and inclusive, and which steadfastly upholds integrity in public life.
“Jamaica needs leaders who tell the people the truth, rather than empty promises which never see the light of day.
“Jamaica needs policies and programmes that tackle these fundamental weaknesses that are holding our people back, that will unleash our great potential to achieve a quality of life for our people, and that will create a more balanced and caring society in which all Jamaicans feel valued and have an ownership stake,” Golding added.
