The following is the full, unedited text of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s presentation at the public session of the People’s National Party (PNP) Annual Conference held at the National Arena on Sunday, September 20.

Simpson Miller’s speech was presented under the heading: ‘Accelerating Growth, Empowering our People, Securing our Nation’s Future’

Comrade Chairman; Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps; Comrades all, Friends, My fellow Jamaicans – good afternoon.

Jamaica Glorious Homeland

We turn again to you

We bless you and remember

The skies eternal blue

The sunshine ever golden

Across our hills and plains

The red sun that ripens the coffee and the cane.

My comrades, my friends, it is the love and loyalty to this our glorious homeland that brings us together on this day. It is with great confidence from your energising spirit that I stand before you — the thousands of party delegates, members, supporters, well-wishers and Jamaicans at home and abroad.

We have successfully concluded our discussions at the 76th annual conference. We are refreshed and renewed to continue providing service of the highest quality to our people. This conference speaks with one voice to the people of Jamaica who elected us to serve.

We declare boldly that we are making progress on our mission to accelerate growth, to empower our people, and to secure our nation’s future. Jamaica is in a better place today than we found it in 2011.

Today in Jamaica, we are building the economy of the future.

•Today in Jamaica, we have taken some tough decisions which have started to bear fruit.

•Today in Jamaica, more people are investing in agriculture and are playing their part in increasing production and reducing imports.

•Today in Jamaica, billions of dollars of investment are being pumped into tourism by local and foreign investors.

Their confidence in the country has been bolstered by the Government’s disciplined approach to economic management.

In today’s Jamaica, investors know that their investments are safe and that Jamaica is once again open for business.

Today in Jamaica, because of our government’s deliberate deployment of specialist teachers, this year, more students have passed Math and Information Technology at the CSEC level than ever before in our history. These young people are playing their part in securing the economy of the future.

Last night, somewhere in Jamaica:

•A market vendor was on a truck going home, bone-tired, but dreaming big dreams for his or her children.

•A farmer can plant his Irish potatoes and his ginger with optimism, knowing that he will not only have a market, but he will also be able to make a profit; all things being equal.

We must aspire for a Jamaica where responsibility is rewarded, and anyone can make it if they try. No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, and no matter how humble your circumstances, there are possibilities for growth and development in this our Jamaica.

Your loyalty, understanding, partnership and support, continue to inspire the leadership of this great Party, the People’s National Party. We are motivated to diligently do the work that is necessary to make Jamaica a better place for you, your children and your children’s children. That is why you have a government that is working, working, working!

What is the result of all this work, some might ask?

I will tell you:

•More Jamaicans are in jobs than two years ago; STATIN has reported that 25,700 Jamaicans were employed this year over last year.

•Unemployment is declining; and is now 13.6% down for 16.3% last year April.

•More benefits are available for families under the PATH programme.

•This year we are spending $2.46 billion in PATH benefits for students in primary and high schools.

•In the coming year, we will be spending over 5.5 billion dollars to safeguard the welfare of the vulnerable in the society.

On the macro-economic front. We are experiencing:

•The narrowing of fiscal deficit; down from 6.7% of GDP in 2011 to a balanced budget in this financial year.

•There is a growing primary surplus; we are comfortably ahead of the targets.

•We are importing less

•Tourism arrivals are up by 4%.

•International investors are coming to Jamaica because they are confident in our stewardship and in the new Jamaica that is emerging, and

•Our recent re-entry into the international bond market was oversubscribed yielding over US$800M. Even more importantly, we got it at the lowest interest rates ever.

These, Comrades and friends, represent a solid expression of confidence in Jamaica’s economy.

It is not only we who are saying it!

Speaking of confidence in our economy, you heard the news…..The international rating agency, Standard and Poors upgraded Jamaica’s economic outlook from stable to positive!

That is good news.That is big news. It confirms that we are heading in the right direction. I believe the current period is a time of significant breakthrough for Jamaica.

Jamaica is now well positioned to create a new economy.It is an economy based on innovation, fiscal responsibility and a major expansion in production and investments at all levels.

The question for everyone in this arena and beyond, is: how can each of us help to accelerate the progress? It cannot be business as usual.

We have to do new things and approach traditional things in new ways, to get better results. From 1938 the mission of the People’s National Party has been to continuously strive to improve the life of every Jamaican. We must continue the progress towards achieving that mission which has defined our national struggle for some 76 years. Our passion and commitment to that mission will never die.

This is so because we know where we are coming from; we know where we are, we know what we are doing, and we know where we are going.

We are on a journey. It is a relay.Economic Independence is our goal!

At the end of the first leg, in his farewell address as Party President in 1969, Comrade Norman Manley said, and I quote:

“I say that the mission of my generation was to win self-government for Jamaica…

I am proud to stand here today and say to you who fought that fight with me, say it with gladness and pride, ‘mission accomplished for my generation’.

And what is the mission of this generation…

It is to be made up by the use of your political power for tackling the job of reconstructing the social and economic society and life of Jamaica.

Comrades, Norman Washington Manley challenged us:

“This is no time for fear. This is no time for doubt…we have experience… we know where we are going!” He charged us to pay special attention to the masses, to move them from welfare to well-being and from well-being to wealth creation.

In running his leg of the relay, Comrade Michael Manley gave us a message to all those people “who nuh love progress”.

Under Michael’s leadership:

•’We jook dem wid Jamal’ for adult education;

•We jook dem wid free education;

•We jook dem with micro-dams so farmers could water their crops even in times of severe drought.

During that period of the 1970s the PNP jook them with land lease, housing, minimum wage, maternity leave with pay, equal pay for women.

Michael Manley gave the Jamaican men and women a sense of identity. He led a great social transformation and made us believe in ourselves. I am proud to have been a part of that process. It was a hard road to travel, but we have come a mighty long way since then.

On the third leg of the relay, Comrade PJ Patterson produced several solid achievements to lay the platform for an economic revolution.

These were milestones and building blocks for the economic success we now pursue.

•He began the current transformation of education. He built more schools than during any other period in our history.

•He gave us Highway 2000 and the North Coast Highway and gave us access to motor vehicles like never before.

•He liberalised the telecommunications sector so Jamaica could log on to the world.

•He said to us in no uncertain manner: ‘don’t stop the progress’.

Comrades, with a history like this, we must let them know we are on the move ’cause we have improved tremendously’!

So, don’t stop the progress, because the journey continues. We have never promised you that it will be easy. It has never been easy. Despite the progress that has been made, we still have a mighty task ahead of us if we are to truly achieve economic independence.

This is my mission. We have to sustain economic growth above the average annual growth rate of 0.8%, that has existed over many decades. We must reduce our public debt stock which has consistently been a burden on the backs of the Jamaican people. This debt has held our nation back.

Now, at this point in our history, I am leading a team that has the mission of ensuring that there is fundamental economic, social and cultural change. Change that will lift the standard of living of all our people. Economic Independence will not come overnight. With your help, the help of the Jamaican people, the help and goodwill of the Jamaican Diaspora and the international community we will overcome. We are confident of this!

There is hope in the new business-like and responsible management being provided by this PNP-led Government. As a Government and a people, we now have an excellent opportunity to unite around a shared, long term vision of growth and prosperity.

We know where we are coming from; we know where we are, we know what we are doing, and we know where we are going.

We are working, working, working.While some only talk and talk; we work and work.While some only criticize and criticize, we work and work; We are working and moving up, up, up!

Our performance speaks for itself:

•Through the new economic transformation programme Jamaica is weathering the storm and charting a clear course for brighter days.

•Our debt is coming down.

•Government expenditure as a share of GDP has been reduced.

•We are doing more with less money.

•We have now stopped the 14 consecutive quarters of negative growth. That was a situation we inherited in January 2012.

•We now have four consecutive quarters of growth.

•Jamaica is growing again. We are moving up! Jamaica Up!

•Agriculture is up

•Mining and quarrying up

•Tourism is up

•Construction is up

•Employment is up

•Global Competitiveness is up

•Business confidence is up

•Consumer confidence is up

•Foreign Direct Investments are up again.

•US$3 billion dollars in new investments has been identified.

•Assistance to small businesses is up.

Why is this so Comrades? Because We know what we are doing, and we know where we are going.

We are on the pathway to “Accelerating Growth, Empowering our People, Securing our Nation’s Future.”

We have not solved all of the problems.

We are not out of the woods yet. However, we are moving in the right direction.

Jamaica is in a better place today than we found it two and a half years ago.

In the four missing years between 2007 and 2011:

Growth went missing

Jobs went missing: four years after they came to power, 90,000 jobs went missing.

Wealth went missing: 540,000 more people became poor during that time!

Investments went missing. Foreign direct investment hit a low of US$200 million in one particular year of the four missing years.

Debt management went missing. Jamaica’s debt shot up to $1.7 trillion.  They added $660 billion to our national debt.

Public sector job security went missing.

Financial responsibility and integrity went missing

Jamaica is now better off because of our leadership and the tremendous sacrifices made by you the people to rescue the country from total collapse.

As your Prime Minister I place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation for your patience and understanding during this difficult period along our nation’s journey. Today, our people continue to make major sacrifices that are not in vain. I want to thank the bondholders and the people whose investments are in the pension funds.

They sacrificed significant potential interest earnings to participate in the debt exchanges that helped to bring stability to the economy. I thank in a special way, the thousands of public sector workers who have exercised wage restraint in the successive MOUs with the government.

We couldn’t have done it without you.

I thank the Jamaican people profoundly for staying the course with us; for taking this journey hand in hand with the Government.

I also know that all across Jamaica today, families will try to put together ‘a little something’ for Sunday dinner. They know that the struggle is hard, that sacrifices have to be made, but are hopeful that things will get better. We are committed to ensuring that the gains materialize and your sacrifices are not in vain. I ask for your continued patience.

Together, we are marching steadily on the road of progress to build the Jamaican dream.We are approaching the bend and eventually we will get around the corner on our path to economic independence. We know you understand the challenges. We are working hard to make sure that neither this generation nor future generations will have to face the pain of transformation.

That is why we are working so hard to achieve economic independence. I know there are questions about our Economic Reform Programme. You want to know that there are gains at the end of the journey to economic independence.

We understand.That is why we are “Accelerating Growth, Empowering our People and Securing our Nation’s Future”.

As we “Accelerate Growth”, we are facilitating micro and small business expansion.

•The Development Bank of Jamaica is lending more than $3 billion to other financial institutions for micro and small business start-ups and expansion.

•It is important for persons to get trained in business management. It takes more than money to be successful in business. You must know how to balance your books.

•This is why the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, the Jamaica Business Development Centre and their public and private sector partners have started the Mobile Business Clinic.

This is designed to take the necessary skills and training directly to our upcoming entrepreneurs at the community level in the town centres and rural areas across Jamaica.

We are committed to leading a revolution in wealth creation.

One of the areas we have targeted for rapid skills development, employment generation and small business creation, is in the digital economy.

The World Bank is supporting the Government in designing a US 20 million dollar programme to establish a viable tech entrepreneurship and animation industry.

Some 15,000 young Jamaicans are to benefit from training, employment and small business opportunities in the digital and animation industries.

ICT BPO Industry

Another area in which we are accelerating growth is through the expansion of the ICT Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.  

Currently some 30 firms employing 14,000 Jamaicans operate in this industry.

It is projected that an additional 2,500 jobs will be created in this sector during this financial year.

With financing from the Development Bank of Jamaica, new BPO space is being created in Montego Bay; Mandeville; St. Catherine and in Kingston and St. Andrew. This expansion, when completed, is expected to provide up to 10,000 new jobs in the sector.

Rural Development

While we press ahead with job-creating development in ICT, we are taking new approaches to traditional areas.That is one reason why I have established the National Rural Development Task Force.

The taskforce has been given the responsibility to co-ordinate the execution of several strategies. The aim is to create opportunities for economic and social advancement in rural communities. We are promoting community and eco-tourism.

Community Access Centres are being established in rural areas. There is the delivery of outstanding land titles, about which I am very passionate. We are also promoting business development and entrepreneurial activities in rural communities across Jamaica. We are rededicating our rural development thrust to memory of Comrade Roger Clarke. He was not only a champion of agriculture. He was a passionate visionary and tireless advocate of rural development.

Agro-Parks

The Agro Parks initiative, which involves an investment of more than 2 billion dollars, is a major part of Roger Clarke’s vision and legacy. These parks are boosting agricultural productivity and expanding direct employment for some 300 farmers and 839 labourers.

We have also been setting up agro-industries to promote new product development including Neutraceuticals and other value added products.

Infrastructure Development.

As we accelerate economic growth, our Administration is focusing on several mega infrastructure projects. To get here today, some of you would have travelled on the new Mount Rosser leg of the North South Highway which I opened in early August. What a beauty! How easy and quick it is to traverse that part of the country for business and for leisure.

Work is proceeding apace on the two other legs that will link Caymanas to Ocho Rios. The entire highway will be ready for opening in early 2016.

Logistics Hub

We are implementing on a phased basis, the Logistics Hub Initiative, which is another of our major infrastructure projects.

The developments under this initiative include:

•Port of Kingston

•Norman Manley International Airport

•Portland Bight and

•The creation of Special Economic Zones.

In addition to the Chinese, we currently have investor interest from Europe and the United States amounting to billions of US dollars. The Jamaican private sector is not to be left out. A US100 million dollars investment is planned for the expansion of Kingston Wharves.  We expect ground to be broken shortly.

These are just some of the mega projects that are under consideration for implementation in the coming years.

The prospects for accelerating growth and development are good. The future is looking bright.

Energy

The high cost of energy has been one of the greatest obstacles to growth and economic independence.

We are working on solving this challenge. Earlier this year I established The Energy Sector Enterprise Team (ESET) with a view to finding solutions to reduce the costs of electricity for our people and our industries.

The team reported to the Cabinet last week. I want to publicly thank all the members of the team for their continuing service.

The programme outlined by the team will involve the upgrading of existing plants and the construction of new generating plants starting next year.

During the construction of the power plants approximately 2,400 persons will be employed.

Based on the preliminary work of the ESET, Jamaica can expect a reduction of at least 30 per cent in fuel cost by 2018, resulting in savings on energy of US$350 million.

The new energy mix involves increasing the use of renewable sources such as wind and solar.

Power purchase agreements and licences have been issued for renewable energy projects valued at about US$200 Million.

We thank these investors for their confidence in Jamaica.

As we build the new Jamaica, we are “Empowering our People” to take their productive places in brighter Jamaican future.

•This year we are providing skills training for 12,320 through the National Youth Service.

•Of that number, 9,000 are being placed in jobs.

•Training has included preparing our young people for entrepreneurial opportunities.

•We are preparing our people from high school for jobs in the new economy which we are building.

•We are doing so by investing in improving performance in English, Mathematics, Science and ICT.

•We continue to remove schools from the shift system so our children can be exposed to the full course of academic learning.

•We are providing thousands of tablet computers for children in schools;

•We are installing 182 community access points across the island to provide internet access to thousands of Jamaicans.

I have spent the time to go through some of these projects so that you can know the scope of the work we are engaged in on behalf of the Jamaican people. When some people say “nutten nah gwan”,  you can proudly say “Big tings a gwan, our country is moving in the right direction.  Jamaica is moving up”.

While we move steadfastly ahead with economic development focused on job creation, our social protection programmes are ensuring major investments in our people.

Those who couldn’t even sit IMF Tests are now saying that this Government is passing IMF test but not passing the people’s test.

The People’s Test

We are passing the people’s test when we reduced GCT from 17.5% to 16.5% easing the tax burden and lowering price for the people.

We are passing the people’s test by increasing minimum wage twice so thousands of household helpers, security guards and other workers are able to take home a little more pay.

We are passing the people’s test by increasing NIS pensions by 16.7%.

We passed the people’s test when we increased government pensions; not once but twice.

There has been a 67% increase in benefits for the elderly.

We passed the people’s test when we expanded the School Feeding Programme.

This is giving thousands more of our children nutritious breakfast and lunch so they can learn better.

We are passing the people’s test when we add a new transport subsidy to the PATH benefits.

We pass the people’s test every time we have expanded benefits under the National Health Fund.

As Jamaicans, whether we are overseas, or here on the ‘Rock’, this moment in our history is a defining one.  

It is a time in which we must all take ownership—individual and collective ownership—for the transformation of our society and nation. As we journey together in this rebuilding and transformation process, I call on all Jamaicans to foster a spirit of community. As we take responsibility for our lives and actions, let us also secure the wellbeing not only of our loved ones, but also of our neighbours, all our children and the institutions of communities. Let us bring back the Love. As Bob Marley has said: “One love; One heart. Let’s get together and feel alright!”

Taking responsibility also means that we must protect the weak and vulnerable in our communities. Take care of the young, the elderly, the disabled, the sick. We have a reputation in the tourist industry as being a friendly and hospitable people.  Let us all reach deeper in our hearts and extend that kindness to each other.

As Government, we are working, working to repair our society and set our country firmly on a part to economic independence.  I call upon all of you today, as Comrades, as fellow Jamaicans, to help us restore the nation.

Indeed, may our Eternal Father give us grace to have, “True respect for all; stir response to duty’s call and strengthen us the weak to cherish…” More and more each day I appreciate that there is more that we as Jamaicans share in common than the things that separate us.

There is no need for political or any other kind of division. Let us all take a stand to advance the new Jamaica of which all our citizens, old and young, can be truly proud.

You, the people are the reason why we are working to Accelerate Growth, and achieve economic independence  through strategies for economic expansion with job creation.

You are the reason why we are working to Empower our People, through educational investments and skills training opportunities and human and social capital development. You are the reason we are Securing our Nation’s Future by a fast-tracked legislative framework establishing a fiscally responsible macro-economic structure and reining in our debt.

This is Jamaica’s time to shine in the world. Our generation has a sacred duty and a moral obligation to secure our nation’s future by bequeathing to our children and their offspring, a better, stronger, more viable Jamaica. My Comrades and my friends, the sweet fruits of sacrifice and the positive results of national action are beginning to manifest themselves.

Let us all commit to advancing the New Jamaica of which all our citizens—young and old, rural and urban, at home and abroad—can be truly proud. Today, despite the naysayers and those who say we are not talking, talking enough, this is my report to you, Comrades and friends:

Your Government has been working, working and I have shown you the results. Beyond that, we have been managing the people’s business with care and even-handedness.  Let us grasp the challenge and press forward to greater heights.

Onward to economic independence, ”Accelerated Growth, Empowerment of our People, and the Security of our Nation’s Future!” “Forward ever; backward never!”

As we depart from here today after another successful conference, we give praise unto the Almighty for giving us the wisdom and the strength and in God’s grace we can paraphrase that old Christian hymn and confidently say:

We are pressing on the upward way

New heights we are gaining every day

Still praying as we onward bound

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Lord, lift us up and let us stand

By faith on heaven’s table land

A higher plane than we have found

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Thank you, my Comrades. May God Bless you.

May God bless Jamaica, land we love.