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7/30/2019 Sectoral Presentation - Dr. Winston Green
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Contribution to the Annual Sectoral Debate
Wednesday May 22, 2013
Dr. Winston Green MP
St. Mary Southeastern
Greetings and Acknowledgements
Mr. Speaker, as I rise today in this Honourable House, I want to give
thanks to God for His protection and guidance over the years, without
Whom I would not be in this House today.
I want to give thanks to my family who stuck it out with me, who
understand my absences from home while I wasploughing the
political field. I appreciate the words of encouragement from my
children even when my political activities affected their emotional and
material wellbeing.
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To my mother, Veronica Green and my eldest sister Barbara who
brought me in the world of politics, and both reside in the United
States of America at present, but still follow my political progress, I
thank them. I want to include in this family my political mother, Aunt
May Clarke former Constituency Secretary for Eastern St. Andrew.
To the Rotary Movement in general, and the Rotary Club of Kingston
in particular, where I am a member for some twenty years (20), has
assisted in grooming me to be an upstanding citizen of this society.
Mr. Speaker, the people of South East St. Mary have given me the
privilege to be here, not only by their votes, but by their dedicated
work in securing the victory and also by their words of
encouragement and prayers.
I want to, for the millionth time, but for the first time from this
Honourable House, say a big thank you.
I know many of you are in the Gallery as I speak, and the others are
tuned in via television right now.
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I would like to express gratitude to some persons for their assistance
given to me in running of the Constituencylike Yvonne Williams,
Sharon Brown, Valerie Walters, Tanya Bentley, Junior Johnson, Dwight
Sanderson, Desmond Riley, et al.
I want to welcome the students along with their teachers of the
Annotto Bay High School who are here today.
My Councillors who are here, and, who have been giving me
tremendous support in the administration of the Constituency,
Mr. Kevin Golding and His Worship the Mayor of Port Maria,
Councillor Levan Freeman who is doing a tremendous job in his
capacity as Mayor. Also with us are Councillor Caretakers Wayne
Campbell and Patrick Mcleod.
I want to also salute former Member of Parliament Mr. Harry Douglas
whose advice and counsel are highly appreciated.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Prime Minister of Jamiaca, The Most
Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller for giving me the opportunity to
serve the people of South East St. Mary. Her advice, her
encouragement and her assistance have been timely and well
appreciated, not only as my Prime Minister, but also as a loving,
caring big sister. I thank you Madam Prime Minister.
Whether she realizes every single thing her heart conceives in the
interest of upliftment of the poor and oppressed in our Society, it is a
shared belief that she is a great human being.
Mr. Speaker before I start, I would like to commend the previous
speakers, a whole grouping of young persons, the eldest being in his
forties and the youngest aged thirty who rocked the House yesterday.
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Mr. Speaker, in my short presentation this afternoon, I wish to briefly
outline a few of our achievements as a Constituency since I was sworn
in as Member of Parliament some fifteen (15)months ago. I also wish
to share with you some of our plans and also the needs and
aspirations of my Constituents. It is a bitter sweet reality Mr. Speaker.
Roads
Mr. Speaker, I have inherited a Constituency riddled with extremely
bad roads among other challenges. If anything was done in the
recent past in the Constituency, it certainly was not on the roads. The
echoes of the cries for better roads could still be heard in 2012 when I
took office as the new Member of Parliament. The miles and miles of
roadway from Grandy Hole off the Junction Main Road, to Scotts Hall
to Comfort Valley to Richmond was a nightmare. Roads such as Long
Road, Camberwell, Epsom, Enfield Belfield, Brainerd, Gibbs Hill, Zion
Hill, and I could go on and on, were in the same deplorable condition.
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Even the Main Corridor, the Junction Road from St. Andrew to
Annotto Bay was something to avoid if at all possible. Farming
communities such as Rose Mount had no road whatsoever.
Mr. Speaker, I can say that the process of repairing many of these
roads has started in earnest and for this I wish to thank the Minister
of Transport, Works and Housing, the Honourable Omar Davis and
the Minister of State, Honourable Richard Azan for facilitating this
process thus far.
Mr. Speaker, in the past when anyone talked about a hot spot of
angry persons because of their road condition, it would be the
Community of Enfield. Every monthly community meetings were
taken up with the subject. I have full knowledge because I attended
those meetings years back, even as a Candidate for Member of
Parliament. There were countless demonstrations by the residents,
endless calls to the talk shows, but to no avail.
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I too, in my own way then,advocated for the fixing of this road.
Persons might recall, after being elected as Member of Parliament, I
publicly stated in one of our daily newspapers that if this road was
not repaired, I would not face the electorate again!
This road is approximately eight and a half (8 ) miles long and serve
several communities such as Fort Stewart, Juno Pen, Reddington,
Enfield proper, leading up to the community of Forty-oneand
beyond to May River and Tinsbury, all well populated communities
totaling more than seven thousand residents, one way in, one way
out, no alternative route.
Thousandsof lives were affected, from students attending school in
and outside of the Community, workers travelling daily, and farmers
in moving their produce out to market.
It also affected the smooth access of the emergency services such as
the ambulance, police and fire brigade. It was a slow, dangerous and
bumpy ride.
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Mr. Speaker, I am happy to report that late last year, I attended one of
these same community meetings and the new cry was for the
installation of sleeping police as that eight and a half
(8 ) miles of road was rehabilitated at a cost of over one hundred
million ($100M).
I was heartened when a Constituent of the said community called me
to tell me that her grand-aunt fell ill during the night and what would
have normally taken twenty-five to thirty
(25-30) minutes to get to the Annotto Bay Hospital driving carefully,
now took five (5) minutes, now that the road is fixed. Not only that
Mr. Speaker, she also told me her that the Doctor told her that due to
the nature of the illness, had it been a rough ride down and more
delay, she would not have made it.
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The people of that community are everlastingly grateful to the
Government for responding to their plight and have asked me to
convey this sentiment today. Mr. Speaker, it was a promise made and
a promise kept.
Mr. Speaker, the approximate twelve(12) miles of roadway from
Grandy Hole off the Junction Main Road, through to Scotts Hall, Rock
River, Comfort Valley and Richmond have been repaired from the
Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP). The
Constituents of these communities which amount to thousands have
also asked me to convey thanks.
Approximately four (4) miles of rehabilitative work was done on the
Annotto Bay to Fort George Road which included the placing of
Gabion Baskets in strategic areas.
They also send their thanks.
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Approximately six and a half (6 ) miles of road was repaired from
Richmond to Rose Hill which included repair to a massive and
treacherous breakaway in the Barracks River area that was posing
great danger to persons living in that community and also from many
adjoining communities.
I convey thanks on their behalf.
Repair was done to the Highgate to Richmond Road, Richmond to
Kendal, Orange Hill to Clermont, although not completed, I was asked
to convey thanks Mr. Speaker.
The length and breadth of the Junction Road from St. Andrew to
Annotto Bay, our main Corridor, not only to St. Mary but to Portland
and St. Thomas, has been completely rehabilitated.
Mr. Speaker, you might recall in early 2011, it was televised that an
outpatient at the Annotto Bay Hospital was walking along the
Hospitals roadway, fell into a pothole and broke a limb.
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Mr. Speaker, if someone should fall on the road now, that individual
would be sliding smoothly down the grade as this road has been fully
resurfaced.
This however is by no way a request for people to test the
smoothness of the road by falling.
Doctors, nurses, other staffs and patients and all users of the Facility
are grateful.
Along the shoreline, where the Highway runs through Annotto Bay,
we have discovered that the sea has claimed some amount of the
land to the extent where portions of the roadway is dangerously
undermined. Money has been identified and granted for the
shoreline protection work in these areas.
Mr. Speaker, the loud cry from the people from the Belfield
communities has been heard and a segment of that roadway is now
being repaired.
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Mr. Speaker, from Jamaica EmergencyEmployment Programme
(JEEP), Phase One (1) the neglected community of Rosemount
exhaled with a sigh of relief as their rocky, uphill dirt-tracked road
received limited rehabilitation by scraping and laying of shingle as a
start. Let me hasten to say, Mr. Speaker, that this is just a start as the
road needs to be repaired.
A section of Grays Inn received the same treatment under the Jamaica
EmergencyEmployment Programme (JEEP) Phase One (1). Mr.
Speaker, knowing the limited fiscal space in which we operate, we are
extremely grateful.
The Westmoreland Bridge (this is in St. Mary), leading off the Junction
Road accessing the communities of Lewis Store, Clonmel, Ranch,
Cromwelland and others to the town of Highgate had collapsed from
2007 during Hurricane Gustav .
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Many appeals went out in those years that followed, demonstrations,
call to radio programmes for repairs, as it was the main road to access
these communities and to the town of Highgate. Business along this
route became stagnant or dead as without the bridge, merchants,
vehicular traffic, passer-by and daily commuters suffered great time
and monetary loss.
I am happy to report today Mr. Speaker, that at a cost of fifteen
million United States dollars (US$15M), this Bridge has been rebuilt
from scratch, bigger and better,and will be reopened within a few
months, possible weeks. That Mr. Speaker is progress.
Mr. Speaker, with all the repairs to roads afore mentioned, the state
of disrepair among others is cause for major concern and disquiet in
the Constituency of Southeast St. Mary.
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The Epsom Road, Long Road, Camberwell, same Rosemount that was
started, Baxters Mountain, Belfield Pen, Belfield Line, Brainerd, Jobs
Hill, Gibbs Hill, just to name a few, Mr. Speaker are in need of repairs.
A Constituency that borders three (3) Parishes namely, Portland, St.
Andrew and St. Catherine and comprises many hilly terrains, the road
situation will be a challenge and it is impossible to be resolved in a
short space of time, but with the representation and advocacy that I
continue to make on the behalf of my Constituents, I am sure that the
progress which has started will continue.
Mr. Speaker, I feel their pain, and I understand their impatience as
they have been enduring for a long, long time. In the same breath, I
wish to congratulate them for the responsible manner in which they
have conducted themselves, being knowledgeable and
demonstrating an understanding of the fragile state of the Country at
this time. (repeat)
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I know their hope is hinged on the fact that they have good
leadership and that the Country is ready to move in the right
direction. With everything that is happening to put the Country on
the right track for development and growth, they prefer this Pathway
to move them forward.
Hurricane Sandy 2012
Mr. Speaker, the passage of Hurricane Sandy 2013 made a bad
situation worse. As you can recall, mainly the three (3) eastern
Parishes namely St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary felt the full effect.
It wreaked havoc to our roads, hillsides, river courses, housing and
economic crops. The subsequent heavy rains that followed shortly
after, added insult to injury, but, Mr. Speaker, the response to the
Government was swift and the life of the Constituency returned to
normality in short order.
No resources were spared in having the roadway cleared in a timely
manner.
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Many of our farmers who lost their crops during the Hurricane,
received assistance from the Rural Agricultural Development
Authority (RADA).
Constituents, some of whosehouses got damaged received monetary
assistance of up to the tune of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000.00) to
effect repairs on their houses.
Some twenty-five (25) Fisher-folks received cheques in the sum of
sixteen thousand dollars each ($16,000.00) to effect repairs to or
purchase fishing equipment.
The Annotto Bay Hospital which was badly affected, especially the
Accident and Emergency section followed by the Paediatric Ward
received swift attention from the Ministry of Health and the Minister
himself who visited and toured the facility and some sixty million
dollars ($60M) was allocated without delay to repair same.
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Here, I want to thank the RJR Communications Group who garnered
funds including my contribution from the Constituency Development
Fund to assist in the Hospital.
We also sawminor repairs to the Annotto Bay Health Centre, to the
sum of two million, two hundred thousand dollars ($2.2M). Enfield
Health Centre, approximately four hundred and fifty thousand dollars
($450,000.00) for repairs, and, while on the subject of Health Centres,
I am happy to inform that the Brainerd Health Centre was constructed
at a sum of twelve million, nine hundred thousand dollars ($12.9M)
and is ready for opening.
Mr. Speaker, the Annotto Bay Police Station was also affected during
the passing of Hurricane Sandy 2012, the Minister of National
Security visited during the aftermath and without delay, funds were
allocated to effect repairs.
This will be done in two phases.
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Phase 1 was completed at a cost of approximately six million dollars
($6M) and Phase 2 which is not yet completed is estimated to cost
approximately ten million six hundred thousand ($10.6M).
The Ministry of Housing in conjunction with Food For The Poor (FFP)
are effecting the building of houses for some of the affected persons.
Mr. Speaker, hours before the Hurricane, I was in the Constituency
advising persons to batten down their windows and doors. One of
the areas I visited was the Coastal community of Annotto Bay where
houses are perched precariously, just feet from the seashore. I could
already see the potential danger from the surges that were already
taking place.
In my visit to that same community in the aftermath of the Hurricane,
I ran a political risk of telling the persons that I would not allow
monies to be spent to rebuild on the seacoast as it poses danger not
only to property, but to life. I told them that relocation was the only
solution.
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Mr. Speaker, the rest is history.
They readily agreed, and I subsequently had dialogue with the
Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, which in conjunction with
Food For The Poor are building twenty-two (22) houses and are still
looking at the possibility of building more houses to relocate these
residents. That is caring, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it is well established that the Jamaican Anancy game
was played by some unscrupulous persons who got benefits not
proportional to damages received,and I dare to say some also got
benefits although they received no damages whatsoever, whilst
persons who received major damages, got nothing and this has
caused a little ill-will in the Constituency.
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Most persons understand that this has come from deception of
unscrupulous persons among them rather than any biases from
Government, so nevertheless, the majority are saying thanks to the
Government for the swift response to their plight.
Water
Mr. Speaker, next to road , the issue of water is of great concern in
the Constituency. The amount of calls I receive daily complaining of
the lack of the commodity shows that this is high on the hierarchy of
needs and I want to spend a few minutes dealing with it.
Even with the commissioning of the water supply system, eg. in
Enfield and one commissioned at Broadgate to supply that and
adjoining communities, the supply remains inadequate.
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The water supply network throughout the Constituency, and, indeed
the entire Parish of St. Mary dates back to the 1950s. These aged
infrastructure are now undersized due to the expansions and
developments in the Parish. These challenges have contributed to
unacceptable levels of services.
Mr. Speaker, I can now comfort the Constituents of Southeast St.
Mary, through the Water Supply Parish Plan (WSPP) will be spending
some ten billion dollars ($10B) over the next twenty years in carrying
out a number of water supply rehabilitation and upgrading work
which will lead to improvement on the water supply pressure and
service reliability.
Constituents from Annotto Bay, Iterboreale Housing Scheme and
Gibraltar Housing Scheme where the pump of Cresses breaks down
almost monthly, or those in the elevated areas who constantly suffer
from low water pressure during the day time.your problem will
soon be solved with the plans ahead.
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This involves the:
1. Laying of new pipes
2. New storage tanks
3. New well to be commissioned at Agualta Vale to boost the
system.
Constituents of Castleton and Friendship Gap supplied by the
Castleton system will benefit from the replacement of pipelines and
new tanks and upgrading of pumping unit.
Constituents of Richmond, Lewis Store, Clonmel, Belfield, Orange
River Housing Scheme, Albany and Zion Hill served by the Iterboreale
and Enfield system will get similar improvement with the construction
of three (3) major storage tanks, one (1) at Enfield, One (1) at Dover
and the other one (1) at Epsom along with the upgrading of the
pumping unit.
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Constituents of Clarke Castle, Mt. Vernon and Platfield will benefit
after the laying of new pipes and the construction of a two thousand
(2000) gallon water tank.
Marlborough, Hope Well, Bungo Town, Orange River, you too will see
improvement from your Martha Hall System.
Brainerd, Sue River and Lewisburgh (the latter is without piped water)
will see improvement with the planned rehabilitation of the Brainerd
System.
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to have spent so much time on the proposed
Water Supply Parish Plan (WSPP) but my Constituents also realize that
water is life and the lack thereof brings great distress.
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Housing
Mr. Speaker we want to thank the Government for the twenty Food
For The Poor houseswhich were given to the Constituency.
We are thankful for the Nashville Housing Scheme being developed
by the National Housing Trust in the Cromwell Land area of the
Constituency. This will entail sixty three (63) service lots along with
forty four (44) units that will be built by the Trust.
This, Mr. Speaker, will increase the housing stock in the Constituency.
In the Fort Stewart area Mr. Speaker, subdivisions for over one
hundred (100) were done for housing. We have been having dialogue
with the Minister and, the St. Mary Parish Council which has so far
done a Site visit and given their recommendations.
We are still looking around for suitable Government lands to do
similar ventures to increase the housing stock in the Constituency.
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Postal Service
Mr. Speaker I know that limited time is given to me, but I am trying to
pack in a number of important issues. I am trying to express not only
the gratitude but also the complaints of my Constituents. With
respect to Post Officesand Postal Agencies, there is not one in the
Constituency that is not in a state of disrepair, Post Offices like
Annotto Bay, Long Road, Scotts Hall and Belfield to name a few.
Some are even threatened with temporary or permanent closure.
While the majority of us use Tablets and iPhones, etcetera, we now
text, tweet, email, WhatsApp, online banking, etcetera, we need to
remember Grandma Lucille who needs to collect her little pension
money or buy her stamp and post her hand-written letter to her
granddaughter Kimmy in Connecticut.
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Mr. Speaker, we still require efficient and cost effective postal and
related services and whilst the Minister is doing very well in various
areas of his large Portfolio, my Constituency is asking you to take
another look in their direction.
Education
Mr. Speaker, in the field of Education, we have been playing our part
through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to assist in this
National Thrust. Last Financial year, we spent some Five Million
dollars ($5M) or one third (1/3) of the Fund directly or indirectly in
that regard. In Education, we were able to assist a record number of
students at all levels. Students at the Primary, All-Age, High-School
and Vocational levels were assisted with Back-to-School Vouchers.
Early Childhood was not left out. Our Basic School Children were
assisted with School Fees and other materials.
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Mr. Speaker we have established what we call the Bright Future
Programme where no child at the Basic School age should be out of
school because their parents cannot pay their school fees. We know
the importance of an early start in that, good Basic School children
make good Primary School children and good Primary School
children make good High School Children.
Similarly, good High School children make good Tertiary and good
Tertiary make good Professionals, so wherever such a child is
identified, his or her school fee, and where possible other school need
is paid for from the Constituency Development Fund.
A programme was formulated to give many young persons a second
chance of obtaining their (CXC) through classes paid for through the
Constituency Development Fund. Many from the Tertiary Institutions
got College and University Fees paid also.
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Mr. Speaker, it grieves my heart that even after this expenditure and
assistance given otherwise, there are still parents who are finding it
extremely difficult.
The statistics of negative results are frightening.
The Minister of Education has reminded us that National
Development and personal growth cannot succeed without
educational transformation and that all of us must therefore take a
share of the responsibility. I am indeed heartened by the plans for
education for this financial year and beyond and also the focus on
Literacy and Numeracy, and Vocational Skill Training.
Just last week I heard the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministryof
Transport, Worksand Housing speaking to an audience where he
described the majority of labour force in St. Mary as unskilled.
This is so true Mr. Speaker, that many times you wish to assist but
cant because of the lack of proficiency in literacy and numeracy or
the lack of certified skills.
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I want to thank you Mr. Minister of Education for the intended Adult
High School Diploma Equivalent (HSDE) which is to be offered at the
Career Advancement Programme (CAP) and Jamaica Foundation for
Lifelong Learning (JFLL), Entrepreneurship and Innovation abound.
We must develop the human capital. Big development such as the
Logistics Hub represent some US nine billion (US$9B) of foreign direct
investment with the prospect of generating tens of thousands of jobs
in a variety of fields deriving from the construction and operational
phases. Even if the majority of my Constituents do not fully grasp the
term Logistics Hub they must relate to it directly by participating in
these developments. It is a part of my duty, Mr. Speaker, to prepare
them through training.
As such, Mr. Speaker, we are looking at reviving the Skill Training
Centre at the Broadgate Community where the focus was on Garment
manufacturing and welding which ceased operation sometime in
2008. Plans are well ahead, Mr. Speaker, to restart this Skill Training
Centre with even new focus.
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Mr. Speaker, the Annotto Bay High School lies on some twenty-five
(25) acres of land. Rooms were constructed for a Vocational Training
Centre, by former Member of Parliament, Harry Douglas, but due to
the lack of classroom space, this area is now being utilized for
classrooms. We need to build new facilities and implement
programmesto start a Vocational Skill Centre there, not only for the
Annotto Baycommunity but also to include adjoining communities.
Discussions have started Mr. Speaker in this regard.
The Cape Clear property in the Lewis Store area comprises some forty
(40) acres of arable lands. This is another area for Skill Training in
various areas but must include crop production and animal
husbandry.
This idea was being worked on as early as last year but had come
upon some setbacks. It will certainly come to fruition in this financial
year of 2013-2014.
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Agriculture
Mr. Speaker, since I amon the subject of Agriculture, I want to remind
the Minister of Agriculture that we have acres upon acres of unused
arable lands, some owned by private individuals who have no interest
in Agriculture again, some who have migrated, some have willed
these properties to children who have no interest in farming and also
a great portion of these lands are owned by Government.
To compliment that Mr. Speaker, we have thousands of Constituents,
the majority are young and idle, not by choice but by their situation,
who are willing to farm these lands.
Mr. Speaker, we need to put those lands into agricultural productions.
The equation is acres of idle lands plus hundreds of idle hands
together equals agricultural production.
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Of the nine (9) proposed Agro Parks/Agro Farms, I was a bit surprised
that St. Mary was not chosen as one of the Pilots, but being
somewhat parochial, I had word with the Minister of Agriculture who
assured me that St. Mary is being considered and, I have no doubt
that the Southeastern section is ideal.
We are therefore searching and identifying lands for this and other
agricultural ventures.
Our soils have produced some of the best graded ginger in the world.
Turmeric also grows well there.
Mr. Speaker the Cocoa which was one of the main stay of the Parish
in the past, has lost its place of pride. This is partly due to the fact
that the farmers were badly remunerated for their produce with
payments not forthcoming months after delivery of the beans.
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This will soon see a change Mr. Speaker as there is renewed interest
in the crop as the French, will take up our Cocoa at a higher price as it
is currently being sold for and the new buyers will be more generous
in terms of payment schedule.
I have had talks with the President of the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers
Association and we have developed a programme to train persons
from the constituency who will visit existing Farms to do clearing,
pruning and impart knowledge to these farmers which will assist in
the rehabilitation of the crop.
The cost of this programme Mr. Speaker will be borne by the
Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Banana and plantain is also
on the rise again, and I want to commend the farmers for their
resilience as many had lost most of their crops during the passing of
Hurricane Sandy. I would also like to thank the European Union for
their tremendous assistance through grants etc which assisted greatly
in the resurgence and diversification into other crops.
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Bees
Mr. Speaker we will be using funds from the Constituency
Development Fund to train persons in Apiculture, as we realized that
there is great potential in this area, not only in Honey production but
also in the by-products.
Aquaculture
There is an existing Ornamental Fish rearing project in the
constituency which went dormant over time. We intend to in this
financial year revive same and I have been having dialogue with an
expert and invester in the field, with the intention of training persons
in the field and thereafter furnishing them with vats and the necessary
equipment along with fish for their own investment. Mr. Speaker,
research shows that there is good returns in the overseas market of
North America for ornamental fish.
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Mr. Speaker, I inherited a Goat Mother Farm Programme which too
had ran-down and most of the goats were actually distributed weeks
before the 2011 general elections. This depleted the stock to the
extent where it was not feasible to maintain for the original objective
of breeding and distributing to farmers for increased production.
My intention is to restart this project in this financial year as we
consume tons of goat meat per year, and as we all are aware the
greater portion is imported and it does not have the same taste as
our local goats.
Anything to assist the farmersand to improve on our food security
should be given serious thought.
Pig Rearing Mother Farm
Mr. Speaker, we have a pig rearing mother farm where we took three
million dollars ($3M) from the CDF last financial year to establish.
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Like the goat programme it is to breed good quality pigs, train
farmers in pig rearing then distribute the animals to them for
breeding.
Sports and Culture
The Prime Minister in her presentation reiterated that culture and
creative industries are an important part of our growth agenda. They
create avenues for social expressions, jobs and will help generate
additional streams of revenues. She also said that a cultural and
creative industries commission is being established to promote
growth and development in this area. Mr. Speaker, St. Mary is a
cultural potpourri from the Maroons of Scotts Hall to our modern
performers who have excelled both locally and internationally.
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St. Mary produces cultural icons and entertainers such as Oliver
Samuels, Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Capleton, Beris Hammond,
Ninjaman, Josey Wales, Tanya Stephens, Hopeton James, One of the
members of One Third, Determine, Clonmel Culture Group among
others.
In sports we have our future sunshine girls and our talented
footballers who hail from clubs like Axum, Grays Inn Football Club
and Highgate Football Club but do not have a home field in the entire
St. Mary to play.
That is why Mr. Speaker, I, along with my fellow Members of
Parliament from St. Mary have each donated seven hundred thousand
dollars ($700,000.00)from our Constituency Development Fund along
with Jamaica Producers Group and other Stakeholders to build stands
and other facilities to accommodate football up to Premiere league
standard. The ultimate goal is to transform it to a Mini Stadium.
The annual stage show, A St. Mary Mi Come From is held in the
Constituency. Mr. Speaker, following in this fine tradition, we will be
formulating aTalent Hunt Programmein the performing arts.
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These talents will be identified and persons assisted in future training
and exposure so that they can grasp any opportunity that may
present itself.
Mr. Speaker, the parties that we commonly called Round-Robin are a
great medium, for friends and family to meet, socialize and have fun.
They provide recreation and income in the form of the oldtime
partner-draw that we are so used to.
Let me make it clear, Mr. Speaker that I am not for promoting the
extreme night noises and dances until wee hours of the morning, as a
matter of fact the law now stipulates the time frame for these events
and we must abide by them. I am however making a public appeal to
our local security heads to ease up on the seemingly clamping down
of permission for these events.
Mr. Speaker, as soon as we have started to resolve some of the old
challenges, new ones evolve. Just last week I was talking to four (4)
ladies in the Belfield area of the Constituency and in summarizing, I
could see that the temptation exist for some to lose heart and
despair.
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But, I was encouraged Mr. Speaker, when one of the ladies said, and I
quote:
you are doing something for my son that has kept him in college,
and his father is now working at the Nashville Housing site.
She continued to say Mr. Speaker that:
the same way that the Belfield Road has been really bad for years
and now repairs have started, we just have to understand and be
patient.
Not only am I encouraged by these simple pronouncements but it
provides an impetuous to make strong representations and
passionate advocacy for my Constituents who harbour justified
expectations and aspirations.
If we are to seriously move towards realizing the relatively modest but
at the same time, relatively noble objectives of Vision 2030, certain
fundamental issues will have to be addressed now.
We cannot continue to echo catchy slogans and rhetoric that are
pleasing to the ears, nor can we simply play to the Gallery.
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If I should do that Mr. Speaker, my conscience would not allow me to
have a good meal and sleep well, if I do not become the voice of my
down trodden constituents. That is why here I have to talk up the
things.
That is why it is not enough to seek stop gap fixes to our problems.
We have to seek enduring and sustainable solutions.
I believe in what my Prime Minister says when she states that
Balancing the book while balancing peoples lives is a journey, not an
event.
Mr. Speaker, while we as a Constituency seek our development and
upliftment, we are mindful that as a part of the whole growth agenda,
the North/South Highway, the Kingston container terminal: the
Logistics Hum; diversification of our Tourism markets and the Agro
Parks will have its positive effects on us too and our share of pie is
there for the taking.
Mr. Speaker, at one stage St. Mary was regarded as the poorest Parish
in the Country, we have come from behind and are moving with well
thought out strides.
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I am convinced Mr. Speaker, that Southeast St. Mary will take its
rightful place in a developed Jamaica. When Jamaica fully becomes
the place to live, work, raise families and do business.
Southeast St. Mary will be a desired choice. Mr. Speaker, May God
Bless Jamaica, Land We Love.
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