One Year In Government - Prime Minister Andrew Holness

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• • gleanerjamaica • jamaicagleaner • FEATURE THE GLEANER, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 F8
Ministries propelling Gov’t’s growth agenda
ON MONDAY, March 7,
2016, Prime Minister
Andrew Holness announced
his new Cabinet, stressing that the
focus, direction and priority of the
new Government was to grow the
economy, create jobs and reduce
public debt to sustainable levels.
We now share some of the
achievements in year one.
OPM & Ministry of Economic Growth
Establishment of Economic Growth
Council
Increased investment from
international BPO firms
Increased National Housing Trust
(NHT) benefits
• Interest-free loans for persons
earning less than $12,000 per week;
reduction of interest rate from four per
cent to two per cent for contributors
earning between $12,001 and $20,000
per week; while persons earning between $20,001 and
$30,000 weekly are eligible for loans at four per cent,
down from six per cent
• NHT Home Grants programme has been adjusted so that
contributors who earn a maximum of $12,000 weekly can
apply for a grant of up to $1.5m up from $1.2m
• House lot loan now at $2 million up from $1.5 million
Improvements to roads and bridges (e.g., reconstruction of
the Marcus Garvey Drive)
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service
Record low inflation levels in 2016
Increase in employment
• Conversely, unemployment
declined to a five-year low of
12.6 per cent for the period.
Third quarter growth of 2.3
per cent was recorded for the
July to September period,
representing the highest out-turn
since 2007.
Improved international rating
• Jamaica’s sovereign senior unsecured and
provisional shelf rating was upgraded from CAA2 to
B3 by Moody’s Investors Service.
Phase one implementation of the new $1.5 million
income tax threshold on July 1.
Precautionary standby agreement negotiated
Ministry of Education, Youth and
Information
First Youth Advisory Council
launched
Auxiliary fees were abolished at
the secondary level
Funding to institutions increased
from $2.6 billion to $5.3 billion
47 schools were placed on the
Alternative Pathways to Secondary
Education
Early disbursement of subventions to schools
Ministry of National Security
Additional CCTVs installed
Additional police (497), soldiers
(199) and correctional officers
(143) were recruited
200 pre-owned vehicles
procured
Increased training for police and
Correctional Services personnel
Acquisition of patrol boats for the
Jamaica Defence Force
Ministry of Labour and Social Security
Increase in National Minimum Wage
and the Minimum Wage for
Industrial Security Guards
More than 2,000 students on
Programme of Advancement
Through Health and Education
(PATH) benefit from extension of
transport allowance
More than $3.8 billion provided to
PATH beneficiaries
Ministry of Tourism
Increase in visitor and stopover
arrivals
Approximately 2,400 new
hotel rooms were added
Jamaica copped nine
prestigious World Travel
Awards at the 23rd annual
presentations in Maldives.
Ministry of Transport and Mining
New state-of-the-art air traffic
control tower was constructed
Bauxite industry poised to
created thousands of jobs
MOU signed to resuscitate the
cargo and passenger rail service
Ministry of Health
Construction of new US$10-million
Children’s Heart Centre commenced
Fund established to provide
support for the families and
babies born with Zika-related
microcephaly. Initial amount
$50 million.
New policies introduced to make
the health sector more efficient
Ministry of Science, Energy and
Technology
Renewable energy plants were
commissioned
Resumption of net billing
Jamaica Open Data Portal
launched
Free Wi-Fi at Mandela Park and
Devon House
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Foreign Trade
The ministry facilitated speedy
resolution of immigration issues
between Jamaica and Trinidad and
Tobago
Bilateral agreement signed
between Jamaica and Panama for
cooperation in the areas of
commerce, tourism, logistics,
language training and civil aviation
Diaspora Task Force was established.
Ministry of Local Government and
Community Development
Enterprise team established to
manage waste to energy system as
well as to outsource solid waste
collection and solid waste
management
New fire trucks acquired
Upgrade of drop in centre on
Hanover Street in downtown Kingston
Renovation works done on Papine,
Ocho Rios, Santa Cruz, Buff Bay,
Clark’s Town markets.
Approximately 4,500 jobs were created at the
community level under Local Economic Development
Ministry of Justice
Video link technology installed at
the Half-Way Tree and Supreme
Courts to facilitate witnesses
who cannot physically be
present in the courtrooms
Number of judges in the
Court of Appeal increased from
seven to 12
Preliminary enquiries abolished
for serious offences such as
murder, rape and arson.
Ministry of Industry, Commerce,
Agriculture and Fisheries
Agriculture production accelerated
by 28 per cent for the July to
September quarter
Levy on each Conch Exports
reduced
National School Garden
programme relaunched
Ministry of Culture, Gender,
Entertainment and Sport
National Strategic Action Plan to
Eliminate Gender-Based
Violence was drafted.
Louise Bennett-Coverley
Archives launched
Special Incentive Plan
introduced to provide assistance
to athletes preparing for the
Olympics
PRIME MINISTER:
Andrew Holness
MINISTER:
Audley Shaw
MINISTER:
Robert
Montague
MINISTER:
Edmund Bartlett MINISTER:
Karl Samuda
MINISTER:
Andrew
Wheatley
MINISTER:
Delroy Chuck
MINISTER:
Olivia ‘Babsy’
Grange
MINISTER:
Shahine
Robinson
MINISTER:
Ruel Reid
MINISTER:
Mike Henry
MINISTER:
Kamina
Johnson-Smith
MINISTER:
Christopher
Tufton
MINISTER:
Desmond
McKenzie