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 Manifesto. 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 been committed and more than 50% of them remain unsolved.

Poor education: Our education system is failing our children and blighting our future. Seventy-percent (70%) of students leaving high schools have failed to achieve the minimum internationally- accepted standard of 5 passes at CXC level. In the core subjects, only 27% manage to pass English Language and only 17% Mathematics.
Unskilled labour force: In a world where employment opportunities are increasingly knowledge-based, 72% of the labour force have attained no academic qualifications whatsoever and 76% are without any skill training.

Corruption: Corruption is rampant in Jamaica and not only siphons off billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money but undermines the competitiveness of those who play by the rules. In 2006, Transparency International gave Jamaica a score of 3.7 out of 10 (10 being the least corrupt).

Inadequate health services: Our public health system suffers from lack of equipment and supplies; shortage of medical personnel especially nurses; and is unaffordable to many poor persons who are required to pay for hospital services.

Poor roads: While much attention has been paid to new highways, secondary and tertiary roads, especially in urban and rural communities, have been severely neglected.
Lack of water supplies: Only 45% of households throughout Jamaica have piped water in their homes.

Abuse of human rights: The abuse by the State of the rights of ordinary citizens is virtually a daily occurrence with inadequate means of prevention or redress.
Poor justice system: Our justice system is creaking. The Resident Magistrate Courts where the vast majority of Jamaican's come in contact with the justice system, has a backlog of more than 400,000 cases with over 300,000 new cases filed each year.

Crumbling social order: The decline in values and standards has severely undermined our sense of community. Indifference, the lack of respect for each other, indiscipline, disunity and lawlessness threaten to overwhelm the traditional Jamaican way of life which, in the past, held us together as a people and enabled us to triumph over adversity.

GOVERNANCE

A framework for good governance

The Jamaica Labour Party believes that the essential purpose of government in a democratic society is to guarantee the rights of its citizens and to enable them to achieve prosperity.

Policies and programmes, no matter how well formulated, will succeed only if they are implemented within a framework of good governance designed to:

• protect the rights of every citizen.
• prevent the concentration and abuse of power.
• impose strict accountability on those exercising authority.
• ensure an efficient and easily accessible justice system.
• maintain effective law enforcement.
• provide an efficient bureaucracy impervious to corruption.

 

For too long, the Jamaican people have suffered from institutionalized injustice, abuse of power, violation of their rights, rampant corruption and callous negligence by state
agencies in performing their duty.
The JLP is committed to establishing a new
framework for good governance.

Our pledge
1.1 Republican status
Take steps to amend the Constitution to replace the Queen with a Jamaican President who symbolizes the unity of the nation. Such a President will be appointed by consensus through a two-thirds majority vote in each House of Parliament.
1.2 Fundamental rights
Seek entrenchment in the Constitution of a new CHARTER OF RIGHTS to guarantee the fundamental rights of every citizen.
1.3 Citizens Protection Bureau
Establish a Citizens Protection Bureau headed by the Public Defender with expanded powers to defend the rights of and secure redress for citizens whose constitutional rights may be violated.
1.4 Challenge to government actions
Establish the right of individuals and organizations to challenge executive action in the public interest for the protection and enforcement of public rights.
1.5 Impeachment of public officials
Enact provisions for the impeachment of public officials for misconduct, corruption, abuse of office or betrayal of public trust.
1.6 Prosecutorial functions
Make provision for judicial review of the decisions of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
1.7 Appointment to sensitive posts
Require that appointment to sensitive posts that are critical to the delivery of good governance be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority in each House of Parliament thereby requiring consensus between the government and the opposition.These include:

• Chief Justice
• President of the Court of Appeal
• Director of Public Prosecutions
• Public Defender
• Contractor General
• Judicial Services Commission
• Police Services Commission
• Public Services Commission
• Governor of the Bank of Jamaica

In addition, we will require that appointments to ambassadorial posts and statutory boards be subject to scrutiny and approval by Parliament.

1.8 Local government
Give constitutional recognition and protection to the Local Government system
1.9 Greater representation for civil society
Increase the membership of the Senate to include representatives of civil society chosen by the President.
1.10 Fixed election period
Establish a fixed election period subject to variation only in specified circumstances.
1.11 Term limits
Impose a two-term limit on anyone holding the office of Prime Minister.
1.12 Special Prosecutor to combat corruption
Establish a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute persons involved in corruption.
1.13 Enforcing procedures for awarding government contracts
Impose criminal sanctions for violation of the rules governing the award of contracts and make provision that contracts issued without the proper procedures and authorization are rendered null and void and unenforceable.
1.14 Strengthening corruption prevention authorities
Strengthen the Corruption Prevention Commission and the Parliamentary Integrity Commission to enable them to more effectively ferret out public officials engaged in corrupt activities.
1.15 Whistleblower protection
Introduce whistleblower legislation to protect persons who provide information on wrongdoing on the part of public officials.
1.16 Reform of libel and slander laws
Modernize the laws relating to libel and slander so that those engaged in corruption can be more easily exposed and brought to justice.
1.16 Independent investigation of abuse by security forces
Establish an independent authority to investigate instances of abuse by members of the security forces.
1.17 Special Coroner
Appoint a Special Coroner to speedily conduct inquests in instances where citizens die in circumstances in which agents of the State are involved.
1.18 Strengthening the role of Parliament

• A two-thirds majority in each House of Parliament will be required for approval of certain measures (e.g. increase in debt and deficit ceilings and appointment of certain sensitive posts) to increase the ability of Parliament to act as a restraint on the government in critical areas.
• Provide that all Sessional and Special Select Committees of Parliament be chaired by a member of the Opposition to ensure more diligent oversight of government’s activities as is the case with the Public Accounts Committee.
• Strengthen the Standing Orders of Parliament to expand and protect the rights of Members of Parliament to make statements, secure answers and debate issues on behalf of their constituents.

1.19 Issues of accountability
Make provision that reports from the Auditor General, Contractor General, Public Defender,Political Ombudsman, Corruption Prevention Commission and Integrity Commission must be debated within 30 days of submission to Parliament.
1.20 Parliamentary salaries
Restrict increases in parliamentary salaries to the weighted average of increases granted to the Public Sector.
1.21 Structure of Cabinet
Establish in the Constitution the core ministries of government with a limit as to the number of additional ministries that can be created.
1.22 Transforming the bureaucracy
Undertake a comprehensive review of the existing structure and operation of government bureaucracy to eliminate waste and unnecessary red tape and improve efficiency and accountability.
1.23 Financing of political parties
Enact, in consultation with the Electoral Commission, legislation to regulate the financial operations of political parties.

Improving the effectiveness of the people’s representatives

Members of Parliament are the people’s representatives.
It is they (the people) who elected them; and it is them (the M.Ps) that the people hold accountable. Yet, MPs are rendered powerless and unable to effectively represent their constituents.They table questions and move resolutions but there is no obligation to provide answers or allow debate. They seek provisions to address the needs of their constituents but it is a Minister who decides whether those needs should be met.
We are committed to ensuring that MPs are enabled to represent their people....that they have the tools to do their jobs.
2.1 Questions and resolutions must be dealt with
Amend the Standing Orders to prescribe a time limit within which questions must be answered and resolutions debated.
2.2 Statements by MPs
Every MP will have the right to make statements to Parliament on behalf of his constituents.The duration of statements will be limited to five (5) minutes and no more than six (6) statements will be permitted at any one sitting. Statements will be allowed in the
order in which notice was served on the Clerk of Parliament.
2.3 Constituency Development Plan

• Each MP will be required to submit to Parliament within six (6) monthsof being elected a 5 year development plan outlining the programmes and projects to be undertaken in his or her constituency.
• Constituency Development Plans will be developed with technical support from the relevant government agencies and will be subject to approval by Parliament.
• The relevant committee of Parliament will evaluate the implementation of the Plan each year and recommend such modifications as may be proposed by the MP for the approval of Parliament.
• A Constituency Development Fund will be established funded with two-and-a-half percent (2 1⁄2%) of the annual budget and allocated in equal amounts among all constituencies to finance the approved projects.
• Disbursements from the Fund will be made through the relevant government agencies and subject to all applicable procurement and disbursement procedures.
• All expenses from the Fund will be audited by the Auditor General and reported to Parliament.

 

Planning for development

Proper planning is essential in defining our goals and designing the path to ensure their achievement. It must be built on a shared vision and it must outline the strategies to be employed, the outcomes to be achieved, the resources that will be required and the medium-term targets that will measure its progress. It will also provide a known, predictable framework for the development and implementation of policies in the various sectors.

Our Pledge
3.1 National Development Plan
Formulate a National Development Plan on which the PIOJ has already commenced work to guide policy development and programme implementation over the next 20 years.
3.2 Physical Development Plan
Prepare an accompanying Physical Development Plan to determine the strategies for urban and rural development, land utilization, infrastructure planning and investment, transportation and civic amenities.
3.3 Public Sector Investment Programme
Develop a comprehensive Public Sector Investment Programme to support these two plans by identifying the investments that the government will be required to make, the sources from which those investments will be derived, and the economic returns that will result.

 

 

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH

Building a platform for strong economic growth

Jamaica needs strong, sustained levels of economic growth to create jobs, reduce poverty, raise living standards and pay down the national debt.This will require high levels of investment both local and foreign. In the post cold-war, globalized world, investors have wide choices as to where to go to invest their money. If we are to attract the level of investments that our economy requires, we must create an investment climate that makes us the preferred choice for real, long term, productive investment activity, the critical elements of which are:

 

  

• A sound, predictable macro-economic policy framework that maintains low inflation, a stable exchange rate and competitive interest rates.
• A tax system that is simple and competitive
• A modernized labour market geared toward high levels of productivity
• A simplified, business-friendly bureaucracy
• Effective measures to prevent corruption
• Low crime levels
• Supportive infrastructure

 

A sound macro-economic policy framework

Over the last 18 years, Jamaica has suffered from erratic financial management involving reckless swings from loose fiscal and monetary policies to painful corrective tightening.
We have paid a high price for these mistakes:

• Devaluation of the Jamaican dollar from $5.50 to $69 per US dollar
• High levels of government borrowing that at times commandeered up to 86% of available banking system credit
• Persistent fiscal deficits ranging as high as 12% of GDP
• Protracted high interest rates that made it unprofitable to invest and impossible to borrow to invest
• Massive increase in public debt from J$31 billion to J$947 billion (US$5.7 billion to US$13.8 billion)
• Crippling inflation that in one fiscal year rose as high as 105%
• Collapse of most major financial institutions and the huge cost to the taxpayers of over J$120 billion to rescue deposits and pension funds
• Closure of many businesses and massive job losses

Robust investment, economic growth and job creation can only occur if the country enjoys a macro-economic framework designed to sustain sound fiscal and monetary policies, moderate public debt levels, low inflation, competitive interest rates, a stable exchange rate and a business-friendly regulatory framework.

Our Pledge
5.1 Independent Central Bank
Transform the Bank of Jamaica into an independent central bank insulated from political direction and with sole responsibility for monetary policy and mandated to maintain domestic price stability. This will enhance investorconfidence with the assurance that the
central bank can no longer be used to facilitate reckless, politically expedient fiscal decisions. The Governor of the Bank will be required to appear before the appropriate committee of Parliament twice per year to outline and report on the policies being pursued
to fulfill its mandate.
5.2 Debt management

• Enact legislation to impose on, a phased basis within five (5) years, a constitutional limit on the level of public debt of 95% of Gross Domestic Product with provision for this level to be exceeded only in times of specified emergencies and only with the approval of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of both Houses of Parliament.
• Steadfastly pursue a debt reduction
  strategy to contain new borrowings within the targets required to meet the constitutional limit and, through measures to accelerate economic growth, we will seek over time to reduce the debt-to- GDP ratio to 60% – well within the
  constitutional limit and in line with international best practice.
• Establish a firm policy that all the proceeds from the divestment of government assets must be used to reduce the national debt.

5.3 Fiscal deficit

• Eliminate the fiscal deficit through prudent fiscal management, elimination of waste and corruption and through revenue-generating economic growth in order to build the surpluses to reduce the debt and finance critical expenditures.
• Impose a constitutional limit requiring that the fiscal deficit mustnot exceed 3% of GDP except in times of specified emergencies, and only with the approval of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of both Houses of Parliament.

5.4 Tax Reform

• Embark on a comprehensive tax reform programme designed to simplify the tax system, make it more equitable, remove disincentives to investment and job creation and ensure greater compliance.
• Increase the tax-free threshold to provide relief to thousands of wage earners who are now required to pay income tax on earnings of more than $3,720 per week.
• Consolidate the existing wage-related statutory deductions and contributions (NIS, NHT, Education Tax and HEART) into a single social security payment to simplify collection and remittance. The Inland Revenue Department will then be responsible for transmitting the appropriate portion to the relevant agencies.

5.5 Modernization of customs
Modernize the customs system to improve efficiency and transparency and eliminate corruption which not only deprives the country of revenue but subjects legitimate businesses to unfair competition.
5.6 A business-friendly bureaucracy

• Conduct a comprehensive review of government ministries and statutory agencies and implement measures to improve efficiency and accountability.
• Establish performance targets for each department or agency to be monitored by a special unit within the Ministry of Finance and reported on annually to Parliament. Special staff incentives will be offered to those agencies that achieve their prescribed targets.
• Carry out an audit of all regulations, reporting requirements, approvals, licences and permits as they affect business operations and the conduct of business by the ordinary citizen with a view to eliminating or simplifying those that pose unnecessary impediments to business or inconvenience to the public. In this regard, we will incorporate the recommendations of the Legislation, Regulations and Process Improvement Project (Legs & Regs).
• Establish within the Office of the Prime Minister a special desk to receive and investigate complaints of undue delays and inconvenience encountered in doing business with government departments and agencies.

5.7 Social Partnership
Seek to create a Social Partnership involving the Government, Opposition, Private Sector and Trade Unions to establish the parameters for a new, coordinated thrust toward investment, economic growth and job creation and the binding commitments on the part of each partner.

 

A proactive, customised investment strategy

Attracting investment is a market activity.We must go to the market, not wait for the market
to find us.
Creating jobs will be the central focus of our economic strategies. Creating jobs for our people is the surest way to eliminate poverty, reduce crime and raise living standards. It
is also the surest way to earn more revenue in order to pay down the national debt and
provide more resources for critical social services and infrastructure development.

Our Pledge
6.1 Mega-agency for investment promotion, financing and marketing
Merge Jamaica Invest (formerly JAMPRO), the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and EXIM Bank to become one integrated investment promotion, financing and marketing
powerhouse, Jamaica Investment and Development Corporation (JIDC), to attract foreign investment and stimulate local investment.
6.2 Strategic investment promotion
Re-energize our investment promotion strategy to target investments that will create significant new jobs and establish linkages for other investments to take place. Where advantageous, we will pursue a firm-centric approach to attract “brand name” investors whose operations are globally integrated and are pacesetters for other investments.
6.3 Aggressive overseas marketing
Seek to identify overseas markets for local producers and service providers in all sectors who may be incapable of penetrating these markets on their own.
6.4 Exploiting “Brand Jamaica”
Vigorously promote Brand Jamaica - one of our most valuable national assets which already enjoys international appeal and has the capacity to build lucrative markets for local producers of goods and services.
6.5 Better access to Research, Development and Technology
Merge the various existing small, struggling government research entities into a modern, efficient, cutting-edge National Research & Development Centre to be attached to the UWI and UTech in order to achieve desirable synergies between commercial and academic research and to develop products and processes that will attract investments and secure markets here and overseas.
6.6 Expanding venture capital financing
Provide the appropriate fiscal and regulatory mechanisms to facilitate the growth of venture capital financing to encourage new start-ups and enable the expansion of existing businesses hobbled by lack of capital and the high cost of debt financing.
6.7 Eliminating double taxation on dividends
Eliminate double taxation on dividends for non-listed companies to encourage re- investment for expansion.
6.8 Taking advantage of Business Process Outsourcing
Assist local goods and service providers to tap into the large,growing market for business process outsourcing activities, taking advantage of our strategic geographical location and the currency of our language.
6.9 Pursuing new opportunities in the services sector
Encourage the emergence of new businesses in the rapidly growing services sector to take advantage of the lucrative opportunities in information technology, professional services, entertainment and culture.
6.10 Enterprise Zones
Establish Enterprise Zones strategically located in major urban centres with appropriate incentives and shared services to facilitate new start-ups in the manufacturing, agricultural and service sectors.
6.11 Science and technology
Establish a special unit within the Office of the Prime Minister to promote and monitor the development and application of science and technology within the public and private sector
to achieve efficiency and competitiveness in all sectors.
6.12 Pay special attention to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

• Actively support the continued development and growth of SMEs which require modest capital outlay, offer high job-creating potential, can be established in a relatively short period of time and have the size-flexibility to satisfy niche markets.
• Provide appropriate incentives and access to special, concessionary financing for SMEs.
• Provide technical expertise to assist SMEs in areas of production processes and management, quality control,packaging, marketing, cost analysis and financial management.

6.13 Establishment of a Credit Bureau
Provide the legislative framework for and encourage the establishment of a Credit Bureau to facilitate, especially, small entrepreneurs who may lack collateral but whose credit rating will provide access to financing to start or expand businesses.
6.14 Offshore educational facilities
Actively promote the establishment of offshore campuses and other educational facilities to provide jobs for local workers and demand for local goods and services while offering their parent universities the advantage of lower costs.
6.15 Offshore financial centre for Kingston
Establish Kingston as a choice location for offshore financial services to exploit the benefits currently being enjoyed by countries such as the Cayman Islands and Bermuda.This will
be sited in downtown Kingston as a fulcrum for the much needed redevelopment of that part of the city.
6.16 Major investment projects
Seek investors for large-scale projects designed to generate significant numbers of new jobs and create opportunities for investment linkages.These will include:

• Air transshipment hub to be located at Vernamfield in Clarendon to parallelize the outstanding success achieved in maritime transshipment by the Port of Kingston
• Large-scale Freeport facility to be located on the Fort Augusta peninsula to provide assembling and duty free shopping comparable to that which exists in Panama
• The development of Port Royal and its rich cultural heritage as a major cruise ship destination to be interfaced with the Fort Augusta Freeport
• Expansion of the Port of Kingston on lands on the north side of Marcus Garvey Drive linked by an overpass to meet the growing need for more container storage space.
• Development of a new modern port facility at Port Esquivel in St. Catherine to facilitate the rapid growth of maritime transship-ment which now threatens to exhaust
  the available space at the Port of Kingston.
• Modern dry dock facility at Salt River in Clarendon to take advantage of our strategic location and lower costs to provide maintenance services for ships.
• Development of a Nutraceutical and Biotechnology Industrial Park to take advantage of Jamaica’s unique position as a major global source of natural products (estimated at 15% of global reserves).

 

A foreign policy to support our national goals

The traditional focus of our foreign policy has been to maximize aid and development assistance and sustain preferential trading arrangements. The international environment has shifted significantly.Aid and development assistance is declining and is being confined to least developed countries. In the context of globalization the priorities in our foreign policy approach must be to secure export markets and attract investors into our economy.This will require a repositioning of our foreign policy thrust.

Our Pledge
7.1 Strategic foreign policy to boost investment and growth

• Support the Regional Negotiating Machinery and the initiatives being pursued through CARIFORUM to conclude the most favourable agreements with the European Union (Economic Partnership Agreements) and the WTO (Doha round).
• Press for the removal of domesticsupport of agricultural products by the European Union and the United States as a precondition for further liberalization of market access for such products.
• Strenuously advocate deferment beyond January 2008 of reciprocal market access in response to the EU’s proposal for the removal of all its remaining tariff and quota limitations on imports from ACP countries on a basis that would not subject
  us to EU’s Generalized System of Preferences.
• Identify sensitive goods and services which can still be protected from market access under existing WTO rules.
• Insist on the establishment of a development agenda as the centerpiece of the revival of the Doha round which is critical to the integration of developing countries in the multilateral trading system.
• Urge CARIFORUM to seek an extension of the waiver granted to the EU by the WTO in respect of preferential arrangements that are in breach of WTO rules in order to allow more time to conclude and implement EPAs.
• Continue to insist upon special and differential treatment for developing countries within the WTO agreement.
• Pursue investment possibilities through the European Investment Bank in major areas such as tourism, telecommunications and services.
• Negotiate additional bilateral preferential trading arrangements (especially with regard to energy supplies) that are not inconsistent with our WTO obligations.
• Restructure our Missions abroad to reflect priority focus on trade and investment promotion as well as provide services to the Jamaican community in Diaspora countries.
• Promote greater involvement of the private sector in policy formulation and trade negotiations in recognition of their critical role in an economics- driven foreign policy.

7.2 Our foreign policy in the context of international politics

• Maintain a non-aligned political posture in our foreign relations and take positions consistent with our obligations under international conventions that are in the best interests of Jamaica and the international community.
• Support the work of the UN, Commonwealth, OAS and other regional and international bodies of which we are a member.

7.3 Our relations with CARICOM

• We pledge our support for CARICOM and the concept of regional integration.
• We will use our membership and influence within CARICOM and the CSME to exploit their real potential, i.e., to combine our energies and resources as individual
  states to secure investments, create jobs, increase exports to third countries and improve living standards within the region.

7.4 Integrating the Diaspora

• Continue our support for the Diaspora Foundation and its efforts to network all Jamaican organizations overseas.
• Strengthen the Jamaican's Overseas Department to improve the procedures with which returning residents have to contend as well as promote and protect the interests of Jamaican's overseas.
• Use diplomatic channels to more proactively represent the interests of the Jamaican community to the governments of the countries in which they reside.
• Float a special, secure Diaspora Bond to provide an attractive investment opportunity for Jamaican's overseas and raise capital to help finance the Education
  Transformation project.
• Establish a database of Jamaican's overseas to strengthen our contact with the Diaspora and provide a resource base for the recruitment of special skills.

 

Better energy security and efficiency

Jamaica’s almost total dependence on imported oil as its source of energy threatens our prospects for economic growth and development. Our energy costs are higher than that of most of our trading partners.
Oil prices are likely to remain high due to diminishing global oil reserves, worldwide shortage of refining capacity, rapidly increasing demand arising from the spectacular growth in economic activity in China, India and other Asian and Pacific countries and the continuing turmoil in the Middle East where the bulk of the world’s oil reserves is located.
Jamaica needs to move with greater speed and purpose to diversify its energy sources if we are to enjoy energy security at prices that will allow us to achieve competitiveness and sustained growth.

Our Pledge
8.1 Energy diversification
Pursue all available options to establishthe most appropriate energy mix based on cheaper sources including coal, natural gas, ethanol and other biofuels, hydro- electric and solar and wind power.We will provide the necessary incentives and regulatory framework to encourage this diversification.
8.2 Oil and gas exploration
Support and continue exploration to determine whether commercial quantities of oil or gas exist within Jamaica’s territorial waters.
8.3 Expanding available sources of supply
Seek to expand existing bilateral arrangements for the supply of oil to include other oil producing countries within and outside the Latin American and Caribbean region.
8.4 Electricity generation
Ensure proper development and timely approval of Least Cost Expansion Plans so that local power providers will be obliged to replace, on a phased basis, inefficient plant and replace it with more efficient units. We will also ensure that the savings are reflected in the rates charged to consumers.
8.5 Modernizing electricity legislation
Replace the age-old statutes under which electricity is produced and supplied and replace them with modern legislation reflecting current best practices in the regulation of electricity providers.
8.6 Enforcing required standard
Rigorously enforce the required standards regarding the transmission and distribution of electricity which continue to be the source of substantial losses that have to be borne by consumers.
8.7 Ensuring accurate meters and billings
Institute measures to ensure the accuracy of electricity meters and billing systems with user-friendly systems for investigation and verification in instances where disputes arise.
8.8 A more proactive OUR
The OUR will be required to be more vigilant in ensuring transparency and fairness in the conduct of licensed electricity suppliers.
8.9 Local refinery operations
Continue the programme to modernize and increase the capacity of our local refinery.
8.10 Rural electricity expansion
Intensify the Rural Electrification Programme to extend electricity to those communities that are still without the service.
8.11 Illegal electricity consumption
Institute a new programme to regularize electricity supply in areas where electricity is being accessed illegally in order to bring these residents into the formal consumer base.
8.12 Introducing new petroleum reference price mechanism
Abandon the Gulf reference standard currently being used to determine petroleum prices and replace it with an import parity price mechanism based on market realities within the
region.
8.13 Diversifying motor vehicle fuels
Use fiscal measures to encourage the use of flexi and hybrid motor vehicles and those designed for diesel, bio-fuels and other more efficient and environment- friendly fuels.

 

Launching a new agricultural revolution

Agriculture, once the backbone of the Jamaican economy, has declined to the point where, today, it accounts for less than 6% of the economy.Yet, it employs 18% of the total labour force and is the sole means of livelihood for thousands of families in rural communities. As a result, incomes and living standards in rural areas are the lowest in Jamaica.
In the past, the agricultural sector enjoyed the benefit of preferential arrangements for its traditional export crops (sugar and bananas) and a protected domestic market for almost everything else. Our preferential arrangements are rapidly coming to an end and trade liberalization has opened up our domestic market to foreign imports.
The average farmer today, more than ever before, is struggling to survive. The rising cost of inputs, low productivity and depressed markets due to fierce competition spell disaster for the future of agriculture unless there are radical changes in our approach to the sector.
The most compelling challenges to agriculture are to raise the level of productivity through the use of technology and improved farming practices; and to provide better access to markets.

Our Pledge
9.1 Widescale application of technology to dramatically increase productivity

• Aggressively promote the use of proven technology (e.g. green house, hydroponics, tissue culture etc.) to increase yield, improve quality and rationalize the use of scarce water.
• Provide training and technical support to ensure that farmers master the application of new technologies.
• Promote greater use of bio-technology through the National Research and Development Centre to improve the quality and marketability of farm produce.

9.2 Restoration of extension services
Restore and expand agricultural extension services which have been severely depleted to ensure the effective transfer of technology and application of modern practices.
9.3 Improved pest and disease control
Improve the capabilities for pest and disease control by stricter quarantine procedures and speedier detection and corrective practices.
9.4 Promotion of organic farming
Provide technical and financial support for organic farming to exploit the growing international market for organically produced foods.
9.5 Promotion of exotic crops
Promote the cultivation and export marketing of exotic crops including fruits, herbs and spice in a strategic programme integrated with the Brand Jamaica campaign.
9.6 Provision of refrigeration facilities
Establish strategically located refrigeration facilities to extend the shelf life of farmers’ produce and improve marketing possibilities.
9.7 Improved market intelligence
Improve the gathering and timely dissemination of marketing information to provide farmers with the best options for marketing their produce
9.8 Improved selection, grading and packaging practices
Provide training to farmers in proper selection, grading and packaging practices to more effectively synchronize farm production with market requirements.
9.9 Support for brokers
Recognize the importance of brokers who serve as intermediaries betweenthe farmer and otherwise inaccessible markets.We will provide incentives for brokers to extend market reach and increase the demand for farmers’ produce.
9.10 Incentives for agro-processors
Provide incentives for agro-processors to extend the market for agricultural produce and provide greater predictability and price stability for farmers.
9.11 Affordable loans for farmers
Increase the availability of low-interest loans to farmers through the PC Banks especially to ensure that they are able to meet the required capital investment to adopt new technologies.
9.12 Land titling process

• Amend the Registration of Titles Act to simplify the registration of untitled land where the claimant has been in possession for a specified minimum period of time, ownership is not in dispute and can be confirmed by evidence.
• Establish Community Land Tribunals to consider applications for registration and, after adequate public notification, conduct hearings and, if satisfied that the right of
  ownership has been established, issue a Certificate of Ownership.
• Certificate of Ownership together with a surveyor’s report and diagram would be sufficient to effect registration of title.

9.13 Irrigation expansion
Improve existing and establish new irrigation schemes to increase the acreage of land available for high-productivity farming.
9.14 Protection and strengthening of the livestock sector

• Institute measures to protect and expand the livestock sector and improve productivity with a view to capturing a greater share of the domestic market.
• Provide the necessary protection to milk producers to mitigate the effects of subsidized imported milk solids.

9.15 Expansion of aquaculture
Expand the aquaculture industry, especially for the export market, and promote the production of new species to replicate the success achieved with the tilapia.
9.16 Improved management of marine fishing
Establish a comprehensive programme to improve the management of the marine fishing industry including:

• More vigilant efforts to stem illegal fishing in Jamaican waters.
• Careful monitoring of our fish population and stricter control measures to prevent over-fishing and the depletion of fish stock by regulating the size and weight of fish that can be harvested.
• Implementation of an environmental programme to stop the pollution of our sea water and the use of dynamite and chemicals to reap fish and reverse the damage being done to our fish nurseries and coral reefs.
• Provision of loans and training for fishers to equip them to operate beyond our coastal waters which are severely over-fished.
• Provision of safety gear, training and public education to ensure better standards of safety at sea.
• Improved refrigeration facilities at our major fishing beaches to preserve the catch to meet marketing cycles.
• Introduction of new, scientific methods for growing lobsters, shrimp, oysters, squid and other high-demand species under controlled conditions.
• Implementation of a programme to clean up and upgrade fishing beaches islandwide.

9.17 Repositioning the sugar industry

• Pursue, in the face of the drastic cuts in sugar prices being offered through our arrangements with the European Union, the divestment of government-owned sugar estates and factories with a view to ensuring the required capital investment and management to achieve world market competitiveness and/or the production of value-added cane derivatives such as ethanol and nutraceuticals.
• Utilize our allocation under the compensation fund being provided by the EU to enable cane farmers and sugar workers in those areas that may be dislocated by the divestment to enter alternative, high-productivity farming activities.

9.18 Intensifying efforts to combat praedial larceny
Reorganize, retrain, equip and redeploy District Constables to be a more effective force in combating praedial larceny.

 

Strengthening the manufacturing sector

The manufacturing sector faces considerable difficulties: high interest rates, high energy costs, high security costs, high transaction costs and intense competition from cheap imports, especially from China.
In 1988 the manufacturing sector employed 136,000 persons and accounted for 21.4% of GDP.Today, it employs less than 75,000 and accounts for only 12.7% of GDP. The challenge for the manufacturing sector is to identify those areas of production in which it can achieve international competitiveness or for which it can secure niche markets.
We must enable the manufacturing sector to overcome these challenges.

Our Pledge
10.1 Industrial Plant Modernization Fund
Establish through the Jamaica Investment & Development Corporation an Industrial Plant Modernization Fund to assist manufacturers to install modern equipment and apply cutting-edge technology to improve productivity and competitiveness.
10.2 Improving labour productivity
Provide grants through the HEART Trust to finance institutional and onthe- job training to improve the skills level and productivity of employees.
10.3 Improving energy efficiency
Provide tax incentives for manufacturers to achieve energy efficiency
10.4 Penetrating new export markets
The Jamaica Investment & Development Corporation (JIDC) will provide strong support to local manufacturers to identify and penetrate new export markets under the Brand Jamaica campaign.
10.5 Provision of factory space
Make available to manufacturers on special terms factory space currently being used for the warehousing of imported goods.
10.6 Improving packaging design and development
Provide special incentives for companies engaged in packaging design and development to improve the marketability of locally manufactured goods.
10.7 Special relief for specified capital expenditure
Allow capital expenditure in specified areas that enhance competitiveness or the development of new value-added products to be fully expensed in lieu of annual depreciation.
10.8 Tax credit for overseas marketing
Provide tax credits for expenses incurred in marketing locally manufactured products overseas.

 

Conquering new frontiers in tourism

The tourism industry has been one of the main planks that have sustained the economy over many years. While recognizing the value of its contribution and the growth that has occurred, we believe that there is vast potential for expansion and diversification that needs to be exploited.
While Jamaica’s tourism has been dominant in the mass and mid-price segments of the leisure market, the focus of our strategy for the future will be to develop new, high-value
options while enhancing the attractiveness of the existing offerings.

Our Pledge
11.1 Measuring tourism’s contribution to the economy
Disaggregate our National Accounts and identify tourism as an accounting sector in order to measure its direct contribution to the GDP.
11.2 Giving export status to hotel operators
Recognizing that tourism is an invisible export,we will accord hotel operators the benefits and concessions enjoyed by export manufacturers.
11.3 Diversifying the tourism industry

• Promote the development of more high-value luxury accommodation including condominiums.
• Promote the development of wellness facilities to take advantage of our natural spas as well as facilities geared toward long-stay convalescents.
• Attract healthcare entrepreneurs to establish medical facilities offering clinical and surgical procedures to foreign patients.
• Provide renewed support for the development of South Coast adventure and eco-tourism.
• Promote heritage tourism consistent with our policy on the development of our heritage sites and the marketing of our rich cultural traditions.

11.4 Tourism development for eastern Jamaica
Formulate a strategic plan for the development of Portland and St. Thomas as a unique tourist resort area to take advantage of their unique attributes as well as provide a new economic catalyst to mitigate the decline in sugar and bananas.
11.5 Development of attractions
Encourage the development of new state-of-the-art attractions especially for night time entertainment and offer incentives similar to those provided for new hotel construction.
11.6 Preservation and appropriate utilization of the Cockpit Country
Declare the Cockpit Country a no-mining zone and encourage the development of environment-friendly attractions.
11.7 Transformation of Fern Gully
Reroute traffic currently traversing Fern Gully and develop it into a botanical attraction with boutique restaurants and craft shops.
11.8 Upgrading and marketing of small hotels and villas
Provide grants and concessionary loans for the upgrading of small hotels and villas and assist them in developing a special programme for advertising and marketing.
11.9 Expansion of Ocho Rios Cruise Ship Pier
Relocate the shipping operations for bauxite, sugar and aggregates from the Reynolds Pier in Ocho Rios to facilitate its redevelopment and expansion as a modern cruise ship port.
11.10 New cruise ship port at Falmouth
Support the development of a major cruise ship port and ancillary facilities in Falmouth.
11.11 Development of marinas
Promote the expansion of marinas in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay which, together with the Port Antonio marina, will be aggressively marketed to attract mega-yacht visitors and sport fishing activities.
11.12 Modern airport facilities for Port Antonio
Redevelop the Ken Jones aerodrome to accommodate private and mid-size commercial aircraft as an important element in the revitalization of Port Antonio as a high-end resort area as well as facilitating tourism development in St.Thomas
11.13 Enhancing Jamaica’s duty-free shopping appeal
Establish a new regime for in-bond merchants to enhance Jamaica’s appeal as a duty-free shopping destination.
11.14 New impetus for craft production and marketing

• Establish a sophisticated craft training centre on the north coast to enable our craftsmen to produce high quality craft items and ensure that our craft vendors can offer first-rate indigenous craft items.
• Upgrade and improve the management of existing craft markets and we institute a programme to promote them especially among cruise ship passengers.

11.15 Major Convention Centre for Montego Bay
Support the construction of a major stand-alone Convention Centre in Montego Bay to attract more convention visitors.
11.16 Establishment of HospitalityCollege
Pursue the development of a Hospitality College either as an independent entity or as a college of one of our existing universities to train persons for middle and senior level positions in the tourism sector.
11.17 Teaching the value of tourism in schools
Develop a tourism-related course to be taught in schools and to be an accredited curriculum subject to increase awareness and appreciation of the value of tourism to the nation.
11.18 Pension scheme for tourism sector workers
Institute in collaboration with employers and workers in the tourism sector a pension scheme for workers whose NIS pension entitlement is low because it is calculated on basic wages and does not include non-taxable gratuities which make up a substantial portion of their earnings.

 

Support for the entertainment industry

The entertainment sector is emerging as a significant area of economic activity providing jobs and foreign exchange earnings and while it generates significant earnings globally, only a small fraction inures to Jamaica’s benefit. It has great potential for creating wealth in areas such as music, dance, theatre, film and video productions,writing and publishing, fashion, craft, and local cuisine. It offers a valuable tool for internationalizing the Brand Jamaica campaign.

Our Pledge
12.1 Entertainment venues
Provide incentives for the establishment of large and medium-size entertainment venues.
12.2 International music festivals
Support the staging and promotion of new and existing music festivals with a view to making Jamaica one of the world’s premier music festival destinations.
12.3 Incentives for the entertainment industry
Enact an Entertainment Industry Encouragement Act to provide incentives for the promotion and commercial development of Jamaican music, art, dance, drama, writing and publishing, fashion, craft and local cuisine.
12.4 Sector coordination
Establish a single agency to coordinate developments in the entertainment sector.

 

Telecommunications as a driver for economic growth

Telecommunications has been the world’s fastest growing area of economic activity in the last decade. It offers tremendous opportunities for new investments, growth and job creation especially with the growing trend in developed countries toward outsourcing. However, the playing field is highly competitive and the appropriate policy measures must be instituted to position Jamaica to take advantage of these opportunities.
Telecommunications also offers a means of revolutionizing the education process and improving the quality of lesson delivery.

Our Pledge
13.1 New regulatory framework

• Revise the Telecommunications Act to take account of new developments in technology and market dynamics.
• Establish a single regulatory authority to undertake the regulatory functions currently scattered among the OUR, the Broadcasting Commission and the Spectrum Management Authority.

13.2 Judicious spectrum management
Ensure the careful allocation of spectrum frequencies to encourage competition and new investments and to preserve flexibility to facilitate the future growth of the telecommunications sector.
13.3 Expanding the telecommunications infrastructure

• Promote the development of an islandwide backbone network capable of transmitting existing and emerging media such as ADSL, broadband, PSTN and wireless networks.
• Ensure cheaper bandwidth costs to make access more affordable
• Require the building of new highspeed loop facilities
• Institute regulations to require the unbundling of local loop facilities to provide wider access to cable programmes landing in Jamaica for licensed operators.

13.4 Enforcing commitment to increase number of fixed lines
Contrary to the commitment made in 2002 to provide 200,000 additional fixed lines, the number of such lines has, in fact, decreased from 434,772 to 342,500.We will ensure that this commitment is fulfilled.
13.5 Universal service and greater access
Ensure the provision of universal service through the islandwide backbone network in order to significantly increase internet penetration from 40% (currently) to 75% within 5 years.
13.6 Universal Access Fund
Ensure strict management and accountability of the Universal Access Fund which will be used to finance the crucial e-learning component of the Education Transformation Programme.

 

Expansion of the mining sector

The mining sector remains critical to economic growth, employment and foreign exchange earnings.

Our Pledge
14.1 Expansion of Jamalco
Seek to re-energize the stalled plans for the expansion of the Jamalco alumina plant at Halse Hall.
14.2 Strategic partnership with Trinidad for producing aluminum
Seek to establish a strategic partnership with Trinidad to process alumina into aluminum at the smelter which it proposes to build in joint venture with Sural of Venezuela. Trinidad has
expressed a willingness to offer the Jamaican government a part of its 60% shareholding in the venture.
14.3 New investment in non-bauxite minerals
Seek to attract new investment in the extraction and processing of non-bauxite minerals such as gypsum, limestone aggregates and their derivatives.
14.4 Environmental management of mining and processing operations
Establish and vigorously enforce new regulations for the control of chemical and dust emissions from mining and processing operations and ensure adequate protection and compensation for persons who may be adversely affected.
14.5 Better treatment for mined-out lands

• Apply stricter measures to ensure that mined-out lands are optimally restored.
• The Capital Development Fund will be dedicated to the redevelopment of those communities that have been dislocated and disfigured by mining activities.

 

Placing the construction industry on a better footing

We recognize the critical importance of the construction industry as a major source of employment (110,000 in 2006) and a significant contributor to the economy (10.1% of GDP in 2006).
The construction industry will also play a crucial role in the investment and job-creation drive that we have identified as the major focus of our plans to accelerate economic growth since new investments invariable require industrial, commercial and residential space.

Our Pledge
15.1 Equal opportunity for local contractors and construction professionals in the award of contracts

• Ensure that local contractors an construction professionals are given the same opportunities as foreign companies in consideration for the award of public sector contracts.
• Vigorously enforce the provisions of the Architects Registration Act and Professional Engineers Registration Act which stipulate the conditions under which foreign professionals are permitted to be engaged in local projects in order to protect the integrity of the local professions and ensure that they are held responsible for the quality of the work they perform.

15.2 One-stop shop for planning and building plans

• Promulgate a National Building Code and the appropriate Development Orders to regulate land use and development, planning and building activities throughout the island.
• Establish one single authority with representatives of all relevant agencies including local government authorities to be responsible for evaluating planning and building plans.
• Shift the burden of responsibility from the developer seeking approval to the authority registering objections. Any developer against whose plan the authority has not registered an objection within 90 days will be entitled to proceed with the development.
• Provide an adequate cadre of building inspectors to ensure timely inspection and the required certification of development stages.
• Impose severe sanctions against those who undertake projects without reference to the authority, against the objection of the authority, in violation of the Building Code
  or any Development Order or contrary to the design and technical specifications that were presented and against which no objection was registered.
• Make provision that individual buildings below a specified size may be constructed without reference to the regulatory authority provided the technical specifications
  and construction are certified by a registered architect who shall be responsible for ensuring their compliance with the Building Code and any applicable Development Order.

15.3 Ensuring greater integrity in the awarding of government contracts
Amend the Contractor General’s Act to:

• give legal force to the contract award procedures by including them as a schedule to the Act;
• provide criminal penalties for breaches of the contract award procedures;
• render null and void and unenforceable contracts that have not been certified as compliant with the contract award procedures;
• disqualify from future consideration for the award of contracts, those contractors who secure contracts by corrupt means;
• require that variations and escalations beyond a specified limit must be approved by the same authority which approved the original contract.

15.4 Periodic review of the National Register of Contractors
The National Contracts Commission will be required to undertake a periodic review of the register of contractors based on current capability and past performance.
15.5 Penalties and incentives for contract performance
Strictly enforce the penalties provided for delays in the completion of contracts. We will also provide incentives for early satisfactory completion.

 

 

EDUCATION & JOB CREATION

Education – the key to growth and development

Education is the single most important factor in building a platform for economic development and social stability. It determines the quality of our human capital, our level of productivity and competitiveness, and our ability to attract the investments we need to transform our economy, reduce poverty and build prosperity.
We regard education as a fundamental human right. It must therefore be universally available and everyone must have equal access. It is the inescapable duty of the government to provide the policy framework and facilities to achieve this.

Our Pledge
16.1 Improved parenting culture

• Promote, through the health and children’s services and in collaboration with community organizations, better parenting techniques, greater awareness of the potential of the child and its nutritional and emotional needs and better preparation of its capabilities for the formal learning process.
• Promote the establishment of daycare centres independently operated, and at the workplace to ensure proper care of children of working parents.

16.2 Emphasis on early childhood education

• Commence primary school enrollment at age 5 instead of 6 years.
• Establish stand-alone infant schools and infant departments at selected primary schools to increase the availability of basic school places.
•  Provide grants to private basic schools to enable them to meet the minimum standards prescribed by the Early Childhood Act.
• Enforce maximum class size of 20 for all basic schools.
• Ensure at least one trained teacher in each basic school and Level 2 certification for other early childhood practitioners.

16.3 Improved school management

• Establish performance standards and targets for schools to include student performance as well as the operation and maintenance of school facilities.
• Provide training in management practices for school board members, principals and bursars and hold them accountable for the performance of schools.
• Eliminate the shift systems in all schools.
• Establish a system of zoning to determine the GSAT placement of students from primary to secondary schools.
• Regional education authorities will be required to monitor performance of each school and provide technical support including the provision of specialist teachers.
• Establish a National Schools Security Policy to be adopted and implemented by all schools to ensure the safety of students and staff and the protection of school property.
• Establish standardized electronic accounting and reporting system for all schools.
• Institute management information system to record, collate and analyze data on student performance.
• Performance of each student should be ranked against class, regional and national averages and should be reported annually to parents.
• Strengthen the support system available to each school through the increased involvement of PTAs, alumni, citizens association, student councils, etc.
• Encourage churches,NGOs and private sector entities to assume greater responsibility for the management of individual schools.

16.4 Teacher performance

• Accelerate programme of upgrading of teacher skills to Bachelor of Education level.
• Significantly increase specialist training and the provision of Master Teachers in Mathematics and English.
• Institute a performance-based remuneration component for teachers determined on the basis of improvement in student performance.
• Establish a system of licensing and certification of teachers to be renewed every 5 years.
• Employ retired teachers of excellence on contract.

16.5 Student performance

• Establish compulsory school attendance for all children between the ages of 3 and 18.
• Abolish tuition fees at governmentoperated secondary schools.
• Strengthen the student assessment process supported by remedial programmes to ensure that students attain minimum proficiency standards before advancing to higher
  grades.
• Employ trained remediation specialists for remedial programmes.
• Identify children with special needs and provide required support.
• Introduce character education courses commencing at Grade 4 and culminating in certification at CXC level to instill values and attitudes appropriate to national development.

16.6 Improved lesson delivery

• Review and update curriculum at all grade levels and constantly evaluate its impact on student performance.
• Expand internet access to primary and secondary schools as a critical learning tool.
• Focus e-learning project on providing standardized distance lessons in critical subjects to support classroom lesson delivery.
• Institute homework programme in after-school hours supervised by teachers (with special remuneration) and NYS workers.

16.7 Health and nutritional support

• Conduct health screening at entry point for basic, primary and secondary schools to identify any factor that might impair learning ability.
• Collaborate with health services to provide periodic dental, optical and hearing examinations and treatment.
• Identify children in need of special nutritional support and provide appropriate response, e.g. breakfast programmes.

16.8 Extend school-leaving age
Extend the school-leaving age from 16 to 18 by: increasing the number ofschools in strategic locations offering Grades 12 and 13 (6th Form) integrating Grade 11 school-leavers into other education and training opportunities (tertiary, HEART, vocational and apprenticeship programmes, etc.)
16.9 Expanding school capacity

• Upgrade and expand existing schools to standards required for the Education Transformation Programme.
• Develop a 5-year capital expenditure programme to construct new primary and secondary schools to meet current and anticipated demand and to achieve the desired class sizes.
• Establish on a regional basis schools with special emphasis on Arts and Sciences for children with exceptional talent or proficiency in these disciplines.
•  Establish strategically located schools at primary and secondary levels for highly gifted children and provide boarding facilities or grants for those who live beyond commutable distances.

16.10 Financing the Education Transformation Programme

• Increase the budgetary allocation to education by 1% per annum to a level of 15%.
• Reallocate budgetary resources to increase the expenditure per student at basic, primary and secondary levels.
• Issue government-guaranteed Education Bonds to significantly increase the loan amounts available to tertiary students through the Student Loan Bureau at reduced interest rates subsidized by annual budgetary provisions.
• Dedicate proceeds of Diaspora Bond floated among the Jamaican Diaspora.
• Negotiate long-term concessionary loans from multilateral agencies (World Bank, IDB, CDB and European Union)

 

Creating a productive workforce

Our most important factor of production is our human capital.....our people.They contribute significantly to the productive process and are direct beneficiaries of that process.
A trained and motivated workforce is an essential component of our strategy for investment, growth and job creation. It runs a crucial leg in the relay to achieve the world-class competitiveness on which our future rests.

Our Pledge
17.1 Education and training
Implement policies as outlined in Section 16 to ensure a well-educated and skilled workforce.
17.2 Labour market reform

• Vigorously uphold the right of workers to representation and collective bargaining.
• Conclude, in collaboration with employers and workers organizations, the deliberations on labour.market reform to ensure that our workforce and labour market practices are able to meet the challenges of new, technology-driven investments.
• Provide through the HEART Trust grants to facilitate institutional and on- the-job training of workers to upgrade their skills and improve productivity levels.

17.3 Improved conciliation machinery

• Promote in strategic sectors agreements similar to the MOU within the bauxite sector to establish competitiveness- enhancing measures and ensure that workers share in the gains from improved productivity and efficiency.
• Increase the number of trained conciliation officers to enable speedier intervention in industrial disputes.
• Improve the facilities at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal.
• Strengthen the facilities for protecting the rights of non-unionized workers.

17.4 Improved labour market information

• Improve the Labour Market Information System to provide more information on the characteristics of and developments within the labour market and encourage greater use as a Labour Exchange.
• Institute an annual survey to measure and report on labour productivity.

17.5 Modernize regulatory mechanisms
Review and modernize regulatory mechanism dealing with the workplace environment such as occupational safety, health and factories regulations.

 

 

CRIME PREVENTION, SECURITY & JUSTICE

Reducing crime – A national imperative

Making the nation safe and secure is our most urgent priority.Too much of our energy is being devoured by the ever-present fear for our own safety.The goals we outline in this Manifesto for economic growth and job creation can only be achieved if there is a drastic reduction in crime and a return to a peaceful, orderly society.

Our Pledge
18.1 Strengthening the capability of the Police Force

• Increase the strength of the Police Force to 12,000
• Launch an intensive recruitment drive especially among CXC graduates to bring complement to full establishment.
• Expand the Mobile Reserve and have contingents based at strategic locations across the island to more effectively respond to outbreaks of crime and violence.
• Provide special training in civilian law enforcement for members of the Jamaica Defence Force to better equip them to assist the Police when called upon and to be able to do so with full regard for the rights of citizens.
• Establish a cadre of Police Auxiliaries to undertake clerical, administrative and light-security duties at police stations to enable police personnel to concentrate on law enforcement
• Establish a Traffic Corps made up of civilians to relieve the Police of traffic duties and enable them to focus on law enforcement.
• Establish a Police Reserve similar to the JDF Reserve drawn from civilians whose character and suitability have been verified to assist the Police especially at the community level.
• Intensify the graduate entry and accelerated promotion programmes to improve the quality of management of the Force.
• Improve training in investigation techniques and crime scene management.
• Improve forensic capability by providing appropriate technology and training and recruiting the necessary expertise.
• Establish a National Intelligence Agency with appropriate technology and expertise to collate, analyze and disseminate intelligence data as a critical tool in the prevention and detection of crime and apprehension of criminals.Appropriate levels of intelligence information must be accessible online or by radio or telephone contact to police stations and mobile police.
• Establish a National Identification System to improve police surveillance and detection capabilities and protect law-abiding citizens.
• Design a 5-year programme for the rehabilitation of police stations islandwide.
• Make annual budgetary provisions for the timely replacement of police vehicles and equipment.
• Construct residential complexes at strategic locations for police personnel to ensure that they are within commutable distance of their station assignment.

18.2 Improved management and accountability

• Strengthen the powers of the Commissioner of Police to discipline (including dismiss) members of the Force to enable him or her to weed out corrupt and non-performing members and then hold him/her responsible for their conduct and performance. Provision will be made for appeals to the Police Service Commission against the decisions of the Commissioner of Police.
• Restructure the Police Public Complaints Authority into an independent investigative authority to investigate all cases of police abuse or excess.The PPCA will refer matters as it deems fit to the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Commissioner of Police for appropriate action and will be required to report annually to Parliament.
• The Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission will be required to report twice per year to Parliament on the management and operations of the Police Force.
• Strengthen the human rights component of the curriculum of the Police Academy to ensure that police graduates are sensitized to their duty to respect the rights of citizens and are fully aware that they will be held responsible for their actions.
• Provide more intensive on-duty supervision of new recruits to ensure that their conduct conforms to the training received.

18.3 Transforming political garrisons

• Enact into law the relevant provisions of the Code of Political Conduct with appropriate criminal penalties.
• Amend Section 40(2)(g) of the Constitution to include provision that any person convicted under the above enactment will be auto-matically disqualified for such time, as determined by the Court, from contesting any election or continuing to hold any elected office.
• The Political Ombudsman will be required to monitor the conduct and activities of political representatives especially in garrison constituencies and report to Parliament. He will also be entitled to refer any matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
• Any report made to Parliament by the Political Ombudsman which reflects negatively on the conduct of any elected official may constitute grounds for impeachment and removal from office.
• Contractors to be registered with the National Contracts Commission will be required to produce satisfactory criminal records. Contractors who engage subcontractors with criminal records involving conviction for gun- related or violent crime will be removed from the register of contractors.

18.4 Detection of illegal guns
Increase surveillance at our ports of entry and along our coastline to detect and stop the inflow of illegal guns. Research being undertaken in the United Kingdom is well-advanced in developing a portable device capable of detecting concealed weapons. The research project is expected to be completed by December 2008. If it proves successful,we will employ this technology on a large scale to enable the Police to more effectively recover illegal guns.
18.5 Building community support for law enforcement

• Intensify programme of community policing to build strategic partnerships between communities and the Police in ridding the communities of crime.
• Prioritize crime-affected communities for targeted inner-city renewal projects as a critical support measure to reduce crime and enhance law enforcement measures.
• Establish a Police Cadet Corps to enlist young potential community leaders to strengthen the alliance between the Police and the communities.
• Strengthen the current initiatives to promote conflict resolution by the provision of increased training and opportunities.
• Re-energize the Neighbourhood Watch and Police Youth Club programmes to mobilize communities against criminal activity.

 

Healing our ailing justice system

The justice system is indispensable to a free and democratic society. It is the ultimate source of protection of the rights of the citizen, holding the scales between one citizen and another and between the citizen and the State. How efficiently and fairly it functions defines the quality of our democracy and, indeed, the quality of our lives.
Our justice system is creaking from years of neglect resulting in a pile-up of more than 400,000 cases. Poor physical facilities, shortage of personnel and archaic judicial and administrative procedures have rendered our justice system an obstacle – not a facilitator
– to our development.We are committed to changing that.

Our Pledge
19.1 Commitment to Justice Reform Programme
We are committed to a 10 year Justice Reform Programme supported by the necessary policy decisions and allocation of resources as recommended by the Jamaica Justice System Reform Task Force.
19.2 Use of technology for speedier disposal of cases

• Provide computer-based audio and text recording in the Appeal Court, Supreme Court and all Resident Magistrates Court to facilitate realtime production of testimonies and submissions.
• Provide for computerization of and online access to transcripts, notes of evidence and judgements.
• Expand the Justice Training Institute to train existing Court staff and as well as those required to operate new procedures.

19.3 Rehabilitation and modernization of Court Houses
Establish a 5-year programme for the rehabilitation and modernization of all Court Houses to better accommodate the case load and the introduction of the appropriate technology.
19.4 Better utilization of Court facilities and elimination of case backlog

• Improve the utilization of court facilities by having Courts operate two shifts where necessary and sit for more days where possible and necessary.
• Increase the number of Family Courts to facilitate greater access and allow for sittings to be held at locations which do not carry a “court house” atmosphere.
• Establish special Courts to deal with cases involving domestic violence.
• Increase the number of Resident Magistrates, prosecutors and Court staff
• Recruit on a temporary basis from among retired judges and the private Bar persons to serve as Resident Magistrates and prosecutors to assist in disposal of the huge backlog of cases in the RM Courts.

19.5 Better management of cases

• Introduce an efficient case management system in RM Courts to track and expedite the trial of cases or, where possible, refer for mediation.
• Require that objective timelines be set for the various stages and eventual disposal of each case with the ultimate aim being to have cases disposed of within 6 months.

19.6 Better provision for witnesses

• Provide better facilities for witnesses to attend Court
• Expand the Witness Protection Programme
• Increase the number of shelters for victims of domestic violence especially women and children.

19.7 Improved jury selection

• Improve the jury selection process by providing better facilities and remuneration.
• Launch a public education programme to sensitize the public as to the critical importance of jury service to the justice system.

19.8 Law Reform

• Establish a Permanent Law Reform Commission to conduct a review existing statutes and make recommendations for changes.
• Repeal offences that are no longer necessary or appropriate.
• Enact the necessary amendment to make certain minor crimes ticketing offences.

19.9 Review of Court jurisdictions
Review and restructure the existing jurisdiction of the Lay Magistrate’s Court, the RM Court and the Supreme Court to achieve optimal allocation of responsibilities consistent with the required level of jurisprudence.
19.10 Appointment of Judges

• Increase the number of Judges of the Appeal Court from 7 to 11 and appoint additional Judges of the Supreme Court
• Provide a more transparent process for the appointment of Judges

19.11 Constitutional protection and security of tenure for Resident Magistrates
Amend the Constitution to recognize Resident Magistrates as part of the judiciary and provide them security of tenure in furtherance of the principle of the independence of the judiciary.
19.12 Restorative Justice
Enact the necessary legislation to enable Courts to order convicted persons to compensate victims who have suffered personal loss or damage as a result of the offence.
19.13 Community Justice Tribunals
Establish Community Justice Tribunals to be conducted by Justices of the Peace to resolve disputes between citizens that do not involve criminal offences, and which are heard with the consent of the disputing parties. Settlements agreed on would be enforceable by the Courts.
19.14 Judgement debts owed by the government
Enact provisions to make it a statutory requirement similar to provisions for payment of public debt, for the government to pay to a citizen such amounts as have been ordered by the Courts.

 

Transforming our prisons into rehabilitation centres

Prisons ought to be more than places of punishment.They must serve to rehabilitate offenders who will someday return to society to live among us.The reform of our prison system is critical in establishing a safe and peaceful society.

20.1 Increase prison capacity
Construct a new modern prison facility to ease the severe overcrowding existing at the Tower Street and St. Catherine Adult Correction Centres which currently house 75% more prisoners than they were designed to accommodate.
20.2 Comprehensive programme of rehabilitation

• Establish a full-time multi-grade school at Tower Street and St. Catherine Adult Correction Centres to upgrade the academic skills of all inmates who have not achieved Grade 9 certification.
• Assess the skills possessed by inmates and devise work programmesto utilize these skills with a stipend being paid to purchase approved personal items and accumulate
  savings to be paid over at time of release.
• Unskilled, low-risk inmates will be deployed on public works projects, e.g. drain cleaning, under supervision of the JDF.

20.3 Increased use of non-custodial sentences
Courts will be urged to increase the use of non-custodial sentences for convicted persons who have no record of violent crime or behaviour. Sentences should include engagement on public works projects.
20.4 Enforcement of discipline
Stricter measures will be enforced to prevent indiscipline and the abuse of inmates.
20.5 Adequate counseling for inmates

• Provision will be made in collaboration with Churches and NGOs for adequate counseling services to assist inmates to prepare themselves to return to society as reformed, productive citizens.
• Non-denominational Church services will be encouraged as a means of assisting in the rehabilitation process.

20.6 Parole and furlough decisions to be informed by assessment of progress toward rehabilitation
Care will be taken to ensure that parole and furlough decisions are based on an objective assessment of the inmate’s progress toward rehabilitation
20.7 Mentally-ill inmates
Special facilities to be provided at the Bellevue Hospital for mentally-ill inmates.

 

 

PUBLIC UTILITIES & DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Our plans for the transportation sector

The transportation system is an integral part of any strategy for economic growth to ensure efficient movement of people and cargo over land, air and sea.

Our Pledge
21.1 Rationalizing the public transportation system

• Review the financial and operational performance of the JUTC and restructure the company to operate efficiently with a capped subsidy based on an assessment of its relationship with other forms of urban transportation.
• Establish a proper organization structure for the operation of route taxis by: 
  •  declaring an amnesty period for all unlicensed taxi operators to apply for registration;
  • implementing a system of colour coding of taxis based on assigned routes;
  • simplifying the procedures forrenewal of licences;
  • monitoring the operation of taxis
    to ensure compliance21.2 Rural and long-distance transportation

 21.2 Rural and long-distance transportation
Rationalize the licensing of buses, minibuses and taxis for rural and long- distance routes to ensure the appropriate mix of vehicle types and sizes.
21.3 New transportation centres

• Establish properly regulated transport centres in all major towns 21.4 Restore the railway service Pursue negotiations with potential investors to establish a modern rail
  service on the existing rail network for passengers and freight.
• Railway stations to be developed as commercial centres as part of the revenue stream to lower passenger fares.
• Renegotiate the terms of the contract with the operators of Highway 2000 to allow an extension of rail service into Portmore.

21.5 Rationalization of freight haulage
Use tariff measures and appropriate incentives to encourage investors to establish major warehouse and redistribution centres at strategic locations to facilitate the haulage of goods to these centres by rail and sea in order to relieve congestion on major thoroughfares.
21.6 Airport development

• Pursue negotiations with private investors to establish a new airport at Vernamfield as an air transshipment hub as well as a third international airport to serve the midisland with a link to the new rail service.
• Establish a new domestic aerodrome at Caymanas in close proximity to the Portmore toll road to replace Tinson Pen.
• Develop the Ken Jones aerodrome as an international airport to accommodate private and mid-sizecommercial jets.
• Upgrade the Boscobel and Negril aerodromes for domestic flights.

21.7 Making Air Jamaica viable

• Pursue negotiations for an equity partnership with a suitable international airline to revitalize Air Jamaica and to integrate it within a wider network of destinations and connections.
• The government would retain part ownership of Air Jamaica which would retain its name and its unique Jamaican characteristics and would continue to serve the routes that are significant to local travelers, tourism and the Jamaican Diaspora.

21.8 Development of our sea ports
Support the proposed establishment by private investors of a new major port and commercial and industrial complex at Port Esquivel.

 

Improving the road network

Jamaica has one of the highest road densities in the world with over 4 km per square mile.Two-thirds of these are parochial roads serving deep rural communities. We need new highways to facilitate current traffic realities and stimulate new investment and development. However, a long-term programme to ensure proper maintenance and upgrading of the existing network must also be given priority.

22.1 Single Road Authority

• Restructure the National Works Agency as a service provider with technical responsibility for all roads.
• Local Government Authorities will retain jurisdiction for parochial and urban roads and will authorize works to be carried out under the supervision of the NWA.

22.2 National Road Improvement and Maintenance Programme (RIMP)

• Establish a National Road Improvement and Maintenance Programme to provide three levels of treatment for the road network:
  • Routine maintenance: Cleaning of drains and patching of surfaces
  • Periodic maintenance: Resurfacing and construction of drains
  • Major Improvement: Reconstruction and widening
• Reintroduce the “lengthman” programme under which local citizens are trained and engaged to carry out routine maintenance on assigned sections of road.
• Establish a timeline for periodic maintenance of each road based on technical assessment.
• Identify roads for major improvement based on technical assessment, traffic volume and economic benefits.

22.3 Expanded highway network

• Construct new highway from Clarendon Park to Trinity to connect with the Melrose By-Pass.
• Construct new by-pass roads for Montego Bay and Santa Cruz.
• Upgrade and widen the following roads:
  • Stony Hill to Agualta Vale
  • Harbour View to Hector’s River
  • Port Antonio to Hector’s River
  • Middle Quarters through Newmarket and Montpelier to Montego Bay
  • Ferris through Ramble to Montpelier

22.4 Major expressway for the Corporate Area
Update engineering studies of the road network and traffic flow to determine the most feasible way to provide an expressway to relieve traffic congestion in the Corporate Area. Current options are:

• strategic flyovers at congested intersections
• a beltway around the city
• a suspended road along the Sandy Gully channel

22.5 Axle-load control

• Rigidly enforce axle-load control to prevent the overloading of trucks and trailers which do significant damage to road surfaces.
• Operationalize existing and install new weigh stations at strategic locations to be manned by the Traffic Corps to support the axle load control programme.

22.6 National drainage system

• Commission a detailed islandwide study of our drains and waterways with a view to establishing a national grid for the proper disposal of surface and flood waters.
• Develop a 10 year programme involving new construction and upgrading of existing drains to be integrated into the national grid.
• Developers will be required to make adequate provisions for the disposal of surface water into the national grid.
• Special engineering solutions will be designed to mitigate flooding in known, flood prone areas.

22.7 Improved facilities for pedestrians
Develop a 10 year programme to construct and repair sidewalks on heavily trafficked roads in our cities and towns.
22.8 Coordination of road-related activities with utility companies

• Ensure long-term planning and regular consultation between the NWA and utility companies to synchronize where possible development works and ensure that newly constructed or repaired road surfaces are not disturbed by utility works.
• Require utility companies to deposit with the NWA funds for the restoration of road surfaces disturbed by utility works.

 

Responding to natural disasters

Jamaica is vulnerable to natural disasters and appropriate systems must be maintained to enable us to mitigate the effects of these disasters when they occur and provide the appropriate response in terms of relief and restoration.

Our Pledge
23.1 Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance
We support and will maintain coverage under the new Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility to provide immediate compensation based on the category of a disaster event without requiring detailed assessment of losses sustained.
23.2 Annual assessment and mitigation for flood prone areas
Assessment will be conducted in the first quarter of each year of the vulnerability of known flood-prone areas to determine what precautionary measures are required. The relevant works will be carried out as a priority in the second quarter.
23.3 Budgetary contingency for disasters
Provide a contingency in the Budget specifically for use in the event of a disaster.
23.4 Availability of relief supplies

• Establish warehouses at JDF establishments in Montego Bay, Mandeville, Moneague and Port Maria to store relief supplies for rapid distribution when disaster strikes.
• Liaise with local suppliers to ensure adequate stocks of relief supplies during the hurricane season.
• Identify and establish standby arrangements with nearby overseas suppliers to source additional supplies as may be required.

23.5 Overseas assistance

• Establish long-term arrangements with donor countries including direct contact with the relevant agencies to expeditiously access assistance after a disaster strikes.
• Put in place a structured arrangement through our missions overseas to coordinate donations made by Jamaican's in the Diaspora.

23.6 Availability of equipment and manpower

• Maintain a register of contractors and equipment that will be available to respond to disasters.
• Maintain an adequate supply of Bailey bridges for temporary replacement of bridges that may be destroyed in a disaster.

23.7 Mobilization of the citizenry

• Mobilize uniformed groups such as the Cadet Corps, Boys Scouts, Girls Guides, etc. to play a critical role in disaster response.
• Recruit disaster response liaisons at the community level to assist in information flow and the mobilizing of the community in times of disaster.

 

Water, indeed, is life

Jamaica, although named for its wood and water, faces significant shortage in the delivery of water.Approximately 60% of the rural population do not have access to piped water in their homes.Twenty-three percent (23%) of these depend on rainwater collected from the roofs of their houses and are left to suffer in times of drought.
The current unsatisfied demand for domestic water is approximately 32 million gallons per day and it is estimated that by 2015 an additional 103 million gallons per day will be required.The agriculture sector currently needs an additional 44 million gallons per day with an additional 370 million gallons per day anticipated by 2015.
Most alarming is the fact that approximately 50% of the domestic water currently being harnessed is lost to leakage.This means that customers are paying twice as much as they should for the water they consume.
A concerted effort to improve the management and increase the supply and distribution of water is required to facilitate development and improve living standards.

Our Pledge
24.1 Assessment of available water resources

• Assess the available water resources in our hydrological basins to identify future water projects to meet current and anticipated water needs.
• Identify small water sources in rural areas that can sustain localized water harvesting and distribution.

24.2 New water supply projects

• Implement new water supply projects prioritized on the basis of areas of greatest need.
• Increase storage capacity in major urban centres to sustain supplies during periods of low inflow.
• Develop special Rural Water Supply Programme to harness small streams, rivers and springs to supply isolated communities.
• Establish desalination plants in coastal areas from which communities without alternative sources can be served.

24.3 Water conservation and management

• Carry out an intensive and on-going programme of leak detection and repair to reduce pipeline losses.
• Remove duties on water-saving devices to encourage more efficient use of water.
• Include in National Building Code requirements that will result in more efficient use of water.
• Ensure careful management of water resources to reduce pollution and protect aquifer levels.

24.4 Irrigation

• Encourage more efficient use of irrigation water through the application of appropriate technology.
• Augment irrigation water sources with high-level treated effluent from the Soapberry treatment facility.

24.5 Sewerage collection
Extend central sewerage collection and treatment services in major urban centres with high population densities in order to protect water sources and coastal waters.

 

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT & THE ENVIRONMENT
Local government must be local and governmental

We are committed to the Local Government system. Local government plays an important role in giving the people more interaction with their elected representatives and greater involvement in the process of government. It allows more focused management of the delivery of critical services thereby leaving central government to concentrate on national development and enables local decision-making to determine and apply appropriate weight to local priorities. Additionally, it facilitates the decentralization of government functions and authority and ensures that this devolution is to a democratically elected body directly answerable to the people. The JLP strategy for local government will be based on four principles:

• Effecting a clear separation of functions between central and local governments and according to local government full financial and jurisdictional autonomy in recognition
  of the fact that it is directly elected by the people and directly accountable to them.
• Institutional capacity strengthening to ensure effective management and accountability in the delivery of services.

Our Pledge25.1 Local Government Reform

• Give constitutional status to the Local Government system.
• Clearly define the functions of Local Government and separate them from control or interference by Central Government.
• Provide a statutory guarantee for funding of Local Government authorities which must be remitted directly to them on the basis of monthly warrants.
• Consolidate as far as possible the various statutes in which Local Government powers reside into a single Act.
• Provide a fixed term of 3 years which cannot be manipulated by Central Government.
• Amend the Counties and Parishes Act to separate Portmore from St. Catherine and make it the 15th parish.
• Abolish the power of Local Government authorities to expel a member and replace it with the power to suspend for a maximum prescribed period.

25.2 Institutional capacity

• Amalgamate the Municipal and Parish Council Services Commissions.
• Upgrade staff levels in the Local Government authorities to improve capabilities in General Management, Technical Services, Financial Administration, Audit and Community Relations.
• Each Council to have Standing Committees dealing with relevant subject areas.

25.3 Accountability

• Procurement of goods & services will be subject to the regulations and oversight of the National Contracts Commission
• Provide for mandatory preparation, presentation and approval of budgets
• Enforce strict procedures for the certification and authorization of expenditure
• Require monthly presentation and examination of statements of expenditure.
• Require monthly presentation of contracts awarded
• External audit functions will be retained by Auditor-General
• PAC-type audit committee will conduct review of expenditure
• Decisions of Councils will be subject to judicial review
• Permanent Salaries Review Board will be established to determine salaries and allowances of Councillors

  

A clean, safe, productive and sustainable environment

Our environment impacts on our quality of life and the sustainability of our natural resources. How we manage that environment determines our prospects for sustainable development and long-term prosperity.

Our Pledge
26.1 National Environmental Authority

• Establish a stand-alone National Environmental Authority with statutory powers to protect the environment and regulate activities that impact thereon.
• Review, update and consolidate existing statutes relating to the regulation of the environment.

26.2 Sustainable development

• Set and enforce standards governing land use, water quality and the utilization of water, air quality, emissions, sanitation and solid waste management and the protection of marine and coastal resources.
• Promote environmental protectionpolicies including the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
• Conduct environmental audits.
• Protect Jamaica’s wildlife especially its endemic species and develop a recovery plan for endangered species.
• Ensure compliance with our obligations under the UN Convention on Climate Change.

26.3 Public awareness
Introduce environmental studies into the high school curriculum. Maintain public education programmes to encourage environmentally-friendly practices in everyday living.
26.4 Solid waste management

• Relocate the Riverton Landfill to eliminate the pollution of nearby residential communities.
• Improve the volume of garbage collected (currently estimated at 70%) as well as the frequency of collection.
• Use tariff measures to encourage the use of degradable material in packaging.
• Provide incentives for households and industrial and commercial enterprises to sort garbage before collection.
• Strictly enforce laws and regulations relating to illegal dumping and littering.
• Establish through private sector investment one or more sorting, recycling and biomass gasification plants to extract recyclable material and convert the residue into electricity.
• Develop and promote communitybased solid waste management systems for rural areas.
• Establish port facilities for the disposal of ship-generated waste as is required by the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
• Establish special facilities for the disposal of medical and hazardous waste as well as tyres and batteries.

 

 

HEALTHCARE & HOUSING

Unrestricted, universal access to healthcare

We are irrevocably committed to the view that it is the duty of the government to provide unrestricted access to basic health services including primary health care, emergency services, out-patient treatment, diagnostic procedures, surgical operations, hospitalization,
dialysis, radiological services and in-patient medication and supplies. It will be made one of the highest priorities of our government.
At the same time, we must strive to modernize our healthcare infrastructure, recognizing that proper medical facilities, technology and research can contribute immensely to keeping our population healthy and productive.

Our Pledge
27.1 More intensive public health management

• Improve sanitation, waste management and public health practices to minimize the risk of outbreak of communicable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, leptospirosis, etc
• Intensify public education programmes to reduce the incidence of lifestyle-related illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS and encourage early detection and treatment.
• Strengthen the surveillance and response capability of public health agencies.
• Intensify immunization programmes to achieve a minimum of 95% coverage within 5 years.
• Re-energize the Family Planning Programme to encourage responsible parenthood and vigorously promote birth control options.

27.2 HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment

Intensify the multi-sectoral response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic to encourage preventive measures, reduce the spread of the disease and offer appropriate treatment for infected persons.
Expand public education and sensitization programmes to encourage responsible sexual behaviour and regular testing as well as changing public attitudes and eliminating the stigma and discrimination associated with persons with HIV/AIDS.
Pursue initiatives to ensure more affordable access to essential medication.
Collaborate with NGOs to expand the facilities for residential care of HIV/AIDS patients.27.3 Improved primary health care delivery

• Re-establish mobile clinics for preventive screening and basic treatment of chronic illnesses in rural areas.
• Upgrade strategically located health centres to improve primary health care delivery including assessment and initial treatment of chronic illnesses thereby reducing the case load of hospitals.
• Improve system of referrals to rationalize the utilization of primary vs secondary health facilities.
• Increase the cadre of community health aides to expand primary health coverage.

27.4 Expand the Emergency Medical Services
Strengthen the Emergency Medical Services and provide specially trained medical technicians to handle trauma cases and critical illnesses with realtime communication with emergency centres.
27.5 Free public hospital care
Abolish user charges at all public health facilities including public hospitals.
27.6 Financing the public health system

• Preserve normal budgetary provisions for the health sector and gradually increase the percentage allocation as fiscal circumstances permit.
• Increase significantly the inflows into the National Health Fund (NHF) by allocating to it a portion of the aggregate wage-related statutory deductions as well as surcharge revenues from medical tourism facilities (explained further) to assist in defraying the cost of hospital services delivery.
• NHF will make monthly payments to each public hospital calculated on the basis of the number of patients and type of service delivered.
• NHF will continue to provide existing individual and institutional benefits from its traditional sources of funding.

27.7 Improved health facilities

• Upgrade the Spanish Town, Mandeville and St.Ann’s Bay hospitals to Type A level providing specialist services similar to those offered at University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston Public Hospital and Cornwall Regional Hospital.
• Upgrade parish hospitals to Type B level offering the four basic specialties: Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medicine and Paediatrics.
• Expand the range of specialist services for children at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital including dialysis.
• Upgrade Bellevue to a neuro-psychiatric institution with specially designed wards for secondary mental care networked with an islandwide community mental health programme.
• Establish well-equipped diagnostic and treatment centres at UHWI, KPH, CRH, Spanish Town, Mandeville and St. Ann’s Bay Hospitals to provide laboratory, radiology, ultrasound, radiotherapy and dialysis services.

27.8 Pursue exciting opportunities in health tourism

• Provide appropriate incentives and regulatory and legal framework to attract health care entrepreneurs to invest in the establishment of stateof- the-art medical facilities in Jamaica for clinical and surgical treatment of foreign patients, taking advantage of: the rapidly growing global market (estimated at US$40 billion) for outsourcing medical treatment in view of the high cost and long delays at North American institutions; Jamaica’s suitability given our proximity to the United States, language compatibility and tropical climate. Jamaica’s well-established brand name as an internationally- preferred destination.
• Apply a surcharge on treatment costs to be paid into the NHF to help finance and expand public hospital services.

27.9 Telemedicine technologies
Establish an information technology platform to support telemedicine technologies for long-distance, real-time consultation between our major medical centres and rural hospitals and facilities in order to extend expertise and specialist services.
27.10 Centres of Excellence

• Develop private/public sector partnerships to establish Centres of Excellence,each dedicated to a particular specialty of medicine to become world-class treatment centres attracting patients from overseas.
• Establish negotiated group rates for the referral of patients from public hospitals.

27.11 Availability of medical personnel

• Expand the training of medical personnel in short supply, especially nurses, specialist nurses, radiographers and medical technologists, and offer improved remuneration and conditions of service to ensure adequate retention to meet required staff levels.
• Intensify t