BRUCE Golding, conferring on himself the title of “chief servant of the people”, yesterday assumed the mantle of Prime Minister of Jamaica, vowing to construct a social and economic ladder to enable the poor and ignored to “climb their way out of poverty”.

“The task before me is enormous. But the Lord is the strength of my life. Of nothing shall I be afraid,” Golding told a huge, cheering crowd, estimated at approximately 10,000, who gathered on the lawns of King’s House to welcome his appointment as Jamaica’s eighth prime minister.

But although his speech was deliberately flavoured with his usual passionate rhetoric, Prime Minister Golding did not ignore the immediate social and economic problems facing his new government, internally, as well as in its relationship with its Caribbean Community (Caricom) partners.

He gave the assurance that Jamaica would remain firmly committed to Caricom, but suggested the need to “recalibrate our approach to regional integration”.

He promised action within the next 100 days on a number of initiatives, including crime reduction, protection of people’s rights, creation of an educated and productive workforce, attracting investments that create “real” jobs, as well as transparency and accountability in government, a strong Parliament and the elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy and waste.

The prime minister also reiterated his government’s firm commitment to fulfil its campaign promise to abolish tuition fees up to secondary schools immediately, and hospital fees from next April.

He also announced that he will reveal plans for a national clean-up day, within the next few days, for the voluntary removal of debris left behind by Hurricane Dean last month.

At the same time, the prime minister insisted that his government had the will to assure every Jamaican that their rights would be protected and their dignity respected.

After being sworn-in by Governor General Professor Kenneth Hall, the new prime minister and his wife, Lorna, followed Hall and his wife to the reception room at King’s House, where they shared cocktails with special guests before walking out to the west lawn to meet thousands of supporters who stayed behind to greet them.

Golding, who led his Jamaica Labour Party to victory in the September 3 general elections, was swamped by an extremely warm crowd, passionately relishing the idea of the JLP’s first government in 18 years, as he stepped onto the lush, green west lawn. The crowd swept him, like a wave, across the lawn, as he struggled against the massive tide to sign autographs and hug old friends.

An elderly woman raced across the lawn shouting, “him kiss me to rahtid, Bruce kiss me”.

His inaugural speech was very reminiscent of his campaign rhetoric and was laced with remarkable gems, like “we cannot afford to excuse failure, to celebrate mediocrity”.

He encouraged his predecessor, Portia Simpson Miller, to sit down with him and talk about Jamaica’s future.

“I want to sit down with you, Portia,” he said. “Let’s talk about Jamaica. Let’s talk about the dream I believe we share, for a Jamaica whose people are at peace with each other, where equality and justice reign supreme.”

Turning to the results of the September 3 general elections, he suggested that they work together to ensure that “those who may think that they did not win, are reassured that they have not lost”.

“We must retire the culture where one set of Jamaicans speak of ‘the government dem’ as if it were a hostile, alien force,” he said. “I want to see a new order in which all the people regard the Government, no matter which party forms it, as our Government,” said Golding.

GOLDING’S PROMISES

PRIME Minister Bruce Golding yesterday promised:

. The protection of the rights of our people;

. The reduction of crime, so that Jamaicans can feel safe and secure;

. The creation of an educated, productive workforce;

. Attracting investments that create real jobs, generate prosperity and ensure that that prosperity is shared among the people;

. Transparency and accountability in government and the elimination of corruption;

. A strong Parliament and more effective political representation; and

. The elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy and waste of public resources and the efficient delivery of government services.