Year of transformation

[remo]

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller wants Jamaicans to make 2007 a year of transformation, during which all will come together to make things better for the country, while Opposition Leader Bruce Golding says this must be "the year of decision".

In her New Year's message, the Prime Minister said the work to build the nation and wage a war on poverty, crime, violence and the challenges that beset the country, should continue.

"At this time in our history, we need the commitment and energies of all the people, for national, community and personal success," she said. At the same time, the Prime Minister recognises that there may be differences in opinion.

"This year, it is all for Jamaica and Jamaica for all," she said. "Nothing must be allowed to divert us from the common cause of making the country in which we live, the best in the world. I know we are equal to the task."

Rekindle hope

In the meantime, Mr. Golding says 2007 would not be business as usual, "because business as usual means stagnation as usual. We must rekindle hope in the minds of the Jamaican people," he said.

The Opposition Leader noted that in 2007, new directions, new strategies and new leadership must be found to keep hope alive. He also wants a course to be charted to enable Jamaicans to better achieve their potential and to provide a better life for themselves.

"We can make Jamaica a much better place than it is. We can make Jamaica a land where people can feel safe and secure; where their rights are protected; where they have a government that they can trust; and, a Parliament in which they are effectively represented."

Mr. Golding has also urged Jamaicans to become involved in the affairs of their country.

Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall is imploring that Jamaicans start the New Year with achievable resolutions.

"This year, I propose that we all light candles of understanding and unite in strengthening the foundations of our society for future development," he said.

He urged that people resolve to work harder and contribute to economic growth; build communities to be havens of peace and development for families and friends; stamp out criminal activities, which hold communities in terror, and ultimately erode the social fabric of the nation.

The Governor-General said Jamaicans should teach their children and, therefore, the next generation to be good citizens.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Year of transformation


Yawn....

Time come!

[Yuriatin]

Re: Year of transformation

Word.

2007 to be the year of transformation …

What was 2006 – year of preparation?

2005 – year of getting readyation?

2004 – year of getting ready to prepare for readyation?

2003 – year of drawing up plans to get ready for preparation??

2002 … oh sorry … these were years that PSM wasn’t in office ….


Highway nightmare - St. Mary residents say North Coast road work wreaking havoc
published: Sunday | December 31, 2006


Photo by Flavio Bacchettta
One of several open trenches along the main road in Tower Isle, St. Mary, which have been a source of potential danger to motorists. The trenches and potholes are a result of the construction of the North Coast Highway by the Danish Company P.I.H.L. Residents complain that the construction activities frequently damage power and telecommunication lines as well as water mains, resulting in loss of service.

The road work being done on the Ocho Rios to Portland leg of the North Coast Highway has angered many St. Mary residents who are blaming the contractors for "making our lives a living hell."

They note that from White River (the border between Ocho Rios and St. Mary) to sections of Port Maria, the situation is "as bad as it gets", with several communities now experiencing major disruption to electricity, telephone and water supplies.

"I live in Tower Isle, about a 15-minute drive to Ocho Rios, and what is happening here is a daily nightmare due to the road work," commented Flavio Bacchetta, resident. "Since last July, we have had disruption to our water at least three days per week for an average of eight and a half hours per day. Two weeks ago, we spent a total of 48 hours without either water or light. There is nobody to complain to so we have to just sit here and take it."

Frequent reports of road accidents

Mr. Bachetta added that the open trenches on the road, poorly lit signs and an absence of streetlights have also made the roads leading from Tower Isle all the way through Port Maria a nightmare for motorists, saying there have been frequent reports of road accidents.

Roderick Strachan, a resident of Oracabessa in St. Mary agreed. "This is nothing short of a disgrace," he said. "The bulldozers are left carelessly on the side of the roads near the trenches so imagine what can happen at nights. The tractors are always digging underground, so water supply will always be affected; so too will our telephones and our electricity. Knowing how long it takes for us to complete anything in this country, I guess we will have to tolerate this until kingdom come."

A visit by The Sunday Gleaner to the affected areas confirmed many of the complaints, especially as it relates to the poorly visible detour signs. In trying to get to nearby Albany from Port Maria, our news team ended up in Highgate and had to, on a number of occasions, ask residents for directions.

Open your eyes

In trying to get a comment from three men who identified themselves as being employed to the Danish contractors P.I.H.L, we were told: "Open your eyes and you won't get lost. The detour signs are all over the place, we can't see for you."

Repeated efforts to get an official comment from the company were unsuccessful. Another employee said bluntly that "we don't get ourselves involved in local politics. We are just here to do a job."

Stephen Ricketts, a resident of Tower Isle, noted that he was not surprised at what he called "the arrogance of these contractors", adding that the government was to be blamed for not monitoring the work. "These guys have every right to be behaving like this considering there is hardly any monitoring of this project," he said. "Look at all these open trenches with stagnant water. At a time when malaria is a live danger, we have these kinds of things hanging around."

He continued: "Yes, at the end of the day this will be good for everybody but at what price? Are we saying that our lives will be affected indefinitely and we must bear all this inconvenience until somebody decides enough is enough? Certainly, there has to be a better way to do this."

The Ocho Rios to Portland route is the third and final leg of the North Coast Highway. The Montego Bay to Negril leg has already been completed while work is still going on from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios.


[ QUOTE ]

Yawn....

Time come!

[/ QUOTE ]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Year of transformation

[ QUOTE ]

Highway nightmare - St. Mary residents say North Coast road work wreaking havoc
published: Sunday | December 31, 2006

[/ QUOTE ]

I have said it many times before. The PNP have a problem with using and implementing technology. The also have a knack of partnering with the most unscrupulous companies and individuals, wherever they can find them.

[ QUOTE ]
Word.

2007 to be the year of transformation …

What was 2006 – year of preparation?

2005 – year of getting readyation?

2004 – year of getting ready to prepare for readyation?

2003 – year of drawing up plans to get ready for preparation??

2002 … oh sorry … these were years that PSM wasn’t in office ….

[/ QUOTE ]

Some fool-fool people following backa this Ooman talking bout, "when she gets her own mandate". What does this mean?
If she wins (and believe me the PNP has a good chance of wining again, despite 18 years of misery) all she will be is the Prime Minister of Jamaica, which title she already holds.

Like I told my brother this morning despite the fact that our community is Solid As a Rock, one hopes that the long National Nightmare will be over come the 2007 General Elections.

[j-can]

Re: Year of transformation

unfortunately the JLP under Golding will be an even bigger nightmare if god forbid the win the next election

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Year of transformation

[ QUOTE ]
unfortunately the JLP under Golding will be an even bigger nightmare if god forbid the win the next election

[/ QUOTE ]

Time Come!

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Year of transformation


Two of a kind!



<u>Latest Portia melt-downs!</u>

<span style="color: red">Sat Dec 9, 2006</span>
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller outlines achievements

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on Friday night outlined to members of the media what she said were her numerous achievements since taking the leadership of the country.

Speaking at the Press Association of Jamaica's Awards function she pointed to improvements in housing, road repair programmes, increased access to education and improvement in earnings from tourism.

The Prime Minister said her administration is conducting an ongoing project under the Inner City Housing Programme to provide low income families with housing.

In addressing the issue of improvements in water supply she said efforts are now underway in St. Mary to develop the infrastructure to provide potable water to areas previously inaccessible.

She said over $3.5 billion has been spent this fiscal year on road repair and promised that more funds will be pumped into this area.

Turning to education she said in addition to increased places available in schools several other improvements are in the pipeline.

Another area in which Mrs. Simpson Miller said there was marked progress is revenue earned through tourism.

She said $809.5 million was earned in the first half of this fiscal year as opposed to last year's figures of some $740 million.

Additionally Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is coming down hard on the media for what she says is in many cases, a failure to access government information through the correct channels.

Pointing to an article published in the Gleaner newspaper about her pressing public servants not to divulge confidential information, Mrs. Simpson Miller said in gathering information the media should make the appropriate requests.

https://<a href="http://www.radiojam...tory=30829</a>

Wed Jan 3, 2007
<span style="color: red">PM says the media ignores her positive achievements </span>

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is chiding the media for what she says is its failure to highlight the many positive achievements of her administration.

According to her, developments in the economy such as the record level of investments are being pushed aside to make space for more sensational stories.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was speaking at the 5th annual MBA conference organized by the Caribbean Students Club of the Harvard Business School.

https://<a href="http://www.radiojam...tory=31508</a>


Ouch!

<span style="color: red">We understand and forgive you, Prime Minister</span>

We can, easily, forgive Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for her latest reprimand of the media.

The prime minister, while addressing yesterday's opening ceremony of the 5th Annual Caribbean MBA Conference at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, complained that some media houses do not really focus on the economic successes of the Government. Rather, those media houses, she said, preferred to go after the sensational.

According to the prime minister, some people only become aware of her administration's achievements after she pointed them out.

However, given the prime minister's own admission - on more than one occasion - that she doesn't read the newspapers or keep abreast of local news on radio and television, we can understand why she made that assessment yesterday.

https://<a href="http://www.jamaicao...LUSION.asp</a>

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Year of transformation


More Portia Hot-Melt.

<span style="color: red">PM urges restraint in use of photographs</span>
Sunday, January 07, 2007

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday called on the media to exercise greater restraint and responsible judgement in the use of photographs after the publication in last Friday's Daily Observer of a mural of her with what residents said were bullet holes.

Simpson miller. such photos could send the wrong signal
"Mindful of the mood in the country at this time and the possible interpretation which persons on either side of the political divide could put to such imagery, greater restraint and responsible judgement need to be exercised by the press," Simpson Miller said in a statement.

The photograph was published as an inset to a larger picture of residents of a section of Maxfield Avenue protesting against last Wednesday's murder of 23 year-old hairdresser Nordia Fletcher.
According to the protestors, Fletcher was at her home at Swettenham Road when her door was kicked in by three gunmen who shot her.

The demonstrators also said that they were receiving threats from gunmen telling them that if they do not switch political allegiance from the ruling People's National Party to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party they (the residents) would be harmed.
The protestors pointed the Observer to the mural which, they said, was shot up by the gunmen.

Yesterday, the prime minister said that the publication of the photograph has the potential to incite and inflame either supporters or opponents and sends a dangerous signal.

"Clearly, at a time when we are all concerned at the escalating tensions in the society, by its publication, we are not saying that it is okay to 'shoot up' the prime minister or any other leader for that matter, or that the prime minister is a target," Simpson Miller said.
"By its publication also, the media house in question and indeed the entire fraternity could be exposed to become possible targets of abuse and attack," she added.

"As a responsible media in a democracy, I urge greater care in the publication of photographs in the press and that at least be mindful that such photos could send the wrong signal by serving to communicate a different interpretation to different people," the prime minister said.

https://<a href="http://www.jamaicao...raphs_.asp</a>

[Yuriatin]

Re: Year of transformation

Mmmm - I see - ah ha! So THAT'S what the problem is! The pictures. I see, I see ... it's the PICTURES that are giving the wrong impression!

Good grief.

Heaven forbid we show &amp; tell the truth.

Guess she wouldn't like this one either - too much truth to stomach. Then again - it's probably a little too hob non of me to hope and expect that the proper authorities see to it that this construction and safety of the children was better planned and prepared for.

************

Dust, noise, no water hit schools Cricket World Cup work on South Camp Road takes its toll
BY INGRID BROWN Observer staff reporter


SCHOOLS on South Camp Road in Kingston sent home students yesterday — the first day of the Easter term — because of heavy dust and a lack of water due to construction work for the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Alpha High, Infant and Primary schools, as well as Holy Trinity High were the worst affected.

Principal of Alpha Primary, Phyllis Anderson, told the Observer that since the road work started last term, the students were being severely affected by the dust from drilling being done by workmen using heavy equipment along the sidewalk at the entrance to the school.
'The dust is damaging to their health, and at times it is unbearable,' Anderson said, adding that several open trenches along the sidewalks were also posing a danger to the students.

'The children have nowhere to walk on the road, and sometimes you let them out and they come back in saying they have nowhere to walk and we have to actually go out there and help them to get by,' she said.

A security guard at Alpha claimed that the dust had forced the school to take some children to hospital. “The dust is a killer around here and it is killing off the children, especially the ones with asthma who every minute the school nurse has to be rushing them to the doctor,' he said. 'Because of how bad the dust is, children have to be rushed daily to the hospital, all sometimes three for one day.'

A fifth form Alpha High student told the Observer the dust was unbearable and constantly affected them. In addition, she said the loud noise from the heavy machinery prevents them from hearing or concentrating in class.

'In December, when I had exams here, the noise was so much it affected my migraine and I just could not concentrate on what I was doing,' she said.
The fifth form block, which is closest to the school’s South Camp Road entrance, is said to be most affected by the noise and dust.

A student at Kingston College said his school, too, was being severely affected by the construction as large sections of the sidewalks have been converted into open trenches. 'It is real bad, because if you walk on South Camp Road you have to deal with all that dust and open trenches, and if you walk on North Street there is a lot of dirty water running on the road,' he said.

Yesterday, the schools had no water as the main was damaged during construction work last weekend, forcing the National Water Commission (NWC) to turn off the supply.

But both the Elletson Road and North Street campuses of Kingston College had no water last week, and the supply only returned in a trickle yesterday, two students told the Observer.

Alpha Primary's Anderson said that although the school has been dealing with the dust problem since last term, the institution was unable to have classes yesterday because the water was turned off. Until the school receives water, the principal said, Alpha won't be able to accommodate the 1,200 students enrolled.

She said that yesterday, they went out to get storage tanks as the NWC had promised that water would be trucked to the school. However, up to late evening, the school had still not received any water.

'With over 1,200 students here, there is no way we could keep school without any water, and right now if we don’t get water by tomorrow (today) we still cannot have any classes,' she explained.

But Patricia Prince, public relations officer at the NWC, said all the schools which were affected by the water lockoff should start receiving service as of today, as the broken main was expected to be repaired overnight.

'All the schools within that vicinity, as well as all businesses along the entire stretch are without water, and we have been told that the problem will be corrected tonight,' she said yesterday. Prince, though, said she was not aware of any promise to truck water to Alpha.

As of today, students at Alpha Infant, Primary and High schools will be required to use the pedestrian entrance on Elletson Road, as the main gate on South Camp Road will be officially closed until the road work is done.

Yesterday, Stephen Shaw, communications manager at National Works Agency, said the road work was not expected to be completed until the end of the first quarter of this year.

[/quote] [img][/img]



[quote=Tuff Gong]
More Portia Hot-Melt.

<span style="color: red">PM urges restraint in use of photographs</span>
Sunday, January 07, 2007

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday called on the media to exercise greater restraint and responsible judgement in the use of photographs after the publication in last Friday's Daily Observer of a mural of her with what residents said were bullet holes.

Simpson miller. such photos could send the wrong signal
"Mindful of the mood in the country at this time and the possible interpretation which persons on either side of the political divide could put to such imagery, greater restraint and responsible judgement need to be exercised by the press," Simpson Miller said in a statement.

The photograph was published as an inset to a larger picture of residents of a section of Maxfield Avenue protesting against last Wednesday's murder of 23 year-old hairdresser Nordia Fletcher.

According to the protestors' Fletcher was at her home at Swettenham Road when her door was kicked in by three gunmen who shot her.

The demonstrators also said that they were receiving threats from gunmen telling them that if they do not switch political allegiance from the ruling Peoples National Party to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party they (the residents) would be harmed.
The protestors pointed the Observer to the mural which, they said, was shot up by the gunmen.

Yesterday, the prime minister said that the publication of the photograph has the potential to incite and inflame either supporters or opponents and sends a dangerous signal.

'Clearly, at a time when we are all concerned at the escalating tensions in the society, by its publication, we are not saying that it is okay to 'shoot up' the prime minister or any other leader for that matter, or that the prime minister is a target' Simpson Miller said.

'By its publication also, the media house in question and indeed the entire fraternity could be exposed to become possible targets of abuse and attack' she added.

As a responsible media in a democracy, I urge greater care in the publication of photographs in the press and that at least be mindful that such photos could send the wrong signal by serving to communicate a different interpretation to different people, the prime minister said.

https://<a href="http://www.jamaicao...raphs_.asp</a>

[Yuriatin]

Re: Year of transformation

Mi frill! Yuh nuh mine shawp - one drap ah wha likkle pikni pop im azz ah buss im hed!

[img][/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Year of transformation


It is all about WCC, to hell with schoolers, tourist industry or the rest of the citizens of Jamaica not fortunate to be involved in the planning and execution of this event.

[Sinco01]

Re: Year of transformation

<span style="color: #FF0000">Evolution or revolution?</span>

Lloyd B. Smith
Tuesday, January 09, 2007





Lloyd B. Smith
Evolution - gradual development.

Revolution - a dramatic and wide-reaching change.

Opposition Jamaica Labour Party leader Bruce Golding is right. The year 2007 will be a year of decision. But not just in terms of the people deciding which party and its leader should take the reins of office for the next five years. The country needs to make more far-reaching and soul-searching decisions. In this context, all well-thinking Jamaicans are wishing and hoping that the general election campaign will not just be about who is the "better" leader or which party is "more capable", but that the real issues will come to the fore because it should have become most painfully obvious that with all the best intentions in the world, no leader or party will be sufficiently able to carry out meaningful changes if the system as we now have it continues unabated. That is why Golding's call for constitutional reform has my full support because in the final analysis, it cannot be business as usual. Time come!

And while we are on the topic of decisions, it is well known that during an election year competing political parties tend to say and do all those things that pander to the masses in order to attract votes. The potent question therefore is, to what extent will Portia Simpson Miller and her government be prepared to make unpopular decisions which in the long run will be in the nation's best interest? Also, how far will the Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party go to persuade the electorate that it is best suited to govern this nation? Are we to expect pie-in-the-sky promises that only help to perpetuate a culture of dependency instead of interdependency?


Some of the issues that should come to the fore in 2007 are crime-fighting, taking better care of the environment, campaign financing, employment generation, tackling corruption (both in high and low places), the equitable administering of justice, accountability (especially as this relates to public servants), road maintenance, garbage disposal, towards a more customer-friendly healthcare system, small business development, protecting the rights of the most vulnerable in the society (particularly children), and political violence (which is likely to rear its ugly head as the election campaign heats up). And yes, constitutional reform.


Of course, there are two other burning issues that have been somewhat sidelined and these are the future of Caricom and Jamaica's role in it as well as establishing a timetable towards Jamaica becoming a full-fledged republic. The departure of PJ Patterson from the Caricom roundtable has dealt a serious blow to this movement/organisation as his strident and persistent advocacy helped to push this long-held dream into reality. The JLP has always had a wishy-washy stance towards either economic or political unification in the Caribbean, and Portia Simpson Miller has given no indication so far that she is as excited about it as her immediate predecessor. However, it is an issue that needs to be dealt with urgently and it is my view that with respect to Caricom and most foreign policy-related matters, both the PNP and JLP should arrive at a national consensus so that the country can face the world on a united front. We are too small to be divided on such pivotal issues on the world stage.

In the meantime, after some 44 years of political independence, with the country's seeming inability to achieve economic independence, many Jamaicans have become impatient for change. Some will argue that a gradual developmental path should be the road taken, while others will maintain that some drastic changes need to be done now. In other words, should the nation espouse an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary path? Michael Manley and his Democratic Socialism aficionados embarked on such a path in the 70s and we have seen the results of that failed experiment although there were some lasting positives. Traditionally, the PNP has been more a party of change unlike the JLP that tends to embrace a conservative approach.

However, one of the reasons many Jamaicans warmed towards Portia Simpson Miller and have subsequently "gone back into their shells" (swelling the ranks of the uncommitted) is that Jamaicans want change. They are tired of the same-old-same-old. Bruce Golding appears to be thinking out of the box and has therefore attracted much support on the basis that many Jamaicans feel that he will dare to be a Daniel and not just seek to preside over the distribution of the spoils of office. If we are to move away from the politics of scarce benefits and spoils, then this is the year of decision. I daresay that any leader or party willing to make that quantum leap may well be surprised at the groundswell of support he or she will receive at the polls.

Yes, 2007 is the year of decision. Jamaica is at the crossroads. It can't be just a Sister P or Bruce thing. It has to be a question of how we can put Jamaica first which means that the people must remain at the centre of any decision-making process. Will the followership lead, for the first time at last?

To all my readers, a happy, prosperous, healthy and safe 2007!

- [email protected]

[Yuriatin]

Re: Year of transformation

If only her administration were able to 'step up to the pitch'.




http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m150/mavisthomas/getimage.png[/img]]Here's a picture I'm SURE she'd approve of!

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Year of transformation


Looks like she gwine get caught in the gully!

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Year of transformation

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Yuriatin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[img][/img]</div></div>

Collecting pay under false pretence

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Three reports in yesterday's edition of the Observer give us serious cause for concern about how we do or don't do things in this country. What each story has in common with the other is the stark fact that the problems being experienced could so easily have been avoided with just a little forward planning, or with people doing their work.

Let's start with the dust nuisance on South Camp Road in Kingston which forced some schools to send home students on the first day of the Easter term. This is preposterous.

Heavy dust and a lack of water due to the construction work being done for the ICC Cricket World Cup, was given as the reason for the suspension of classes at schools near Sabina Park.
If Alpha Primary principal, Phyllis Anderson is to be believed, and we have no reason to doubt her, since the road work started last term, the students were being severely affected by the dust from drilling being done by workmen using heavy equipment along the sidewalk at the entrance to the school.

"The dust is damaging to their health, and at times it is unbearable," Anderson is quoted as saying, adding that several open trenches along the sidewalks were also posing a danger to the students.
It's a clear case that the people who were supposed to deal with this matter have not. Do we care so little about the children, the future of our country? Are we to believe that it is not possible to protect our young ones while we undergo development?

In the second incident, parents of children at Bogue All-Age School in St Elizabeth kept their wards at home on Monday to protest against the decision of the Ministry of Education in December to terminate the employment of veteran teacher Junior Coley.

The parents contend that in short order, Mr Coley replaced disorder with discipline and they are unhappy that he has been overlooked for the job of principal, in favour of Ms Pauline McCalla, who had her first day at the school yesterday.

This is very untidy indeed. We take no consolation from Senator Noel Monteith who belatedly spent hours at the school assuring the disgruntled parents that he would be scheduling a meeting "at the earliest possible date" to resolve the issue.

This troublesome matter has been on the cards from last year. Why did the education ministry wait until the opening of school to attempt to resolve the matter?

In the third story, we are being assured that six Vertical Gel Electrophoresis (VGE) machines that have been sitting at the Kingston Wharves since last month waiting to be cleared, should shortly be in the hands of officials at the DNA department of the Government Forensic Laboratory.

The new equipment was acquired at a cost of US$10,000 and will replace six machines that had broken down under the overwhelming demands for DNA test results.
Had there been no problem over the identification of bodies believed to be that of the Lyns of Mandeville, it is safe to say that the equipment would have continued to sit on the wharves.

Obviously, we cannot continue this way as a nation. This crisis management approach must stop. We have to get to the point where we stop paying people who are collecting pay under false pretence, because they are not doing what they were employed to do.

[url]http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial...E_PRETENCE_.asp[/ulr]