Building a Better Jamaica

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF JAMAICA
Message from the Leader

As a nation marking its 45th year of independence, our people have a right to expect to live in a peaceful and just society that offers them the opportunity to enjoy a good life. Many countries which were in circumstances similar to ours in 1962 have advanced to First World status. They have moved on. We could have done as well but we haven't. As a nation we have made too many mistakes and missed too many opportunities.We have much ground to make up.

We can make up that ground because, as we have demonstrated time and again, we are a tough, resilient people capable of greatness. But we need to make a fresh start finding a common purpose, sharing a new vision and going forward with new leadership. The Jamaica Labour Party offers that leadership to energize our people to strive with a new zeal to make Jamaica a land of JUSTICE, LIBERTY and PROSPERITY. We believe that we are too rich to be so poor, too gifted to be so restricted, too blessed to be so stressed and too anointed to be so disappointed.

Yes, we can make it but we must be clear as to what our goals, are and the steps we must take to achieve them.

This Manifesto sets out our vision, where we want to go and the path we will take to get there. It is a roadmap that has at the centre of its concerns our people and their advancement. It represents our commitment to the Jamaican people and is reinforced by our 100 Day Covenant which sets out the specific initiatives we intend to take within the first 100 days to demonstrate the strength of our commitment.

I ask for your support and I urge you to vote on election day for the JLP candidate in your constituency. He or she is part of the team whose commitment is reflected in the plans we have laid out in this  anifesto. And after the elections, I urge Jamaican's of all political persuasions to work with us for ours will be a government for all the people....finding a better way for a better Jamaica.

Introduction
The challenges we face... ...the ground we must make up

Eighteen years of PNP rule have left Jamaica facing severe economic and social problems. While there has been progress in some areas such as new highways, improved air and sea ports, construction of new hotels, increased housing benefits and a build-up in foreign reserves, Jamaica has stagnated or declined in several critical areas:

Sluggish economy: Between 1988 and 2006, the Jamaican economy grew by only 28% or an annual average of 1.4%. This compares unfavourably with countries like Trinidad (153%), Belize (136%), Antigua (92%) and St. Kitts (90%).

Crippling national debt: Massive government borrowing has increased the national debt from J$31 billion (US$5.7 billion) in 1988 to J$947 billion (US$13.8 billion) in 2007.

Jamaica now owes more that J$350,000 for every man, woman and child! It costs the country more than J$550 million per day to service that debt.

Unemployment: Official statistics which show unemployment to be less than 10%, really ignores the high level of “disguised” unemployment since persons recorded as employed include those who hustle to survive and are employed for as little as one hour per week. In addition, over 300,000 persons, the equivalent of 25% of the labour force are not counted among the unemployed.Many of these persons, out of frustration, have stopped looking for work.

Weak agricultural sector: The agricultural sector suffers from lack of technology, low productivity and uncompetitiveness. It accounts for only 6% of the total output of the economy but employs 18% of the labour force. As a result, the economy of rural communities remains severely depressed and the majority of farmers are condemned to the lowest living standards.

High levels of crime: Jamaica has one of the highest crime rates in the world. Since 1988 the annual murder rate has climbed from just over 400 to more than 1,300; over 17,000 murders have