Sunday Herald, December 31, 2006. - January 6, 2007, p. 10B.

rime Minister Portia Simpson The Prime Minister added thai, about achieving growth that has PMiller made her inaugural "my vision is alxml empowerment: a>socir�tt-d with it, the wid�•sl possible Budget presentation in tbe where citizens takt: respnnsihilit) for range <:1! employment <)pportunities. As House or Rcpresentatinos on May 9, the malmge.ment of their ecvn.vtnic, part Qfthc growth agenda. I am insistent wbct-c she focused on a number ot' health. educational, cultural and that we facilitate, encourage and assist areas that \\'Ould reeeh't' spedal recreational needs, !n t)pponunitit·s," she statt·d. priority. Mrs. Simpson Milkr �aid her The Pt·imc M.ini�1cr dted whal Vision fm· :1dmini>tration intended w �trem"!thcn she said. was "c1;tical" inn.'Sbnent in ·'Mv position is not. merely the mncm-econumh: policy \vG h a ti"Unsforming . the country's IX11itical: but lt is also deeply comprehensh·e upgrade of the educational SJstem to raise phih>s1>phical. Tht: well-being of any development programme hy rooting it educational standards for all. create sodety depends on the well-being of all in community empowerment. a world class education and training Its pcnple. The measure or a good --This me.ans that the cotnmunitles system that produces a first class SOciCt)'. the.refore, iS ht)W j t treat;; the throughout Jamnica will play an human being capnhlc of competing in poor. the aged. those with disabilities important role. in defining what JS w b.: any Sl'ClOl' of the global et:onomy. and our W•)men and children:' Mrs. dont· and in ensuring �ucee�sful Sill'IJ'�on l\·1iller said in her opening implementation of the �tkvclopment Transforming Lives remarks. pmgmmmc:' she said. Mrs. Simpson Miller assured that "We must remind ou.rselves it. was Iter intention to accdemt.e tht� therefore, that people are the ultimate hn·estment Pt-ogrammes proce�s of Educational Transformation. end. and not the means tn the Jl<)litica! ·Turning to inl'estment which IHJUid lead to maJor progn•ss ill or pers(mal ambitions or (.lthers. We programmes. Mrs. Simp�on Miller said several aspects <>f the programme. must remind ourselves th:ll the worth of a most impressive J'acl..ttge M Strestnpetifi'f\\imtln iihysector maximise, . e�impson Miller said the Urflan "*. the w-orld eco�l ' Jaiiiail.:.a e1mwpristl �,4t U �·dopmcnt Corporation (UlX'+"'"a,; , iqjv_�tf�ti£.� w.ber-c our people will 111,1.h� access level an� for �expected to play a signifit·ant role in across tht· lx•ard, to first class hl�ugh the Lift-up.lamaic:1 progmmc. tnmsportalion ''. inn•stnwnts W{)uld help to bring about Phast• IL this year, ;mother l. L 50() She explained that ht·r vision wns a better quality of life for all. persons would 11e empl(>yed, she ()rtt' community partidpalion_ 'vhcrc emdi�:ating povt�rty and neating disclosed. addin!! that these individuals of � ·'we create the space - the environment wealth. would aiS<) be trained and certified. set· where people thdr invoiYemt•nt in ''These nrt· vital compont·m� uf Yhin!!� them a skill for life. ationallifc as theJr i11.ht". ecomJmic growth. We ::rr pnsswnate ln addition to jobs crt:ated through National Library of Jamaica

Prime Mifti.vter, the MMt !lou. Portia Simpson Miller delivers Iter iJUitlgural budget presenumo11. the acti\'ilics of the UDC. manv mort· a complete plan to detennine how \�·e l>quality, development and peace," jobs would be ncated thmugh the ca1t become an en•n biggerplayer in she said. construction of housing uevclopml!nts this growing sector, so that we can She added that there were still at Hellshire Park and Johnson Hill in use sport.\i to boost ewryother linked some serious social issues that were St. Catherine, Mount F.dgecombe in Industry, such as tourism and defined by rural and urban ptwerty, the \Vestmorel;md. Success in Montcgo entertainment," she informed. femiuisation and threat to sustain:ible Bay, and the Caymanas Development, Mrs. Simpson Miller also used the development of the HIV AIDS cross ' �he i nforrned. opportunity to ussure .the nation that pandemic. tx rdcr and internal "\Ve are not taking a chance National lnsuranl't' Sl·heme funds were human trafficking. which expose ynung with people's Jives, where they may secure and that the interest t)f girls to dehumanizing sexual win or lose. By creating jobs, we arc contributors would not be jeopardized. experiences, the rise in gender-based seeking to balance the lives or the She explained that the investment of $1 violcnl'C and the abulic of children, the u of people," she reiterated. bill.ion from the National Insurance ed cational undt·r-achit•vement the Fund <.Nil;) NIF l:(1r mkro and small poor in general nnd poor boys in " Urban Renewal business credit was part of the purlicuh1r and the need to empt)wer strategic thinking of the NIF Board to women and girls to tuke their rightful On Urlmn Hcnewal Pro!!rarnmes.� participate in pwjects that have u piting'' th:1t the people at the spet·iJkally gt"arcd at economic empowerment and partnership with gras�roots levd be consulted in the growth and employment creat on''. all stakeholders will result in the de\ lopmenl of pn::je..:ts at mun t i e thet"Om i y strengthening or the gou�mmental . leYel. ThcrefortJ this approach \Vas and non- gon!mmental stJcto:rs in the adopted .by the l.JDC as P'art of the Regional Partnership The Prime Minister said that while delivery of gender-sensitive Rural Township Re-development working \Vith development partners in pmgrammes and policies," she said. Programme for Port Mnria. the internaiional communi�y to assist •·J intend to give focus and s�rious As a result. she added. $23 million w of the country in achie1·ing the broad consideration the level human and would Oc provided by the mx: for financial r ou c s promote ViSIOns and objectives, her es r e thut can specific pmjects chosen hy the people. positive gender relations at all levels of ndministrati\.1n would be paying ·'This is how wt· intend lo empower the particlllar attention to the completion of the society.'' the Prime Minister outlin�o>d. pcaple of our ..x•mmunitics both in t.he the CARICOM Single .!vla.rket und Mrs. Sim pson Miller suid she urban and rural arens or Jamaka. Their Economy (CSMEl. would enter into a process of uwolvemcnt. I am sure. will mt1ke them t·onsultatif.m with the countrv's "It should be noted th;�t our l 1a bet'ome owner� aod protectors of the capacity liS a region to �'omplt·te the established intemationa and natio; l a and asst:ts of their communities. Together importnnt negotiations for an F_conomic partners to plml more pro-adive we can make it; together we will Partnership Agreement (EPA) now sust:linable appron members Dnmcstic Product of Jamaica. and children. \Vho s�1eak. <)ll legal affairs. and the "�h o:fliee will assess how much '"Ththis eud,l wiJI be emphaw.ing Senate had now "arrived al a point devclop•lumt v{•tential lil.-s llnusoo in strategies that lead to the w ere a formula ac pta b<.Jth cmr communities and how to put it to achievement of gl.'nder justice. h cc h.k to the best u<>e. Then. we will assemble side� could be reached''. P�l D li

Peter Phillips, Minister of l"'lationnl Se.:uritv and Leader of Government Businc;s in the House of Representatives: Maxine Henry- Wibt>n, Minister of Education and Youth: Roger Clarke, Ministc.w of Agriculture and Lands: Senator A.J. Nichol�on. Attorney General. Minister of Jusllce :.nd Leader of G.wemmcnt Business in the Senate: Dean Peart. !vlinister or Local Ooven1ment and Environment: . Minister of Industry, ·rechnnlogy, Energy and Commerce; Senator {\nthony Hylton. Minister of foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Aloun Ndornbct-:�ssamba, Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Cultun•; Horact' Dallev. 1\.'linister of Health; l).-rrick Kdli�r. Minister of Labour and Social Sccuriiy; and Senator C(llin Campbell, Minister of Prime Minister, the Most Ho11. Portia Simpson Miller {fro1lt untre) is Information and [.X"Velop�nt. St·nator .flfl:lilced h.Y newf.v appointed State Mi11isters, lU tlte sweanl1g i1t uremOily c i CampbelL who r s gned later in thl' lUKi 11g 's House on (Apri/4). front row (1-r): State Mini.derfor Finance year. was replat't'd by Donald Buchanan. and Planning, Fitz Jacbon; State Minister fvr Education ami hJuth, Senator l\'oel Monteith; State Minil'ter .for Lncal Government tmd State Ministers Charged to Em•ironment. Harry Douglas; aud State Minister for Industry, Engage in �eaningful Ct>mmerce, Scient·e and Technolwg)' (with Energy), Senator Kern Consultation Spettt·er. &cond row (fmm left): State;-,tini,fter fontgriculturemld l.tmd, Meanwhile, �1s part of her plan to 1£m,fEnnis; Stole.Minister fiJr lAbour and Soda/ Security, Senatt11'floyd further engage Jamaicans in the Mt1rris; State Mi11isterfor Foreign ,1ffairs and Foreign Trade, Senator process ,)f governance. Mrs, Simpson Delano Franklyn; State Minister for Agriculture and Land, Hctor Miller in early April, charged the 1.2 Cummings; and Stole Minister for llmuing, Water, Transport andWqrb, app1linted Mmisters of State t(J listen Ridrard Atall. Back rmv: State i\Jinister fi>r Water and HortsitJg, Dr. ll) the voice ,,f the people by consulting Fenton Fergu.wm; aud State Mini�ter for 1'ouri,rm, Entertaiflmmt atcd with them on matters of policy and Culture, !Jr. Vfykehaltl McNeil, are ;, lite bt1ck. garner their support for the successful nnplementation l)f th•)Sc policies, She said that no policy which affected the Ji I'CS of .Jamaicans should be brought to Cabinet without me:mutgful consultation with the people and the mobilization of their support f()f 1ts sut•cessful implementation. The Prime Mimster n.•newed .her call fur a partnershi[> betwct•n the gun�rnment and all scc:rors of the society. savin2 that this was crudal to rt·versinl!dcgn1dation in mam urban communities: as well as the rc�·iralisation of rural and primarily agriculture--b<�scd C.(Jmmunities, Memt>c'rs of P·arliamcnt for North Western Clarcnd(>n, and Central Kingston respectively. Richard Azan and Victor Cummings. were the two representatives who were appointed Prime ll-linister, the MtJst H(m. PortiaSimpson Miller(cer�tre) lpeab witll State Ministers for the first time. M.r. MiniMer ofLabtmr and Social Set�llriJy, the llmi. (teft), and t Azan was appointed State Mi nis er in former Mini�·ter cif lt(forntation aud DeJ•elopment, SenaffJr Collin the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Campbell at the swearing i11 ceremony for Cabinet Mini.fters al King'.� Water and Works. while Mr. House. Cummings wa,; appointed State and . o ris. of Mil1i�ter i11 the Ministl'y· of Agr- iculture Youth; Floyd M r Ministry Foreign Tmde; Harry Douglas. and l.ands . Labour and Social Security; Kern Ministry of Local Gov�rnment and The other State Ministers Spencer. Ministry of Industry, Environment: Dr, Wykeham McNeill, included: Fit.z Jackson, Ministry of Tc.:hm)logy Energy and Comm�rce: Ministrv of Tourism, Ente11ai.nmcnt fmance 'l'ld l'll Ennis, Dr, Donald Rhodd, Ministry of and Cuitur�; tind Dr, , Minis!�} n, Agriculture and Lands; National Security : Delano Franklyn. Ministry of Housing. Transp•>rt. Water Noel 1\'lont'.:ith. �tlimstry of fdu•;ation Ministry of Foreign Affairs and :md \V(Jrks. Prime Minister Conferred with Order of the Nation

n May 2·.. 9, Pritne Minis .'U'f' hi\oi l'le�ll :\ppointed I'rime Minister {tortia SU1lpson MJ,Jer wa'i of Jam!lica. Amember of tilr of to be similurl} styled. tbe <.lJ'der, or tbe Nation,. tbe Koa. Mrs. Simpson Miller wus Mr. Justice Len!iley Wolfe, at an conferred 1vi1h fhe Order of the investiture ceremony held a.t Kiag's noose. · In her res�ru�e, the Printl! Minister said �;fW �Wceptt!d the Jxmoi,Jr With hUtnilil)' ltJld I'mh be alf of all Jamaicans. ·\Sbt• said she rccognit.cd, • the enormous responsi bilily that had bl'l:n placed on her aud called on J�unaicllllf\1 cvery\vhereto�Joln her in work.i!lg to cr�ltl! a better quality \)f nr�: for tbc puor and oppressed. "As r mow abOut this COU!llr\' seeking partt'ler$hip, I �k ail Jamaicans - •the · rraf.) dot.llg, she: ha.<� piiVCd the. way:· for more W1�n�n to maJte . their c�mtributi<)n at any lcYet of government and with�ntoo sc:�eiety. Chief Justice and C.hattctllor tif.tl.te Ohler •f tlte

l'rilfw. tlit MOSt Hon. Por#R S/JnpfiJn Miller(Jnd and htu(Htnd the !tfMt firm. £irfildMiller (right)exch4,.,_ pkJIMifi/I'Wsd( the illvestitllre ceremony Mid King111 '1 House, 16 cotif�rher with the.tmJir. iJf the Nalitm. pnl'tic�ngAlso in lite Ol'CilSWH tire.' Gt,venuw Genertil, HisExcellency the Most lion. Pfo.fem;r Hnll (Jrd left' tmd wif• Mn. Rbeima Hllll(21ul risht}� as weU as Kenneth ChiefJru1icf, f.t'lf!, {:!¥9ffctllm:· t�fthf Onlerof theN«tiim,lltt llm1. Justice LeMley WQlfe