Golding hails China's visionary approach to int'l relations

BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large South/Central Bureau

Thursday, September 02, 2010

NEW Market, St Elizabeth — Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Tuesday heaped praise on China for its visionary approach to international relations and for persisting with "collaborative" development projects with countries like Jamaica despite the hostile economic climate globally.

Speaking at the launch of the five-year US$400-million Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme involving comprehensive rehabilitation of the island's road network at Lewisville High School, Golding said the Chinese, whose loan funds will underwrite 85 per cent of the project, had consistently shown an inclination to "look" long term.

"Over the last two years, while going through this terrible global recession, many of our traditional bilateral partners have either adopted a position where 'look, we know you under pressure, but we under pressure too, so check us back another time', or they have taken a view that 'now is not a time to look too far ahead' because the road in front of you is so cloudy, so foggy ... we have to wait until the world comes out of recession before we start making long-term commitments," said Golding.

However, he said, "One of the things I appreciate about the Chinese Government and the Chinese people generally is that they pierce through the fog. They look long term, they may see a hill but they look over the brow of the hill, they may see a corner in the road but they have a way of looking round the corner..., they think long term and that is why they are increasingly becoming critical development partners for Jamaica..."

Golding said China's vision and preparedness to proactively assist poor,developing countries had been exemplified not only in relation to the road rehabilitation project but also in other areas, not least the partnership to save Jamaica's ailing sugar industry.

Under the road project arrangement, China Harbour — described by Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry as a "Fortune 500 company with an unchallengable record" — will serve as the implementing contractor in partnership with the National Works Agency of the Ministry of Transport and Works, the Department of Local Government and the parish councils.

Speakers emphasised Tuesday that the work would not be attempted all at once but would be spread over five years. In St Elizabeth, 10 roads are to be rehabilitated by March 2011 while 12 others are to get periodic maintenance. The Black River sea wall adjacent to the Black River Hospital is to be completed in the March 2011 time frame.

Golding said he had insisted that the St Elizabeth launch should take place in New Market because of the poor state of roads in NW St Elizabeth where JC Hutchinson is the long-serving member of parliament.

Down the years, Hutchinson has repeatedly insisted that the People's National Party Government of 1989 to 2007 did not repair roads in his constituency because of "political victimisation". He repeated that charge Tuesday even while describing the occasion of the road rehabilitation launch as a "glorious day".

POST A COMMENT

You must first register and then login to be able to post a comment.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and before commenting you need to register, conveniently, by clicking the link above.

COMMENTS (10)

maroon accompong
9/3/2010

Thank GAD!!! Finally the commando (JC Hutchenson) will see his long held dreams come through, "roads repair in his constituency" I have worked closely with JC in the past and if an MP has concern for his const. it is him. Now my only advice to you sir is please do not see this as a payback to your die-hard supporters, Lets fixed the roads right this time, and please remember the road from Lacovia to Accompong. We love you Jc and good luck.

phillip williams
9/2/2010

I will be saying much of what most people here do not want to hear. Mr Golding is looking for investment, and thats what the Chinese are doing: investing in Jamaica. Quite frankly, i appreciate Mr Golding's great interest in the economy of the country which previously seemed to have taken the backbench to propaganda and scandal.

Noel Richards
9/2/2010

If you'd like a better idea of what you are dealing with as far as a 'visionary China', take a look at these articles (just copy and paste in Google)
"China's hi-tech 'death van' where criminals are executed and then their organs are sold on black market" and "China takes more aid money for aids and malaria than African countries".
Golding and the others are all opportunists, not leaders. They have no idea what they are doing, other than desperately begging for favors.

norris Richards
9/2/2010

Mr. Golding is very bad for Jamaica; he is fast turning Jamaica into a colony of the Chinese. First it was the wicked white people, next the multinational corporation now the Chinese. What the colonizers used to subjugate the masses is economic dependency. From Mr. Golding speech it would seems that he is a big booster of nations that will give him economic aid and prepared to take over Jamaica’s public companies the government is incapable of running successfully.

David Armstrong
9/2/2010

@Nicolas Henry.and @Duncan Bertram ...your points are valid..China achieved its present economic growth through tough leadership. The gun criminals running around killing people at will could not happen in China.
I made the point when China bought out our sugar plantations that jamaica was selling out all its assets to foreigners. China is using economic hegemony like the US is doing to dominate the world. We should be striving to be independent not dependent..

zara thustra
9/2/2010

Hails China? You have come a long way from your National **Democratic** Movement days Bruce.

Tyler Thomas
9/2/2010

Its great that some of these roadways are being rehabilitated and upgraded, some of these roads havent seen improvements for over a decade. But I see more than road work here i see election campaigning, with a 400 million dollar price tab the JLP is gonna basically run their campaign for re-election throughout the country, with every road fixed and with every laborer employed your gonna hear a bell ring and the chant of shower.

Duncan Bertram
9/2/2010

Poor us! Golding is selling out Jamaica to the chinese. I have a vision just like the chinese and I realise they are moving rapidly in the caribbean to strengthen their economic power base. My government should realise we have been colonised many times b4 and we are now being owned by the chinese. My allegiance is to Portia Simpson Miller and Barack Obama(african american). How much Jamaicans are living in china and enjoy the freedom as Jamaicans do in Jamaica and the USA? Communism vs Democracy

Nicolas Henry
9/2/2010

"Long term approach". Ja politicians only zeal is to keep us in long term debt. China achieved wealth with blood, sweat & tears literaly. What China has done in the past make the Tivoli invasion look like a wedding party. Until we use similar force to crush our terrorist marauding merciless gunmen, we will never be able to produce ourselves out of debt. If you want to grow produce in the field, you must slash and burn. Produce can't grow amongst weeds. Go figure.

David Armstrong
9/2/2010

Talk about visionary approach...Jamaicans are still waiting for a visionary approach to dealing with the social problems plaguing the country. China has a visionary approach to social and technological issues. They are tough on crime (although some would say too extreme) and they don't let Amnesty Intrnational tell them how to deal with issues in their country. They don't tolerate corruption by their public officials. Drugs, crime, and indiscipline are not tolerated.

Did you watch American football's Super Bowl on Sunday?
	Yes, but just for the advertisements
	Yes, just for the game itself
	Yes, for both the game and advertisements
	No, I did not watch the Super Bowl.

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

US judge robbed by machete wielding thug in Nevis

Golding hails China's visionary approach to int'l relations