“PNP…. PROGRESSIVE, STRONG AND READY!”
MAIN ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC SESSION OF THE THE 73RD ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
by the
PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE‟S NATIONAL PARTY THE MOST HONOURABLE PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 NATIONAL ARENA
Introduction, Salutations and Theme
Let the words of my mouth And the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight O’ Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Mr. Chairman, Former Party Leader and Prime Minister, we are honoured and proud that you are here today. Premier McPaver Bush and his delegation from the Cayman Island, Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps, President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Party Officers, Members of Parliament, Senators, Councillors, President of the PNP Women‟s Movement, President of the PNP YO, President of the NWU, PNP stalwarts and workers gathered here in the National Arena for the public session of the People‟s National Party‟s 73rd annual conference.... I greet you and the thousands and thousands who are outside of the National Arena today. I say a special word of welcome to those Jamaicans who have joined us from their homes and their communities via radio and television. To the children watching us from their homes, I say, your names are written across our hearts. I also greet our family members from the Diaspora, near and far, who are watching and listening to us on the internet. I want to thank Comrade Pamela Redwood and the young people who formed the guard of honour to get me through the thousands outside without much delay. Thank you. I also wish to welcome so many of you who voted for the JLP in the last election, that are here with us today.
„PNP River come down bank to bank‟! This year, the river has overflowed its banks. This is a PNP Ocean! Look at the National Arena today! Look at the grounds of Independence Park and beyond today! Thank you Comrades. To the thousands of young people here today, thank you for your support. My Comrades, my fellow Jamaicans, your presence in your thousands confirms, as the theme of our conference says, our People‟s National Party is progressive, it is strong, it is READY!!! Let me invite our newest candidate for the People‟s National Party Lloyd B. Smith to join me at the podium as I present one who is no stranger to you and no stranger to the political arena and who will represent the Party and the people of Central St. James. I could not address conference today and not congratulate our Sportsmen and Sportswomen for representing our country with excellence in Korea. Congratulations. Comrades, We meet at a time when we have almost come to the end of the year designated by the United Nations as the International Year of People of African Descent. I am demanding that the appropriate recognition still be given to this special year. It is a shame and a disgrace that so little has been done by the JLP Government to commemorate this very important year. The year will soon end, and we have not heard one „peep‟ about appropriate celebrations of this most significant year. Not even a church service? The government has remained particularly silent. In fact, their silence is deafening. Why? Is it that this government is afraid of celebrating the People of African descent that makes up the majority of our population?
Perhaps it is the same reason why we have not heard any calls for the investigation of companies who are depending on „colourfication‟ rather than qualifications to determine who they do or do not employ. I want to make it clear that I love and respect all races, all classes and all persons. I am guided by the principles of our Party going back to our founding fathers and mothers and in keeping with our national motto out of many one people.
We recall very well the charge of our founding father, Norman Washington Manley. He told us that whilst we are a multi-class Party with a place for every Jamaican, regardless of class colour, race or religion. He stressed that our primary responsibility is to the socio-economic elevation of the most vulnerable amongst us. Today we honour the memory of Norman Washington Manley.
Sir Howard Cooke Howard Cooke is the last surviving member of the founding group of the PNP which was convened in 1938.
I wish to pay special tribute to our former Governor General on this, the 73rd anniversary of the launch of the Party. His role in the formation and development of this party is invaluable. Sir Howard and Lady Cooke, the People‟s National Party salute you. Comrades, what a four years we have had! It has been the most miserable four years many of us have ever endured! Your overwhelming presence here today is a clear demonstration that you are determined to put an end to the reign of this wicked, uncaring and incompetent government.
Your presence here today sends a clear signal that you have had enough of the suffering, the pain, the anguish and the shame. Now, we have no more time to waste. No more time to spend on this dithering government. It is time to take the firm decisions necessary to rescue our country and restore the hope. This, as they say, is crunch time: At this time, my focus is on the people of Jamaica. Not just some of the people, but all the people. The PNP‟s focus is on building partnerships to transform this nation. Our attention is focused on inspiring hope and restoring trust. We are focused on building this nation and engendering growth and development. There is not a moment to spare.
THE WAY FORWARD
My Comrades and fellow Jamaicans, I could spend hours telling you about this uncaring government….but you already know that! I could spend the whole week telling you about the incompetence, missteps and mismanagement of this government….but you already know that! I could spend months telling you about this government‟s web of deception and corruption…. But you already know that! (Music.ELI.) The truth is, this country has moved past this government. The polls have said it. But even more importantly, you hear it everywhere you go. The people are saying enough is enough!
Thanks to the People
I can still remember the faces of the many thousands, who greeted us on the Bus Tour. I want to thank you all for coming out. They came out of their homes and cheered us on; The thousands who spoke with us at our divisional and constituency conferences; Those who sent us their letters. Again we thank you. To those who called in to the radio programmes; Those who have commented on the blogs, on Facebook and on Twitter. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your presence has made us strong. The people are waiting and hoping for the moment they can make their choice, the right choice; the choice that is progressive, honest, stable, and strong. The clock is ticking. It may seem long but it will not be too long now. When that day comes, the Jamaican people will be placing their votes in the column of the People‟s National Party. There is an urgency in the air. The people are ready for action. Comrades, action is now required as we see the international economic systems shudder and shake. The Eurozone has major economic challenges. The United States is still having its fair share. Now, right now, we need to be forward thinking. We need to draw on the expertise of our nation‟s brightest, best and most experienced to project and forecast how the international tremors will affect us. There can be no doubt, our own economic foundations have been rocked. But Jamaica‟s economic circumstances have been made worse by the ineptitude of this government. The economic indicators tell the story. Unemployment in 2007 was at 9.6% it is now 13%. Poverty has risen sharply from 9.8% when we left it, to 20% . Doubled!
Exports are down from US$2.8 billion in 2007. It was US$1.3 billion last year. Consumer Confidence has plummeted Foreign Direct Investment has collapsed from $US1.7 billion in 2007 to $US201 million last year. We have to determine how to address the predicament that this government has got us into. We cannot wait. We do not have a moment to spare. So Comrades, today I will outline a few proposals to address some of the immediate challenges faced by our people. These are the actions the Peoples National Party proposes for immediate implementation. To solve the challenges in this country requires a short term National Intervention Programme to „NIP‟ the difficulties we face “in the bud”. It also requires a longer term Platform for Sustained Growth and Development. The two must work together. Implementation and action must be the focus of these programmes. In the first instance, my government would approach the IMF to redesign and re-craft the standby agreement. The new agreement should include a number of new important programmes for social and economic development, which I will share with you now.
1.
The National Intervention Programme (NIP).
Comrades, the first programme that the PNP is proposing is a National Intervention Programme. The first element of this programme addresses the most pressing challenge facing our country, and that is unemployment. The JLP government would love to keep it a secret that almost 100,000 persons have lost their jobs over the four years that the JLP has been in power. While they fiddle and fumble there have been rapid increases in:
Unemployment among young people Unemployment among women Unemployment among the unskilled Unemployment among graduates of secondary and tertiary institutions. Comrades, you know the importance of having a job. Jobs are avenues out of poverty. Being gainfully employed gives people a sense of independence. It provides security for families and communities. Having, „a work‟, as we say, provides each individual with the resources necessary to generate economic activity. This benefits the entire society. Getting a job when they had none, restores a person‟s hope, it brings back a family‟s dignity and uplifts an entire community. It increases their confidence. Employed persons are less likely to be involved in deviant behaviour and criminal activities.
A job can be one of the best forms of family planning. Employment engenders better relationships. That is why we are proposing that a comprehensive emergency employment programme be implemented with immediate effect. We have called it the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). We will implement the JEEP. When we do this we will be able to drive the country to economic development and prosperity.
Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP)
Through JEEP the PNP has identified opportunities for job and wealth creation in the immediate term, the mid-term and in the long term. Through JEEP, we will move the Jamaican people from welfare to well-being and from wellbeing to wealth creation. At the core of JEEP is the plan to teach persons to fish, rather than giving them a fish. This is what our Progressive Agenda is all about. JEEP will be developed around six main areas: 1.
Agro-processing
2.
Cultural and creative industries, including sports
3.
Micro and Small Businesses Development, in particular developing niche sectors.
4.
Manufacturing
5.
Community Transformation Projects
6.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
The elements of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme include:
A deepened and strengthened public/private sector partnership geared at job creation. Providing funding for micro and small business development; with equity – funds to help new businesses achieve financial sustainability. At that point the owners can buy back the shares at the original price. Economic Stimulus Loans (ESLs) for which the Financial Institutions would receive tax incentives. Small Business Loan Guarantees.
A tax exemption for new investments which create jobs, regardless of the sector of the economy. We need to move away from incentives which distort investment decisions and create an unlevel playing field. A five-year tax holiday for all start-up business to encourage entrepreneurship. Strengthening small business incubators to increase support to micro and small businesses. Ensuring the provision of funding for the National Export Strategy. Comrades, imagine if most companies added one job to the economy? Imagine what that would mean for employment, sales and tax revenue! The question of funding will be raised. This is about priorities. What is the priority of this government? We need to decide whether we prioritize production and exports or consumption and imports. We know what our priorities are! Our government would put the people to work, grow the economy, improve our standard of living and reduce the national debt. At the centre of our plan is consultation, partnership and dialogue as our progressive agenda dictates.
We would: Consult, not insult Dialogue not monologue Engage, not enrage This is a fundamental difference between a People‟s National Party Government and this particular government that is now in office. This is a national call to action.
This is the most important national project that everyone in this nation – big business, small business, medium sized business, workers, trade unions, NGO‟s, professionals and churches must participate in. This is partnership at work. JEEP will be a focus of Parliament – all ideas must contend. JEEP must be a primary focus of our workers representatives. This must be a primary focus of our employers JEEP must be the primary focus of all our people at this time. It is not about photo opportunities. It is about real work and real transformation. When we transform people‟s lives we are transforming the country for the better. We know this can be done. There is no challenge so difficult that together as a people, we Jamaicans cannot surmount. But ‘They canna crass it but we can cross it’
i.
Audio Visual Intervention Scheme (AVIS)
Comrades, I want to share some specifics with you on JEEP. Here is an example of one particular project the Audio Visual Intervention Scheme (AVIS). This single project has been designed to: Create employment across a wide spectrum of skills and industries; and Address social challenges like education, lifestyle choices and community development, that we face as a Nation. How many of you were shocked by the amount of money you had to spend buying the long list of books for your children this year?
How many of you could afford to give your children everything they needed for school? Our spokesman on education, Rev. Thwaites, spoke out about this. He suggested a plan to use the broadcast media, radio and television, to present information from the curricula for students to listen to and to watch. This is an excellent idea. Through AVIS, our children will have access to innovative and interesting ways of learning. AVIS will also be used to stimulate our audio-visual production industry. AVIS will be a public/private sector partnership. Through this programme: Corporate entities will be given incentives for funding the production of educational programmes through their marketing and promotion budgets. Micro, small and medium sized production houses would design and produce the educational programmes. Our actors, actresses, soundtrack developers, producers, graphic artists, technicians and other creative and cultural practitioners would be put to work. This will also facilitate the training of inner city youth, rural youth and recent graduates who must be employed to the production teams. These graduates will receive basic training through the CPTC. What is needed is the will to implement this programme. I have the will. Here is the way. We already have the resources through existing state agencies to implement the programme. The human resources already exist. The equipment already exists, the talent already exists and the ideas already exist. We will put them all to work. You can trust Portia.
Information and Communication Technology Projects
Another part of the JEEP Programme is Information and Communication Technology Projects. Sadly, having lost 4,000 jobs in the ICT sector since 2007, my government will have to recover the ground and unleash the potential that we always knew the sector had.
We will provide over one million square feet of office space for ICT businesses, using development funds from the PetroCaribe Fund. The private sector will also receive incentives to provide “plug and play� office space solutions to emerging entrepreneurs. My government will utilize its unused fibre optics capacity to generate lower telecom rates. We will provide inexpensive broadband telecommunications to entrepreneurs who specialize in providing ICT jobs for persons with disabilities. We will provide free broadband to businesses that will employ exclusively persons with disabilities. That is progressive! ii.
Agro Processing Initiative
Another example of how employment can be created in the short and medium term, is through agro-processing. The fruits and vegetables we grow in Jamaica must not be allowed to go to waste. We must put our people to work to add value to them. We can dry them, candy them, can them, and use the by-products in many innovative ways. In 2007 the Brazilian government agreed to assist in training and providing technical assistance in this area.
My government will revisit those discussions. While we are creating jobs for people we must diversify into vibrant new industries to strengthen and transform our economy. We can use our plants and herbs to create neutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Simply put, we can heal our economy while helping to heal the world.
These are a few projects that can be immediately implemented. Comrades, we have to be bold. We have to be innovative. We have to look for new ways of doing things. As a people, we must believe in our capacity for greatness. We must believe we have the solutions. Because we do!
We are the sons and daughters of kings and queens: of Garvey, of Nanny, of Bustamante, of Manley, of Paul Bogle, of Sam Sharpe and of Gordon. We are a resilient, courageous, enterprising people. There is no problem that is too great for us to solve. The greatest challenge that our people ever faced was slavery.
Our forefathers and mothers fought that challenge successfully and now we are free to create a brighter future for ourselves. High levels of unemployment are challenges that we must and can surmount. We have done it before, we can do it again.
Remember Comrades, in 2007
unemployment was at its lowest level ever in the history of this country. This was done under our watch. We can do it again.
We have spoken about those who are unemployed.
We have examined what needs to be done
to address those problems in the short term through JEEP. However, there are those among us, members of the working and middle classes, who already have jobs. Comrades, even with their jobs, many of these persons are becoming „the new poor‟. They too are worse off than they were four years ago. A number of them are one event away from bankruptcy. The wages of many have been frozen and the cost of living keeps rising, sky high. Many young professionals, middle class and working families are losing their houses because they can‟t keep up with their mortgages payments. A number of them are losing their cars. Many cannot assist with taking care of their elderly parents.
Right now many parents still cannot buy the full set of books required by their children or pay the auxiliary fees.
They cannot afford their health care and medication. As the party of Norman Manley we have a responsibility to ensure that those senior citizens, in need of care, who are living on their own .
A number of University students cannot pay their fees because their parents lost their jobs. Yes, we have the Students Loan Bureau. Yet, a number of students cannot find guarantors, so they cannot access the loans
They can barely their own daily transportation.
They cannot meet their credit card payments. They are afraid to even answer their phones, in case it is someone they owe.
Under this government businesses that thrived under our government are closing. JoJo‟s Green Grocers, Akbar restaurant, Lerner Shop has closed 11 branches, Mac‟s Chop House, Super Plus, you name them.
Comrades, Labour is just not working. Labour has not been good for some businesses. As we say, this is a government for the chosen few. The people in pain that we are speaking about are ambitious people. These are hardworking, dedicated employees and business owners. All they want is to get ahead. They are willing to work long and hard to achieve their goals. Four years ago they were experiencing upward social mobility.
Now, four years later, they are being embarrassed, stressed, oppressed and under duress. They are suffering the indignity of poverty, and have been left behind as a result to this uncaring government. Up to 2007, they were rising up. Rather than the poor rising to become middle class, many in the middle class are sliding into poverty.
But I say to them don‟t worry. Help is on the way. The Clock is ticking. Not long from now, the PNP will return to power. My fellow Jamaicans, this Government has failed to publich the poverty figures on an annual basis. We did it. Why can‟t they.
Are they trying to hide the fact that last year, the PIOJ estimated that 20% of the population was below the poverty line. That means that the number of persons below the poverty line had doubled in the first 3 years of this Administration. As I have said When we left office in 2007, poverty was below 10%. Comrades, that means that twice as many Jamaicans have fallen below the poverty line since 2007. It saddens me to think of Jamaicans who are hungry. For many more people, eating a single meal in any given day is a chance occurrence. Many of our people go to bed at night, not knowing were their next meal is coming from. For many no one knows the pain they bear. They are simply „hugging upâ€&#x; their hunger because of their innate pride. I see them every day. I read their letters. I listen to their stories. It is heartbreaking. As Bob Andy sang: I was drawn into myself Observing all this time From every angle I could see My people, you're meeting hell If we say that there is no challenge we cannot meet as a people.... If we say that there is no hurdle we cannot overcome.... If we say that there is no river we cannot cross... If we say these things then.... .... we can together, come up with a plan to alleviate the stress, strain and anxiety of our young professionals, youth and the working poor; the Private Sector, the Public Sector, the Professional Organisations; the NGOs, the Workers Representatives. solutions to the problems our people face.
We must all sit together to find
A Platform for Growth and Development
Comrades, if the pain and anguish of our people is to be ultimately relieved, we must grow the economy in the short, medium and long term. That is what we were doing during our 18 years in office. In the 18 years, we had 15 years of growth. In 2006 the economy grew by 3.5 percent. The economy was growing as we reduced unemployment. The economy was growing as we were building highways, hotels, seaports, and airports. The economy was growing as we built the transport centre. The economy was growing as we built the alternative energy sector. The economy was growing as we were building schools. The economy was growing as we were building houses. The economy was growing as the small business sector expanded. The JLP promised that they could do better.
Instead they failed to grow the economy for thirteen consecutive quarters. That is three years and three months of no growth. Comrades, we in the PNP are conscious of the global recession. But which other country in the Caribbean has suffered 13 consecutive quarters without growth? None! Many have even continued to grow. Guyana has grown; Cuba has grown, The Dominican Republic has grown
Trinidad and Tobago has grown Barbados has grown So, why did this government fail for so long? One of the most important issues to stimulate growth is addressing our energy problems.
a.
Sustainable Energy Programme
Comrades, one of the primary obstacles to growth is the cost of energy. Businesses are closing because of the high cost of electricity. To address this critical issue, we will establish the National Energy Council. Through the council we will develop and implement comprehensive Energy Policy. These include addressing alternative energy, energy conservation, and energy coordination.
Special incentives will be offered to small business to enable the establishment of assembly plants to produce renewable energy equipment. The PNP will be implementing of a massive project to create jobs in the Oleo chemical or biodiesel industry. Thousands of acres of marginal agricultural lands will be identified and offered to the private sector and farmers – big and small to grow oil-producing crops, including palm oil.
A special processing facility will be established to manufacture bio-diesel fuel for industrial and commercial use.
b.
Programme for Culture, Arts, Recreation and Education (C.A.R.E.).
Another long term, growth inducing proposal I made earlier this year, was the establishment of a programme for Culture, Arts, Recreation and Education (C.A.R.E.). Comrades, the C.AR.E. programme will be implemented. It will not only create employment, it will educate and train our citizens, giving them confidence independence and self actualization.
C.A.R.E. will transform our communities. C.A.R.E will build the partnerships between various stakeholders. C.A.R.E. is a realistic solution. C.A.R.E. will protect our children.
C.A.R.E is what I mean when I say in the Progressive Agenda, transforming Inner-city communities into Winner-cities.
An extensive, concentrated, rural development programme will be a part of C.A.R.E.
Our government will be formulating a serious development plan that includes:
The building of a first class first world, sports complex.
This would feature a number of sporting disciplines, on the lands surrounding the Trelawney stadium for sports tourism.
And we will be building a first world first class cultural and performing arts centre.
A residential training facility in traditional and non-traditional skills and a compulsory second language programme as part of this programme.
My government will be building a Children‟s Hospital in Western Jamaica.
My government will be making plans to build health tourism facilities. We have already identified two areas of focus for this project.
A beautification and community enhancement programme.
Committing to guarantee small and micro businesses, 15% participation in all government contracts for goods and services.
And so many more:
These are transformative and progressive ideas which are part of the Progressive Agenda. It was launched on the birth day of National Hero the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey August 18 this year. The Progressive Agenda represents the unbreakable chain of transformative and progressive ideas that has always been the hallmark of the People‟s National Party. Comrades, we welcome participation and even criticism of the Progressive Agenda. Of course, there are some naysayers, but that is PAR for the course.
When Norman Manley: Started the campaign to achieve Universal Adult Suffrage and the right to vote. Began the movement to end Colonial rule and establish Political Independence so that next year we can celebrate 50 years of our independence. When he articulated a vision for the Jamaican Economy that included the creation of Negril in Western Jamaica When he Built the National Stadium
And when he introduced the common entrance examination so that the children of the poor could be educated at the same schools as the children of the more affluent. He did this because he wanted to ensure that a child‟s circumstance of birth should not dictate the quality education that child receives. He was criticized for all of these programmes, but All of those were progressive ideas!
Michael Manley continued the unbreakable chain when he: Re-engineered the Legislative Framework for the Rights and Freedoms of all Jamaicans by enacting: The Status of Children Act The Maternity Leave with Pay Act The Equal Pay for Men and Women Act The Employment Termination and Redundancy Payment Act The Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act All of those were progressive ideas! The unbreakable chain was continued by P.J. Patterson.
He Re-engineered the Jamaican Economy through
The Information Technology Revolution The Tertiary Revolution; The Tourism Revolution; expanding the Jamaican Tourism Product to new markets in Western Europe and South America, The Infrastructure Revolution; Building highways and modernizing the health sector. He expand our air and sea ports and built news schools
Implemented the Education Transformation Programme
All of those were progressive ideas! Comrades, that unbreakable chain was continued when between 2006 and 2007 we: Introduced free health care for children zero to eighteen. Continued the building of inner city and sugar workers housing projects to provide dignity to our people. Reduced poverty to 9.8%, the lowest ever. Reduced unemployment to 9.6% Provided one billion dollars for small and micro businesses Made housing more affordable through a number of initiatives All of those were progressive ideas!
All of the Presidents of the People‟s National Party have accepted and proclaimed the importance of Progressive thinking. Progressive thinking is critical to the attainment of sustainable national economic and social development. Progressive ideas and progressive thinking remains a part of the DNA of the People‟s National Party. Comrades, this DNA does not mean „Driva Not Available”!
Comrades despite all the efforts we have made to keep this country going forward, the last four years has seen significant declines in the fortunes of the Jamaican people both economically and socially.
It is not surprising therefore that the majority of the people have concluded that this Government has failed. It is not just that they failed once, they keep failing. They fail and then they lie. And they fail and they lie again. The only thing they have not failed to do is to lie.
JDIP As an example of their failings, let us look at the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme: The country has heard from Dr. Davies about the lack of transparency accountability and equity in relation to the JDIP. This is a US400 million dollar programme. That is $J34 billion dollars.
Comrades, and my fellow Jamaicans, we initiated the loan from China. We in the PNP support a Road Development Programme. We started it. We believe that all Jamaicans must have good roads. What we do not support is for the money to be spent in the way it is being spent by this Government. We remind the government that it is all the tax payers of Jamaica who will repay this loan. The Peopleâ€&#x;s National Party does not intend to watch the victimization of half of the Jamaican people.
In addition, structures must be built into the programme to ensure transparency and accountability, that is value for money.
We cannot afford to waste scarce resources by deliberately contrived practices. These totally defy acceptable procurement standards. What is happening now is a shame on the government. We call on the Government to choose to do the right thing, even at this late stage. Let equity, transparency and fairness prevail. That is what we will do with it – soon and very soon. We take note that even among them there are those who have describe the programme as a „sham and a scamâ€&#x;.
I.M.F. Fiasco
Comrades, another sham and scam is what is happening with the IMF agreement. Until now, we have not been told the truth about the December 2010 Test. We have not been told the truth about the March 2011 Test. And we have not been told the truth about the June 2011 Test. Now we are holding our breath collectively about the targets to be passed in September 2011. The only test they can pass is the test for being the worst Government in the history of Jamaica.
Before we left the IMF in the 1990s, we had passed 12 tests in a row under the stewardship of Comrade Dr Omar Davies! When we ceased to be borrowers from the IMF, they consistently endorsed our economic management. This government has stumbled after just one year of an IMF programme.
When we first asked them about the IMF reviews, they said we were irresponsible, unpatriotic and trying to derail the IMF programme. Now, they are confessing that there are problems.
Problems which they are now saying will be „sorted outâ€&#x; by the end of the year. Will this sorting out lead to more taxes? More wage freezes, more unemployment? Does that mean more price increases, more poverty and more hardship on the backs of the people? We want to know
The Case of the Missing Carpet and Chairs
The disappearance of three thousand chairs and seventy thousand square feet of carpet is shocking. Comrades, 70-thousand square feet of carpet is enough carpet to cover the national stadium football field almost two times! We want to know, how come this travesty was only brought to public attention after it was published in the media.
It was only then that we heard from the UDC. It was only then that we heard from the Prime Minister, under whose portfolio the UDC falls. It was only then that we heard from the National Solid Waste management Authority. I wish to commend the media house that broke this story. But what we need to know now is, was this a case of corruption in action?
Who is involved in this? It is a downright shame and disgrace. No amount of spinning can deny the fact that the carpet and the chairs went missing. Missing, like the five hundred truck loads of sand.
Missing like the taxes on energy drinks that the government has been collecting from December last year, but did not know they were collecting it. The people are fed up and tired of this bundling government. But I say to you do not despair, Help is on the way.
CONCLUSION:
Comrades, I invite you for a moment of reflection. Cast your mind back just one year when we gathered here in this very National Arena. At that time we reviewed the path we all had trod together thus far. We did everything we could to motivate each other to keep on the journey that had begun with the disappointment of four years before. It has indeed been a hard, steep course with many twists and turns. We have been there for each other every step of the way. We have lost some valuable soldiers. Some members of our valiant family could not make it all the way. Others stumbled and fell.
But Comrades, “we fall down, but we get up�! Each time one of our own stumbled, We helped them on their way,
We extended a hand of support and care, Because that is the Progressive way!
Last year we spoke of mountains and the long, hard treacherous climb. As I stood with you, I urged you Take it just one step at a time.
Today, again we gather And what a glorious day. I speak to you from the mountaintop Because we made it all the way!
Weâ€&#x;re standing on the mountain top And all that I can see, In any direction that I look, Is one great orange sea! Comrades, From where I stand, from my vantage point atop this mystical, magical mountain, this awesome pinnacle, when I look to my left, I see forests of orange. When I look to my right I see plains of orange; bright and vibrant orange, as far as the eye can see.
When I look behind me there are rivers of orange.
Those rivers are no longer winding, meandering streams. They are rushing like great tributaries, Comrades, now, we can say with full conviction, ’PNP rivers come down bank to bank’!!! When I look in front of me Comrades, tell me what I see? The streams of orange have converged into this massive Orange sea. Oh what a glorious sight to behold! This gleaming, vibrant orange, with strength and power untold, Has merged naturally and seamlessly, Into Jamaica‟s rich black, green and gold.
Comrades, friends, my brothers and sisters, Now that we are at this peak, there is no time to rest. Like the Maroons who went before us, we now have position ourselves strategically. We have readied ourselves for the battle OF our lives.
No comrades, like the Maroons who went before us, we have readied ourselves for the battle FOR our lives and for this country. We have readied ourselves for a valiant fight FOR our freedom. With this noble mandate, victory will surely be ours. It is just one year before we celebrate 50 years as an independent nation. Like our ancestors before us from Africa and Asia would, I call upon the spirit of our forebears who have fought for their own freedom and saw victory, to make us doubly strong.
Like our ancestors before us have, we whisper the names of those who fought for our rights, over time. The battle we fight in 2011 will be very different from the hard-fought fights of the 1830s, the 1930s and even the 1960s, 70â€&#x;s and 80s.
That is PROGRESS.
Because of our belief in our forebearsâ€&#x; fights for freedom we proudly call ourselves PROGRESSIVE!
For us, the participants in the latest round of Jamaican freedom fighting, there will be no sticks. There will be no stones, there will be no rifles. This will not be a battle with weapons. It will be a battle of wills. For us it will not be a battle characterized by violence. It will be a battle characterized by virtue and valiance. For us it will be a battle of peace and love. The winds of change are blowing They control the swaying of the trees and the currents of the seas. Comrades, tell me, Do you feel that rushing breeze? We will be carried by those winds to victory
Today my Comrades, I call you to action from our mountain top. The PNP is Progressive The PNP is strong And now, more than ever The PNP is ready for victory. My Comrades, My people, my people, my people, Hold the fort cause we are coming…Victory is nigh.
JAMAICA ARISE