VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1
January 2013–March 2013
Stakeholders Finalize Draft MTF 2012 - 2015
O Inside this issue: Walking with the Angels
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Community Renewal Programme
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Tracking Our Progress 3 Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Competition Winners
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Kemesha is Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador
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Outreach ...
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Bite of the Quarter
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ver 100 representatives from key stakeholder groups joined the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) at the Medium Term SocioEconomic Policy Framework (MTF) 2012–2015 Review and Finalization Workshop on Friday February 15, 2013, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Chelsea Avenue, Kingston 5. The aim of the workshop was to provide critical feedback on the Draft MTF 2012-2015 to inform finalization and submission to Cabinet. It was the last to be held in the consultative and inclusive process of identifying the priority national outcomes, strategies, programmes and targets for the next three years of national development.
Vision 2030 Jamaica Programme Director, Mr. Richard Lumsden, speaking during the opening session of the workshop. At left is Deputy Director General, Sustainable Development & Social Planning, PIOJ, Ms. Claire Bernard.
editing, typesetting and printing is expected to be completed by April 2013 for distribution thereafter.
The National Vision Statement is:
Formulation of the MTF 2012 –2015 process began with the two-day Vision 2030 Jamaica Country Assessment and National Prioritization Workshop in April 2012. This was followed by a series of sectoral prioritization workshops.
“Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”
Participants in the overall finalization process Workshop participants in break-out groups according to c o m pr is e d National Outcomes. senior techVision 2030 Jamaica Secretari- nical officers from Ministries, at which is coordinating the Departments and Agencies finalization process. Production (MDAs), senior officers from of the document, including private sector organizations
Next Steps What’s Happening
DID YOU KNOW?
Feedback from the workshop and follow-up suggestions/ comments from stakeholders for improvement were incorporated into the document by the
including Small Business Association, International Development Partners (IDPs), and civil society groups, including: NGOs; Trade Unions; faith-based and community-based organizations; representatives of the Jamaican Diaspora and Returning Residents Foundations; and academia. MTF 2012-2015 is the second in the series of seven consecutive three-yearly MTFs for implementation of Vision 2030 Jamaica– National Development Plan.
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Vision 2030 Jamaica Update
January 2013–March 2013
Volume 6 No. 1
Walking with the Angels ...
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adian Christie, who worked with the PIOJ for almost four decades and joined the Plan Development Unit/Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat in 2010, made her transition on February 3, 2013, following a brief illness. An enthusiastic member of the Vision 2030 Jamaica Outreach team, Kadian used every opportunity to share the Plan with everyone, especially communities across Jamaica.
She was the first to hand out a brochure or a Popular Version to the youngest or oldest person. She took every opportunity to seek people out rather than wait for them to visit the Vision 2030 Jamaica booth whenever there was an outreach event in which the PIOJ/Vision 2030 Jamaica team was involved. We will miss you Kadian for the quiet and unassuming manner in which
Community Renewal Programme Update
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you executed your tasks and interacted with members of the Secretariat. Walk good our colleague and friend!
“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pike
the Jamaica Diaspora Institute (JDI), hosted a Youth Summit at the Mona School of Business, Lecture Theatre, UWI, Mona.
embers of the Community Renewal Programme (CRP) The Summit was a key activity under Secretariat, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), headed the Diaspora Youth Connect (DYC) by Programme Director (Actg.), Mr. Charles Clayton, took time out Project. The event brought together on February 27, 2013, to inform and educate staff of the Institute youth from eight at-risk communities under the project (August about the goals and objectives of the Community Renewal Programme (CRP), and prospects for the proposed Kingston Life- Town, Trench Town, Mountain View, Flankers, Rose and Farm Heights, Fletcher's Land, Tower Hill, Tivoli Gardens) and Majesty styles Centre (KLC). Gardens, which are all communities under the CRP. Highlights of the presentation were: a Case Study on the com- The Project, which is being implemented by the JDI in partnership munity of Majesty Gardens, the with the Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO), seeks to current pilot community for the leverage human and financial resources that are located in the CRP; and an overview of the Jamaican Diaspora. Activities are aimed at reducing poverty in KLC project which is a partnerthe target communities and providing youth with a pathway to ship initiative between the Gov- sustainable financial self-sufficiency, leadership and empowerernment and the private sector ment. towards the redevelopment of Downtown Kingston. Participants at the Summit included NGOs, Local Government authorities, government & private sector agencies and organizaOn Friday March 15, 2013, the tions, employment & educational institutions and the Jamaica Secretariat, in partnership with Diaspora Community. (See Page 7 for pictorial highlights.)
Volume 6 No. 1
Vision 2030 Jamaica Update
January 2013–March 2013
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Tracking Our Progress … (As presented at the PIOJ Quarterly Press Briefing, February 21, 2013)
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his quarter, we report on two key indicators of national well-being, under the Vision 2030 Jamaica - National Development Plan framework— Labour Force Quality and Security Status. An overview of performance in both areas shows continued improvement. Diagrams, “National Goal #1…” and “National Goal #2…” below, present a detailed performance.
Mr. Lumsden provides the media with an update on the progress of implementation of Vision 2030 Jamaica, at the PIOJ’s Press Briefing on February 21, 2013 at the PIOJ.
Diagram at right depicting the key indicators of national wellbeing which are examined under eight main areas— Health Status, Education Status, Labour Force Quality, Security Status, Justice Status, Economic Growth, Employment, and Environmental Stewardship Status— under the Vision 2030 Jamaica framework.
percentage point compared to 23.2 per cent As indicated in the diagram with vocational or profesat right, 23. 7 per cent of sional certification in 2011. the total labour force had vocational or professional certification based on the quarterly labour force surveys for 2012. This represents an increase of 0.5
Labour Force Quality
Security Status With respect to Major Crimes (murder, shooting, rape, carnal abuse/sexual intercourse against a child under the age of 16, robbery, break-ins and larceny), see diagram at left, 386 such offences per 100,000 population were committed in 2012, a decline of 2.0 per cent from 394 per 100,000 population in 2011. The murder rate for 2012 was 40 per 100,000 population, down 4.1 per cent from the mur-
der rate of 42 per 100,000 population in 2011. These figures for 2012 continue the overall downward trend in crime rates that began in June of 2010, and represent the third consecutive year in which both rates have declined.
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Vision 2030 Jamaica Update
January 2013–March 2013
Volume 6 No. 1
Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Competition Winners - Pictorial Winners in the Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Competition received their prizes at the Awards Ceremony, on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the Planning Institute of Jamaica 16 Oxford Road, Kingston 5. Mrs. Marcia Blake-Hall Director, Corporate Affairs, Marketing & Communication Division, PIOJ presents Category I winners with their Awards
CATEGORY I - AGES 10–14
1st Prize: Kindle Fire HD with Case 2nd Prize: Kindle Fire with Case 3rd Prize: Coby Tablet with Case
1st Prize Winner 2nd Prize Winner : Aliyah Wright Pratville Primary & Infant School Manchester
Kadeja Stanley Inverness Primary School Manchester
3rd Prize Winner: Mikhail Clarke Cornwall College St. James
CATEGORY II - AGES 15–19 1st Prize: iPad 2 with Case Minister of Education The Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, presents Category II winners with their Awards
2nd Prize: Kindle Fire HD with Case 3rd Prize: Kindle Fire with Case
3rd Prize Winner: Tajay Platt Cornwall College St. James
2nd Prize Winner: Janice Alexander Knox College Manchester
1st Prize Winner Victoria Bedward William Knibb High School Trelawny
Volume 6 No. 1
Vision 2030 Jamaica Update
January 2013–March 2013
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Kemesha Kelly is Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador
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ISS JAMAICA FESTIVAL QUEEN 2012, Kemesha Kelly, has been selected by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), as the Vision 2030 Jamaica National Youth Ambassador. In her capacity as Vision 2030 Jamaica National Youth Ambassador, Miss Kelly will assist in champiMr. Richard Lumsden, Programme Director, Vision oning the Vision 2030 2030 Jamaica, affixes the Vision 2030 Jamaica Jamaica – National DevelYouth Ambassador button to Kemesha’s jacket opment Plan, specifically following the announcement of her new role, among the youth populaduring the Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Awards Ceremony on January 30, 2013 at the Planning tion.
Kemesha Reports … She’s Getting the Job done! I remain quite honoured and excited to be serving in the capacity of Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador. The month of February provided several more opportunities to share with Jamaican children and youth, information about the National Development Plan, and the role we, as youth, can play in the achievement of all the stipulated goals. St. Jago High School Girls’ Day celebrations
On February 19, 2013, I was a guest speaker at the St. Jago High School Girls’ Day celebrations in Spanish Town. I received a warm reception. It was refreshing to hear the young ladies share their knowledge of the Vision 2030 Jamaica Vision Statement, and they also made suggestions as to how they could play a part in achieving the goals. I handed out Vision 2030 Jamaica message pencils, glasses Institute of Jamaica. and brochures. The Popular Version of the plan was handKemesha is expected to ed out as a prize to some students and others were incorporate Vision 2030 Jamaica themes, as far as possible, during her many speaking engagements/talks/discussions, and through her National presented to the teachers to be made available to the Community Project, over the remaining period of her reign (which ends in students. August 2013), as the 2012 Jamaica Festival Queen. Holy Childhood Preparatory – Jamaica Day Celebrations Kemesha ‘hit the ground running’ in her new role, as she was the Master of Ceremonies at the recently held Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Competition Awards Ceremony on January 30, 2013, the same day her position as the Youth Ambassador was officially announced. Then in early February, she narrated a section of the Vision 2030 Jamaica Audio Book which is currently being produced. (See sidebar for a report from Kemesha on her other activities over the period.)
Kemesha poses with a group of children from the Holy Childhood Preparatory School, following her talk on Vision 2030 Jamaica at the school’s Jamaica Day Celebrations, February 22, 2013.
On February 22, 2013, Holy Childhood Preparatory School hosted its annual Jamaica Day celebrations. I was invited to be a guest speaker for the day. I had an hourlong session with over 100 children from ages 6 to 12. I shared with them information from the national development plan. Several of them knew the Vision Statement. They were able to articulate the simple things that they could do as children to make Jamaica a better place, and indeed “the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”. The Vision 2030 Jamaica paraphernalia was distributed. Teachers were provided with copies of the Popular Version to be made available to the students. For responding to questions from a quiz, the students won Vision 2030 Jamaica glasses. St. Ann Police Youth Club Awards Ceremony
At right: Kemesha presents a copy of the Vision 2030 Jamaica Popular Version to a student at the St. Jago High School Girls’ Day Celebrations, on February 19, 2013, at the school.
On Wednesday February 27, 2013, the St. Ann Police Youth Club Council under the guidance of the St. Ann Community Safety and Security branch hosted their third Annual General Meeting, themed “Upliftment through Change”. I was invited to speak specifically about Vision 2030 Jamaica. I presented the executive of the council with a copy of the Popular Version, and charged them to conduct projects geared at achieving each goal. They were encouraged to be the change they wanted to see to make Jamaica the place of choice. Thank you to the PIOJ team for affording me this opportunity and for the support I have been receiving.
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Vision 2030 Jamaica Update
January 2013–March 2013
Volume 6 No. 1
Outreach ... HEART TRUST/NTA NATIONAL CAREER EXPO FEBRUARY 22, 2013 LOUISE BENNETT GARDEN THEATRE
Just how much do you know about Vision 2030 Jamaica? A few youngsters ‘step up to the plate’ to demonstrate their knowledge by spinning the wheel and answering the questions on which the pointer stops. Here, PIOJ’s Khalia Nembhard tells them how well they have done.
Students collect and browse through informational materials on the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and Vision 2030 Jamaica. Samantha Wilmot of the Vision 2030 Jamaica team ensures that they understand the link between the PIOJ and the Plan.
COMMONWEALTH DAY 2013 YOUTH SYMPOSIUM MARCH 11, 2013 JAMAICA CONFERENCE CENTRE, KINGSTON
At left: Secondary school students who attended the Commonwealth Day 2013 Youth Symposium at the Jamaica Conference Centre, listen to a presentation during the event. Below: Students from the Norman Manley High School visit the Vision 2030 Jamaica booth to collect educational materials and learn more about the Plan.
Volume 6 No. 1
Vision 2030 Jamaica Update
January 2013–March 2013
Page 7
Outreach ... Howard University Student Pays a Visit ... At left: Saschane Stephenson, Jamaican student at the Howard University School of Law, USA, greets Director General (Actg.) Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Mr. Everton McFarlane, when she visited the PIOJ on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 to get information on the Vision 2030 Jamaica process as part of her research on Sustainable Development. At right, she collects an Information Kit from Programme Director, Vision 2030 Jamaica, Mr. Richard Lumsden.
Technical Specialist, Socio-Economic Development, Community Renewal Programme (CRP), Ms. Charmaine Brimm (c) addresses participants (at left) from the community youth groups which participated in the Jamaica Diaspora Youth Connect Summit on Friday, March 15, 2013, UWI, Mona. At right participants in one of the break-out groups during the day’s activities. Below: participants visit the Vision 2030 Jamaica booth to get a better understanding of the Plan and its link with the CRP.
Vision 2030 Jamaica Update
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January 2013–March 2013
Volume 6 No. 1
NEXT STEPS Completion and distribution of MTF, 2012 - 2015
Bite of the Quarter
Ongoing presentations to key stakeholders on Vision 2030 Jamaica I am honoured to be serving in the capacity of Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador. So far, it has been an amazing experience sharing the National Development Plan with Jamaican youth and other citizens.
Thematic Working Group Meetings
Salute the Journey … Embrace the Vision Kemesha Kelly, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2012
What’s Happening EVENTS
DATE
Vision 2030 Jamaica presentations to students in tertiary Institutions
April 10 Church Teachers’ College April 12 St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College April 15 Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College April 18 Shortwood Teachers’ College April 23 & 26 Mico Teachers’ College April 25 Bethlehem Teachers’ College May 2 & 7 College of Agriculture, Science & Education (CASE)
Thematic Working Group Meetings
May 3 Moneague College May 6 & 8 GC Foster College May 9 & 10 University of Technology (UTECH) May 20 & 21 Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts Dates to be decided
Panel Discussion “Vision 2030 Jamaica: Claiming the Victory”
May 15 Organization Development Conference 2013
Exhibition at the 5th Jamaica Biennial Diaspora Conference Theme: A Nation on a Mission: Jamaica Diaspora Partnership for Development
June 16-19 Montego Bay Convention Centre Montego Bay, St. James
Vision 2030 Jamaica Update is produced by : The Plan Development Unit Planning Institute of Jamaica Design & Layout: Carmen V. Miller
For more information Contact us at: Planning Institute of Jamaica 16 Oxford Road, Kingston 5 Tel: 935-5150; 960-9339; 906-4471/2 Email: ndp@pioj.gov.jm Website:www.vision2030.gov.jm Facebook.com/vision2030.ja