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CONTRIBUTION TO THE ANNUAL SECTORAL DEBATE 1 Wednesday May 8, 2013 Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern “It’s My Responsibility” Achieving Rural Prosperity Salutations: Mr. Speaker, I continue to thank God for lending me breath each day as the yet unknown purpose that He has for me continues to unfold as His will be done.
Please allow me also to acknowledge the unending love and support of my family – some of who are present in the gallery and one who at ninety eight years of age still provides through the examples of her life - that stabilizing reservoir which helps me to take everything that happens on this job seriously and with great responsibility yet to take none of it personally.
I also continue to express my gratitude to the electors and people of North Eastern St. Elizabeth for their confidence, their commitment and their great patience and experiences which they have made available to me as I seek to be the best representative for them that I can be.

One of those constituents Mr. Speaker is the Honourable Roger Clarke CD in whose footsteps I walk and from whose fortress I am able to learn on the job.

Minister Clarke the value of your tutelage is priceless.
No doubt it was the unseen and powerful hand of the Almighty that ordained it so that I speak in this Debate right after the excellent presentation which you have delivered this afternoon.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 2 Indeed Mr. Speaker not only is the Member – now serving in Central Westmoreland – a tough act to follow – his unmistakable beacon from that lovely hill in North Eastern St. Elizabeth gives light and direction to my path as the current Member from that great and wonderful constituency.
Let me here publicly thank him for his contribution today as well as for the stellar service he has provided to the people of Jamaica and to the continued development of the Agricultural Sector.

A record so well secured over decades - that one leading newspaper (despite criticizing him so unfairly and so harshly at times) recently conceded that he was simply “irreplaceable”.

Teachers’ Day Mr. Speaker, I am honoured by the opportunity to contribute in the 2013 Sectoral Debate.
That I am making this contribution, on behalf of the people of North Eastern St. Elizabeth on the day being observed as Teachers’ Day compels me to honour all of Jamaica’s teachers now serving, those who have gone before us; and also acknowledge those who are at various levels in their studies – preparing to join such an important and noble profession.
None of us would be who we are – or where we are - had it not been for the tremendous investment that teachers have made in our own lives and by extension to this country.

Against this background and in recognition of Teachers’ Day – I pay homage to all the teachers whose patience, dedication, passion and talent have gone into making me the public servant that I am today and the better one I seek to become with each passing day.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern Mr. Speaker, that salute is shared equally by all who contributed to my education – which started at Miss Morgan’s backyard school when I was two and a half years old and which as a Commonwealth Scholar has taken me as far as incredible India and which continues today – even in this very Parliament where I am a work in progress.
3 From Miss Morgan, to the teachers at the Primary level, at my beloved Alma Mata St. George’s College, on through to the Professors who contended with me at the University of the West Indies and beyond to those who teach me even today I bid a heartfelt thank you.

Mr. Speaker, it is impossible and impractical to attempt to identify that one teacher who had the greatest impact on my life.

Yet, I dedicate this presentation to Miss Jane Lamont, my second form English Language teacher at St. George’s.
Beyond assisting me to better utilize this very strange and still foreign second language with which we continue to struggle in this country – Miss Lamont taught me to be patient and cautious in my writing and to be deliberate and economic in my expressions.

I share her citation with all the hard working teachers of Jamaica and especially to those at every level of the system in my beloved constituency of North Eastern St. Elizabeth.
A constituency which includes:  The Balaclava High School  The Sydney Pagon Agricultural High School and  The St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Three very different institutions peopled by excited students and staffed with enthusiastic and selfless teachers.

These schools and all the others are part of the engine of Human Development upon which the Constituency depends.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 4 RURAL DEVELOPMENT Mr. Speaker, in her fourth contribution to the Main Budget debate as Prime Minister; the member from South Western St. Andrew gave a comprehensive presentation which inspires my own.

I have heard her contribution of Tuesday April 30, described as a “tour de force” and included what has been the most substantial commitment to Rural Development by any Prime Minister for many years.
The Prime Minister – herself a public servant and teacher of unequalled renown declared that: “Rural Development is as important as urban development”.
She further acknowledged that:  Some of the worst areas of poverty exist in deep rural Jamaica  Within a broader conviction toward planned development; an “Integrated Plan for Rural Development” is to be developed  Rural Development “is not just about the expansion of agricultural enterprise” – though obviously this is a key component of the equation  The main emphases for Rural Development will be on the building of townships, establishment of business enterprises, provision of increased access to quality health and educational services, to water, roads, electricity, technology and the creation of opportunities for economic advancement for citizens in rural Jamaica  These will be delivered and made available where citizens of rural Jamaica need them most – right there in Rural Jamaica.
The Prime Minister also declared and I quote her directly now: “Mr.

Speaker, I will be establishing a Task Force on Rural Development to coordinate these developmental strategies” [END QUOTE] Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 5 The time line provided over which that Task Force would achieve its mission was three years – and the mission of the Task Force includes but is not limited to: 1.
Agro Parks to boost agricultural productivity and expand employment 2.

Agro-Industries for new product development, including neutraceuticals and other value added products 3.

Drought Mitigation 4.

Improvement of Farm Roads, (and road and drainage infrastructure) 5.

Community and Eco Tourism 6.

The establishment of additional ‘Community Access Points’ to provide increased access to the Internet and related services 7.

Access to affordable housing solutions 8.


Delivery of outstanding land titles 9. Business and Enterprise Development (Human Capital development) 10.

Access to utilities and related services (water, electricity, waste management and disposal) Surely Mr. Speaker, those of us, who like you spring from and represent Rural Constituencies, will recognize that such a template once implemented and achieved would lead to the eradication of Rural Poverty and the attainment of Rural Prosperity.
Mr. Speaker, through you to the Most Honourable Prime Minister I can declare that North Eastern St. Elizabeth shall be the living head quarters in which the commitment, investment and measurement of the success of your Rural Development Task Force can be realized.

In our communities Prime Minister, I will work tirelessly so that your vision will become manifest.
Today, and on every subsequent occasion when I report on the progress toward the achievement of Vision 2030 for North Eastern St. Elizabeth – I will report along those elements you have lain out in your Rural Development matrix.

Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 6 Year One Report Card Mr. Speaker, There are many reasons why I can make that declaration.
Among them is the empirical evidence that over the past fifteen months with the support of the Councillors and leadership team within North Eastern St. Elizabeth - we have been busily working on each element and the progress to date can be manifestly seen to have been done.

January 2012 to April 2013: Let me SUMMARIZE the points in the following score card.
Objective Outcome Means of Verification 1 Agro-Park 2 Agro-Industries/New product Development     Essex Valley Agro Complex Ground breaking, PPP including Trinidadian Sydney Pagon Agricultural High Investor and the JAS, Ministry of Education, School University of the West Indies and CDF Beekeeping Training and Expansion Training Programmes started in conjunction with Peanut Farmers Support the JAS, RADA, Ministry of Agriculture, Programme Culinary Arts Training Franciscan Ministries, Registration at RADA, 3 Drought and Disaster Mitigation Rehabilitation – of Watersheds and reforestation 4 Improvement of Farm Roads (minor/major roads and drainage) Programme  Farmers Support –   River Training Drain Cleaning  Water Trucking Refurbishing of Parish Tanks Removal of Pit Latrines Formation of JAS groups and Community development Committees, JSIF (REDI) Step 2 Work and CDF.
Heather Little White and Associates let me salute the shining memory of Dr. Heather Little White – teacher par excellence Started with excellent results under JEEP I and II, Road Maintenance Fund, Parish Council, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Land Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Transport and Works, JSIF and CDF Resurfacing/repairing/patching of Especial thanks to the buoyant support of the some 20,112 square meters Minister of Transport Works and Housing and to Cleaning of Drains to the extent of some 25,390.13 square meters Bushing – some 65,372 meters of roadways and overhang enhancing safety and aesthetics while also assisting vector control and public health Retaining walls some 283 cubic meters his Minister of State the member from North Western Clarendon, the NWA, JEEP, the Road Maintenance Fund, Sugar Transformation Unit and CDF       Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 7 5 Community and Eco- Tourism 6 Establishment of Community Access Points and related services 7 Access to affordable Housing Solutions               Brae’s River Community Tourism Tourism product development Company and the Project Franciscan Ministries and CDF Survey of Goshen Caves Jamaica Safari Appleton Tour Brae’s River Trail Community Tourism Officer assigned to South Coast Resort Board Brae’s River Homework Centre Ministry of Youth and Culture, Social Restoration of the Goshen Sports Development Commission, Sugar Complex and Community
 Centre Transformation Unit, Franciscan Ministries, Soon to be opened Youth Sports development Foundation and CDF Information Centre at the Santa Cruz Community Centre Computer Lab in Windsor and Thornton Elim Community Centre JEEP/Food for the Poor Ministry of Housing, JEEP, Food for the Poor, Expressions of Interest by Private Parish Council, NHT and CDF landowners and developers Planned Housing Development (discussions with NHT) Delivery of Outstanding LAMP, LAND, JSIF Ministry of Land LAMP Titling Ceremony April 26, 2012 and CDF 8 9 Land Titles Business Enterprise and Development (Human Capital Development) 10 Access to Utilities and related Services Environment and Climate Change          Tuition assistance Dr. Glenda Simms, Dispute Resolution Training programmes at the Foundation.
JAS, RADA, SDC, HEART Trust Community level Conflict and NTA and CDF Dispute Resolution Training and Intervention, Reproductive Health Training, Gender Training Better Parenting Seminar Netball, Cricket and Football Activities Expansion and improvement of NWC, REP, JPS, NSWMA, Parish Council, the Water Supply National Health Fund and the Minister and Regularization of Electricity supply Ministry of Health and CDF Solid Waste Removal and management Expansion of the Santa Cruz Health Centre Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern Mr. Speaker, we don’t only want to hear well said – we want to hear well done!
Or put another way Mr. Speaker – a manifesto must be supported by manifestations!

8 Mr. Speaker, these activities emerged from frequent consultation with members of the various communities who themselves are best able to describe the development and support they need for their communities.

I continue to credit them for their candid participation and guidance at these meetings.

Without their support and participation these emerging milestones would never have been achieved.
Participation and Ownership Let me go on to acknowledge that our development stakeholders have provided invaluable support to the emergence of the Constituency Development Strategy.
Those stakeholders include but are not limited to:  The Parish Development Committee  Various Community Development Committees of which five such as the Aberdeen and Windsor Development Committees are newly formed  Various Community Associations and Neighbourhood groups  The various Police Youth Clubs  The various Football, Netball and Cricket Clubs and quite importantly  The St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation (local and overseas branches) Mr. Speaker, one must always give credit where credit is due.
St. Elizabeth North Eastern and indeed the entire parish present an appropriate platform on which the Rural Development Taskforce can connect once it is up and running.

The reason for this is that we in St. Elizabeth with the support of the St. Elizabeth Homecoming Association already have a Development Strategy which articulates well with the one outlined by the Most Honourable Prime Minister.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern We also have a culture as Members of Parliament in St. Elizabeth to have collaborative discussions as to how each of us in our respective constituencies can contribute to the development of the entire parish in a synergistic way.
9 In this regard I place on public record that in January, under the auspices of the Constituency Development Fund all four Members from St. Elizabeth met to deliberate on how - learning from each other’s best practices – we would implement projects that have more direct and sustained impact on the development targets for the Parish.
Mr. Speaker, the template outlined by the Prime Minister suggests a clutch of Ministries and the associated agencies for which the Task Force will set out a coordinating mechanism that will make it easier for us as representatives to navigate the sometimes complex labyrinth of personalities, guidelines, lines of command, trails of correspondence and of course deference to titles, other preferences and if we are to be truthful Mr. Speaker mood swings and temperament.
It is the potential to cut through the hazards of this labyrinth which is both the pristine simplicity and the awesome mastery of the emphasis as outlined by the Prime Minister for a Rural Development Strategy.

There is beauty in simplicity!

Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 10 ACHIEVING RURAL PROSPERITY Mr. Speaker, the Jamaican truism applies.
“To be able fi dance abroad, you haffi can dance a yaad” To achieve success toward the coherent and planned development of the Constituency and to achieve Rural Prosperity the different programmes and projects which will be attempted and implemented must be properly sequenced for sustained impact.

We must therefore understand the dynamics and components of Rural Poverty and the important role that our rural women will have to play in replacing that poverty with prosperity.
Mr. Speaker let me swiftly outline the action oriented development model which we are pursuing in North Eastern St. Elizabeth and which I will submit for vetting and strengthening to the Rural Development Task Force once it is commissioned.

It is a model built on Coordination, Collaboration and Coherence.
Coordination, Collaboration and Coherence The process of serving rural communities across Jamaica involves the use of a dynamic system and calls for services and support from a variety of agencies and community organizations.

The multiple agency approach in its present form lack cohesiveness it is fragmented and results in duplication of purpose, waste of resources and therefore is inefficient.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern Smarter Interagency collaboration, a core principle in systems of care, focuses on bringing together and engaging critical stakeholders, such as: 11  The state  Our Farmers  Lobby Groups/ Organizations  Educational Institutions  NGOs  Political Representatives  Law Enforcement Officers And others in a coordinated and integrated effort to effectively serve the needs and provide appropriate services to rural communities!
It should be noted that in order to achieve strong interagency collaboration, communities should develop mechanisms (community Groups, CDC, JAS) that engage stakeholders and support their involvement in all aspects of the design, implementation, evaluation, and change of the service delivery system.

Every effort must be made in this collaboration to ensure that community-based organizations, faith based organizations and unattached residents are included.
In addition, effective interagency collaborations should be based on a shared vision, and common goals, in order to become mutually beneficial for the stakeholders.

Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern Furthermore, in order to effect the change that is required, stakeholders must always consider the social, economic and cultural forces that determine the interplay between supply of resources and production as well as consumption demand.
12 This intelligence will inform the degree to which and the types of institutional support that is needed, in what amounts and when.

Additionally, institutional support is an important element of sustainable development as it encourages the process of participation, reduces drudgery and provides the technological and extension service and training that is greatly needed.
This will ensure skill development to improve the capacity of the communities, develop infrastructure while improving social and physical amenities.

Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern In order to build and maintain interagency collaboration, a number of structures 13 and functions are useful.

They include: Governance Structures  Governance structures that focuses on visioning, strategic planning, policy and practice changes, monitoring, and financing.
While each community shapes its system of care differently, a governance or organizational structure must emerge to address these issues and clarify the roles of authority, responsibility, and mutual accountability.

Agreeing on core values, common goals, and strategic plans allows partners to develop a common language, appreciate the knowledge and experience of others, assume the best intentions, and respect diverse perspectives.
Mr. Speaker, in respect of this objective we support and endorse the blue print of the relationship between the Community Development Committees and the Parish Development Committees.
Indeed Mr. Speaker this outcome would be one of the best results of Local Government Reform Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern Management Structures 14  Management structures that promote interagency collaboration at administrative and frontline levels both within and between organizations.
At these levels, strategic plans are implemented, training and cross-training can be coordinated, and interagency protocols for information sharing and case management and coordination are established.

This also allows for smarter budgeting and resource allocation – so crucial within the Fiscal Constraints environment in which we must succeed.
Management and Evaluation Processes  Monitoring and evaluation processes that ensure partners receive regular and relevant information regarding the impact of their efforts.

This allows collaborative participants at governance, management, and practice levels to assess their effectiveness and adjust their plans based on outcomes.

 Communication that creates an open and credible process and identifies and addresses challenges to implement collaborative processes.
When collaborations develop clear and regular channels of communication at all levels, partners can exchange information, perceptions, and feedback, and work as a cohesive team.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern Mr. Speaker, toward this end I have reviewed the allocations in this year’s Estimates of Expenditure and I have found or rather, I submit that the resources to be provided to a slew of government Departments and Agencies will achieve better impact for each 15 dollar spent if this Model is attempted.
Agencies such as:  PATH through Step 2 Work  JSIF through the REDI  RADA through its extension services  The HEART Trust/NTA  The Sugar Transformation Unit  JEEP and the National Works Agency  NWC, Rural Water and the National Irrigation Commission All come to mind.
I have already met with or sent correspondences to each identifying the aspect of their mandates and monies which match the different components of the Rural Development Matrix and with specific plans and programmes to be implemented in North Eastern St. Elizabeth.

Mr. Speaker – we not into “nuh bat up and ketch” OR “nuh lick and miss” The country simply cannot afford any “guess and spell” when it comes to Rural Development.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 16 INCENTIVIZING RURAL PROSPERITY Mr. Speaker, across societies throughout the Globe, the priorities of governments can easily be extracted by a review of its Estimates of Expenditure, Structure of the state apparatus and its Legislative Reform Agenda.

It is through these parameters that onlookers and citizens alike can gauge the seriousness of an Administration’s commitment to do what it says it will do.
That was certainly the standard displayed by the Administration and the fixity of purpose applied to successful negotiating of the Extended Fund Facility with the International Monetary Fund.

That steely determination was illustrated in the gait, speech and actions of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

The Minister of Finance and the Public Service displayed the same conviction as he solidly and unceasingly pursued the prior actions which were all achieved and to whom commendations continue to be due.
So too Mr. Speaker, government must be prepared to put its might, mettle, muscle and money behind achieving Rural Prosperity.

There is already copious evidence that this government intends to do that.

The announcement in February by the Minister of Labour and Social Security of an aspect of JEEP – specifically designed for Rural Jamaica confirms this.
The outline of programmes for which funds are allocated in the Budget within that Ministry and others show that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet have embedded this commitment to Rural Development in the plans and strategies of the current Fiscal Year and beyond.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 17 Mr. Speaker this is also evident from the review of a clutch of Ministries which obviously suggest themselves as key components of any successful strategy to replace rural poverty with rural prosperity.
In addition to the Prime Minister’s task force and the Office of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance in his presentation during the main debate made central to his presentation the positioning of Agro Parks and the reduction of the food import bill as part of the macro-economic programme of work.

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries earlier today reinforced this commitment and provided further and specific details on exactly how those targets will be achieved.
Those ministries (OPM, Finance and the Public Service and Agriculture and Fisheries) are therefore at the nucleus of the Rural Development Imperative.
The other key Ministries from my reading of the landscape are: At Tier One:  Ministry of Land, Water, Environment and Climate Change  Ministry of Labour and Social Security  Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and the  Ministry of Investment, Industry and Commerce At Tier Two:  Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment and the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade And of course the Human Development Ministries of Education, Health as well as Youth and Culture permeate all aspects and programmes of government.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 18 The Task Force therefore must be able to distill all the relevant services and roles of these entities into one coordinated mechanism to Achieve Rural Prosperity.

It is to that mechanism that rural Members of Parliament and other stakeholders interested in Achieving Rural Prosperity must then refer and support.

Mr. Speaker, there is beauty, efficiency and success in simplicity.
This one need not be cumbersome and must rationalize and simplify the bureaucracy – it must not create a new super structure.

It is from that approach that we can achieve the following milestones toward Rural Prosperity: 1.

A smarter Waiver Policy that promotes Food Security and Import Substitution 2.

An intelligence driven market strategy where our suppliers/farmers meet the consumer half way.
The “eat what we grow and grow what we eat” campaign must become sensible to consumer trends or it will languish as a catchy slogan that will not derive the success that is required.

3.

Establishing a baseline of what among the items we import that constitute that One US Billion Dollars food import bill we can and will in fact substitute with targets determined for Year One, Three, five, Fifteen and so on.

4.
Providing that quality information to Agro-investors and Agro-entrepreneurs as to the specific incentives available to assist them in establishing and achieving profitable enterprises Establishment of a Rural Development Corporation Indeed Mr. Speaker, inherent in the Prime Minister’s presentation is a recognition that there has to be better coordination between and within state agencies with respect to the allocation of human, technical and financial resources to programmes for rural communities across Jamaica.
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern Mr. Speaker, there may be the need for a Rural Development Corporation and my experiences thus far would confirm that need.

This is why I applaud and anxiously await the establishment of the Rural Development Task Force and again I state that North Eastern St. Elizabeth stands ready to assist with its work.
19 ACHIEVING A RESPONSIBILITY CENTRED SOCIETY Mr. Speaker, when he closed the main debate, the Minister of Finance and the Public Service indicated that securing the IMF Agreement was:- “If anything - the end of the beginning!” [END QUOTE] What a curious – yet powerful phrase.

It too provided tremendous inspiration.

I think it applies beyond just the IMF Agreement, I think it is applicable to how we must see the conclusion of our first fifty years of Political Independence.
It appropriately encapsulates how we must see the next fifty years.

The first fifty years marked a time of establishing the Rights of the Jamaican Citizen.
It was typified by the struggles for:  Workers’ Rights  Women’s’ Rights  Children’s Rights  Religious Rights  Press Rights  Rights of unmarried spouses and the Rights of the children they bear and  The Freedoms which come with securing all these Rights Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 20 Having established Rights, the next great mystery was achieving Access to all these Rights and the services they required if we were to enjoy the freedoms they implied.
Yet somewhere in the great Rights, Freedoms and Access Debate something got lost in the translation and in the struggle.

Something was interrupted in the formation of a nation.

Mr. Speaker that lost something was “Responsibility”.

In my view, and as I conclude, Responsibility is the most essential component of the characteristics that the modern Jamaican Citizen must display so that we can attain Rural Prosperity on the way to National Development and Sustainable Economic Growth.
Taking Responsibility for the lives we lead and who we become will be key among the body of skills and credentials that the modern Jamaican will need; to be productive and to be constructive in the New Jamaican Economy.

.

And what of the Individual Responsibility that we each have to ourselves and our families, our communities and this country to ensure that we contribute to the solution and not create new problems or deepen the existing ones?

Who is that New Jamaican, how does she dress?


Does she crème her daughter’s hair from age five?

Who is that new Jamaican, how does he treat his spouse?

Does he shout at her with threats of physical violence and emotional abuse while his son forms the irresponsible opinion that – a so man fi angle up ooman?
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 21 Who is that new Jamaican, does he still enact laws by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, having prayed for Her happiness and Her’s alone, does he depend on airfare and visa to access the final appellate court of the land or does he tan pon di rock and mek the Court come to him?

Who are those new Jamaicans, how do they speak?


Do they embrace our vibrant native language, while we perfect the use of this strange foreign language which was bequeathed to us by colonizers (where Preachers preach and Teachers Teach but Preachers preached yet teachers taught), do they perfect emerging languages of trade, Sanskrit, Mandarin or Portuguese if you please?

Who are those new Jamaicans, how do they socialize?

Do they beat upon the vulnerable, the different, the seeming weak?
Fire bun, informa fi ded, politician a tief, what the “F” is the media bias – mo fia, mo death mo destruction?

Who are those new Jamaicans, are they still arrested for a spliff?

Life done cause bablyon stop the granpickney weh a carry di weed fi granny bwoil eh dung inna some good good J Wray and Nephew white rum?

Who are those new Jamaicans, are they still separatists?
Do they on the one hand call for the retention of a non transparent, inequitable Waivers regime, while on the other cuss and fuss that inner city Jamaicans will benefit from progressive policies supported by the NHT?

Claiming it’s a misuse of public funds for the latter but it is much fun for the right people when it comes to the former?
Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern 22 Mr. Speaker, members the unanswerable nature of these questions confirm that we are: “If anything - at the end of the beginning”!

It is my responsibility, our responsibility and your responsibility to ensure that not only do we begin with urgency to answer these fundamental questions but more importantly we begin a national campaign, call it the Responsibilities Campaign.
One that teaches each of us and all of us to understand that we are primarily responsible to take ourselves from welfare to well being and from well being to wealth creation.

That it is each of us who is responsible for the consequences of our reproductive behaviour and attitudes toward our leaders and our fellow citizens.

Let us achieve a society that celebrates and understands personal responsibility, parental responsibility, and institutional responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, while it is true that as a nation - if anything we are at the end of the beginning – I am at the end of this presentation.

Thank you.

Its My Responsibility: What is our national identity – to move us from welfare to wellbeing and from well being to wealth creation What are the skills, and credentials that that Jamaican needs circa 2030 and how do we retrofit our society’s development to achiee that At the basis of every market/society are two types of people – producers and consumers.
There are levels of producers and consumers – for Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern example consumers who use their consumption as part of the supply chain that adds innovations to upscale the product consumed.

23 Then there are avant garde producers who add new (innovations) to the mix These are the questions that sustain my mind and this presentation is designed to respond.
For example – the only way we are going to achieve the goals we deserved is to move our nation and this society from a rights based society (which depends entirely on access) to a responsibility based society where each of us understands that it is my responsibility to ensure that I become the best that we can be….

Attaining National Development through a responsibilities centred society – moving from access and rights to responsibilities 1.
Conlusion Contribution to the 2013 Sectoral Debate Raymond Pryce MP St. Elizabeth North Eastern