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Poverty to Prosperity
Budget Presentation
Gordon House March 19, 2015
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Conclusion
Mr. Speaker the labour Party is about moving Jamaicans from poverty to prosperity
Mr.
Speaker, in this Budget Debate, I focused on the development side of the growth question,
education, health, and national security. These are the real measures of improvement in
quality of life. There is a school of thought which says that we have to grow first and then
pay for education, health and national security.
Mr. Speaker, this is not the case. I have shown the example of Singapore and how they
used the social side to reinforce their economic development. The truth is that poor
education, crime and poor health are not just a symptom of low growth, they are also a
constraint on any policy towards growth, in the same as too much taxes becomes a
constraint on growth. We must transform our social sector in order to grow.
Mr. Speaker, as a country we have lost site of what defines us a people. We have lost hope,
to the point where don‟t encourage our children to dream. I want to return hope to
Jamaica. I want to make Jamaicans smile again.
I believe we can transform this country. Mr. Speaker the Minister of Finance once said in
lamenting the state of the country, that in Jamaica if you play be the rules you get shafted.
Minister, let us step up to the challenge and say to genetically connected thugs, it is not ok
to light the Riverton City Dump to “eat a food”. Mr. Speaker, let make Jamaica into a
country, that if you put in fair work you get out fair reward, where wealth equals work and
success equal sacrifice.