Update newsletter oct 2013 dec 2013

Vision 2030 Jamaica Update Vol. 6 Issue # 4

ISSN 0799 –2386 ISSN 0799 –2386

Youth Ambassador in Action…

Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador 2013, Krystal Tomlinson, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2013, has ‘hit the ground running’ in spreading the Vision 2030 Jamaica message among young people across the island. Share in her many activities on Page 2

IN THIS ISSUE

ISSN 0799 –2386

ISSN 0799 –2386

A Quarterly Newsletter of the Planning Institute of Jamaica

UPDATE

APRIL 2013 – JUNE 2013


OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2013


ISSN 0799 –2386

ISSN 0799 –2386

The Dashboard captures 46 indicators that are appropriately aligned to the four National Goals and fifteen National Outcomes under Vision 2030 Jamaica. It includes metadata that give a brief definition of the indicators with links to the Vision 2030 Jamaica – National Development Plan and two-year (2009-2011) Progress Report. Indicators are presented in an interactive graphical format, allowing the user to view their performance over time and benchmark these relative to targets. By using the feature of a traffic signal, users may quickly determine whether the indicator is on- or- off track based on targets set for the years 2012, 2015 and 2030. Representatives from the public and private sectors, civil society, International Development Partners (IDPs) and the media were among those who attended.

The Dashboard is accessible at: www. vision2030.gov.jm

Stakeholders at home and abroad can now track Jamaica’s progress through the Vision 2030 Jamaica e-Dashboard of National Indicators— the country’s first online interactive platform which provides users with a quick snapshot of how Jamaica is meeting its national development targets. Deputy Principal, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Professor Ishenkumba Kahwa, launched the e-Dashboard on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston. He welcomed the introduction of the online tool which he said “is a step in the right direction” and underscored the importance of science, technology and innovation in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national development plans and programmes. PIOJ Director General, Mr. Colin Bullock noted that the Dashboard was an important avenue for everyone to participate in the development process.

More…

Thematic Working Groups……………...... P.4

PIOJ & Vision 2030 Jamaica Cop Local Govt./SDC Awards…………......…………....P.5

Youth Amb. Report (cont’d)..…………….. P.5

Outreach & Consultations…………………..P.6

Next Steps/Bite of the Quarter…………..P.7

What’s Happening? …………………………. P.7

Our Vision for Jamaica……………………. P.8

Tracking Our Progress Vision 2030 Jamaica Programme Director, Mr. Richard Lumsden (r), updates the media on progress under Vision 2030 Jamaica during the PIOJ Press Briefing, November 19, 2013. Seated at centre is PIOJ Director General, Mr. Colin Bullock; and at left, Director, Economic Policy & Research

Division, Mr. James Stewart. Page 3

Online Interactive Platform now Tracks Jamaica’s Development Progress

HOMEPAGE:

VISION 2030

JAMAICA

E-DASHBOARD OF

NATIONAL INDICATORS

http://www.vision2030.gov.jm/

VISION 2030 JAMAICA UPDATE | Volume 6 Issue # 3 2

Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business

July 2013 – September 2013

Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador 2014, Ms. Krystal Tomlinson, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2013, (centre), poses with attendees at the International Students’ Panel Discussion, UWI, Mona, November 19, 2013.

VISION 2030 JAMAICA YOUTH AMBASSADOR IN ACTION

During the months of November and December, there were

several events held islandwide, organized around the commemoration of Youth Month. I was humbled to have been invited to share as a youth advocate and cultural ambassador. Students were vocal in all fora and were very articulate about the direction they wish to see their country take as well as the role they are willing to play to actualize Vision 2030 Jamaica.

[Below are the activities in which I was involved.]

November 14, 2013 – Guest Speaker, Manchester High School Prize Giving Ceremony. Audience: Approximately 250 students, staff, parents and well-wishers. I presented on the role of each awardee in building school and community, and actualizing the future each wants to see using Vision 2030 Jamaica as the premise.

Nov. 19, 2013– Chairperson, International Students’ Panel Discussion, UWI, Mona. Audience: 200 students engaged in socio-political discussions on the role of leadership (political and otherwise) in creating a path for youth development. Panelists included: Members of Parliament, the Hon. Damion Crawford and the Hon. Dayton Campbell, as well as Generation 2000 President Floyd Green. The sector goals for Vision 2030 Jamaica set the framework for the discussion. This gave the youth the chance to debate the feasibility of achieving some of these targets by 2030. Participants identified strategies that would get them closer to meeting these targets.

November 20, 2013– Presenter, National Youth Policy Review Conference. Audience: approximately 1 000 young persons. I was drafted as a project affiliate for the UWI Consultancy Services to lead a discussion on anti-crime and restorative justice as a component of the National Youth Policy that is currently under revision. I used the caucus deliberations to highlight the need for creating an environment that prevents crime while reintegrating youth offenders. Goal 2 of Vision 2030 Jamaica was used to make the case for creating a “Secure, Cohesive and Just” society.

November 20, 2013 – Debater, Young Women’s Leadership Debate on Gender Equality, UWI, Mona. Audience: Approximately 200 students and civil society leaders. The Vision 2030 Jamaica Sector Plan on Gender was referenced as an argument in support of quotas in the political process. My teammate, Ricardo Brooks, and I were named winning team and I received the award for Best Speaker.

ISSN 0799 –2386

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The Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador initiative, now in its second year, is one of several collaborative efforts between the JCDC and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat.

The partnership which began in 2011 is aimed at using positive youth role models to promulgate information on Vision 2030 Jamaica, through creative channels to all stakeholders, especially their peers, at home and abroad.

Above: Ms. Tomlinson during her presentation at the National Youth Policy Review conference, November 20, 2013.

Below: The Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador (Front row, left) at the Manchester High School Prize Giving Award Ceremony, November 14, 2013.

More on p 5…




Tracking Our Progress … (As presented at the PIOJ Quarterly Press Briefing, November, 19, 2013)

In this issue, we report on two main indicators of

national well-being—Education Status and Security Status — both of which show mixed results.

DID YOU KNOW…? The National Dashboard of Indicators of National Well-Being includes selected indicators that track progress towards achieving the National Goals, and their corresponding Outcomes, of Vision 2030 Jamaica – National Development Plan. The Dashboard lists the metrics (see table National Dashboard of Indicators) that have been designed to track progress under the Plan and reports on their past, current and targeted future values. These metrics reflect concurrence with the increasing global recognition of the limits of GDP as an indicator of economic performance and national development.

Vision 2030 Jamaica Programme Director, Mr. Richard Lumsden presents the National Dashboard of Indicators which provides an update on the progress of implementation of Vision 2030 Jamaica, at the PIOJ’s Quarterly Press Briefing, November, 19, 2013 at the PIOJ.

Security Status

Serious and Violent Crimes— murder, shooting, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, break-ins and larceny— (formerly classified as Major Crimes), amounted to 261 per 100,000 population over the January – September 2013 period, a decline of 12.1 per cent from 297 per 100,000 population over the similar period in 2012.

The murder rate was 32.9 per 100,000 population up 5.3 per cent from 31.2 per 100,000 population over the similar period in 2012.

The increase in the murder

Education & Training

In Education, 31.9 per cent of students sitting the CSEC examinations in 2013 attained passes in five or more subjects, including English Language and/or Mathematics, unchanged from the 31.9 per cent of students attaining similar passes in 2012.

National Goal # 2: The Jamaican Society is Secure, Cohesive and Just




Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) in Action… Thematic Working Groups across all sectors were busy

during the quarter, with some groups being established and others— dormant during the completion of the 2012-2015 Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF) — reconvened. TWGs in action were: Hazard Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change; Environmental Management and Planning; Tourism; Education and Training; National Security; Health; and Governance.

Social Sector

A number of activities were completed under the Social Sector component, as below.

Education and Training

The first meeting of the reconvened Education and Training TWG was held on November 21, 2013. It was hosted by the Ministry of Education at its Heroes Circle Office and chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Elaine Foster-Allen, who was supported by the Vice-Chair, Dr. Wayne Wesley, Executive Director, HEART Trust/NTA. Those present included public sector organizations, representational groups and International Development Partners (IDPs).

Focus was given to: identifying challenges and formulating policy prescriptions and programmes; improving the alignment of organizational corporate plans with the MTF 2012 – 2015; and improving coordination and harmonization of educational development programmes to channel resources to priority areas. The next meeting is to be held in January 2014.

National Security and Justice

The National Security and Justice TWG was split into two: (1) National Security TWG; and (2) Justice TWG. This action resulted from a decision taken by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of National Security and Justice.

Th At The National Security TWG held its first meeting on

November 26, 2013. The event was hosted by the Ministry of National Security at its Oxford Road Office and chaired by the Permanent Secretary (PS), Major General Stewart Saunders. The meeting brought together a cross section of major actors in the area of National Security, including, Ministries, Departments and agencies (MDAs) and International Development Partners.

R Members were eager to collaborate to harmonize and

improve the coordination of efforts geared to improve National Security and achieve national development

goals. The next meeting is to be held in the first quarter of 2014.

Justice

The Plan Development Unit (PDU) is currently in discussions with the Ministry of Justice, to confirm the membership of the TWG and host its first meeting.

Health

The first meeting of the reconvened Health TWG was held on December 5, 2013 at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), 16 Oxford Road. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Sonia Copeland, Director – Policy Planning and Development, Ministry of Health on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jean Dixon.

The event brought together representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including Regional Health Authorities, as well as International Development Partners (IDPs); and provided a forum for attendees to share their concerns and recommendations for the development of the health sector. Members agreed that a meeting would be held to re-examine the national development indicators for health; and that they would provide feedback on the draft work plan and membership list.

The next meeting is to be held during the first quarter of 2014.

Members of the National Security TWG during the meeting held on November 26, 2013 at the Ministry’s Oxford Road office.

THEMATIC WORKING GROUPS (TWGS) have been set up as an important part of the Vision 2030 Jamaica monitoring and evaluation system.

TWG members are senior technical representatives from Government, civil society, private sector and the international development community.

Each group is chaired by a Permanent Secretary or Senior Government official.

DID YOU KNOW?

Governance Sector Launches TWG …

The Governance TWG (G-TWG) is now up and running. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, The Hon. Noel Arscott, M.P., launched the “multi-stakeholder mechanism that [will] support implementation and monitoring of the priorities for the Governance thematic area of the Medium Term Socio Economic Policy Framework (MTF) for Vision 2030 Jamaica”, on December 17, 2013, at the Ministry’s Hagley Park Road office.

Sustainable Development Specialist, Elizabeth Emanuel makes a point at the meeting of the Environmental Management and Planning TWG, on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at the PIOJ.

Dr. Sonia Copeland (left), Chairperson for the Health TWG meeting held on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at the PIOJ, listens to the PAHO/WHO Representative, Ms. Margareta Skold.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development (left), accepts a copy of the Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF) 2012 – 2o15 from Vision 2030 Jamaica Programme Director, Mr. Richard Lumsden, at the G-TWG launch.




December 5, 2013 – Guest Presenter:

8th Annual Caribbean Disaster Management Conference, Wyndham Rosehall Hotel, Montego Bay. Audience: Approximately 200 persons attended. The event was also streamed live on the Internet. I was asked to present my MSc. Research proposal which focuses on Disaster Risk Reduction and persons with disabilities. In introducing the issue, the link was made between natural disasters and national development in small island developing states (SIDS). Goal 4 of Vision 2030 Jamaica was used to set the premise for the discussion on reducing our risk to hazards.

Special focus was given to persons with disabilities and the need to construct inclusive and resilient communities; and engage in sustainable urban and rural development strategies.

The conference was organized by the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

Vision 2030 Jamaica Communication Specialist, Ms. Carmen V. Miller, accepts the SDC Appreciation Award from SDC Public Relations Manager, Mrs. Afrika Moodie.

PIOJ &Vision 2030 Jamaica Cop Local Government/SDC Awards

The Ministry of Local Government and

Community Development, along with the Social Development Commission (SDC) on Thursday, November 28, 2013, specially recognized the contributions of its key stakeholders for the 2013 period. Special awardees who attended the event at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston, included: parish and national winners in the 2013 National Twenty20 Community Cricket, and Netball Competitions; and partner agencies and organizations. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), received the Minister’s Award for providing outstanding technical support to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development; while the Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat, PIOJ, received the SDC Appreciation Award for continued support to the National Twenty20 Community Cricket Competition.

PIOJ Director of Corporate Affairs, Marketing and Communication accepts the Minister’s Award from the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, the Hon. Noel Arscott.

December 3, 2013 – Co-organizer and

Moderator: Forum on Smoking and the Health of Persons with Disabilities. Audience: Approximately 80 persons. Under the direction of Senator Floyd Morris (President of the Senate and Coordinator of the Centre for Disability Studies), the forum focussed on the health of persons with disabilities and lifestyle choices, specifically smoking. Guest speakers included: Senator Morris, Dr. Francene Gayle, Dr. Knox Hagley and representatives from the Ministry of Health.

I used the opportunity to highlight the aspects of Vision 2030 Jamaica that dealt with this particular issue (Goal 1). The need to maintain a healthy and stable population and providing effective social protection were referenced as talking points for the open discussion which followed the presentations. Copies of the popular version and pamphlets were distributed to the audience.

Youth Ambassador Outreach (cont’d from p2)…

Edited version of Report submitted by: Ms. Krystal Tomlinson

Above: Group of Persons with Disabilities poses with information material on Vision 2030 Jamaica.

At left: Krystal poses with Senator Floyd Morris on December 3, 2013.




St. Thomas Youth Empowerment Fair - November 29, 2013, Rudolph Elder Park, Morant Bay, St. Thomas…

Below: Communication Specialist, Ms. Carmen V. Miller, addresses participants at the Fair, held under the theme, "Towards Vision 2030"; and students from schools in the area visit the Vision 2030 Jamaica booth to learn about the plan.

Civil Service Association Week Exhibition - November 29, 2013, Emancipation Park, Kingston…

Below: Popular Radio Personality “Miss Kitty” at right, proudly shows off her Vision 2030 Jamaica educational material that she received at the Exhibition; and at left, Ms. Ashli Henry from the Community Renewal Secretariat, responds to a question from a visitor to the Vision 2030 Jamaica booth.

Outreach & Presentations

Civil Service Expo

St. Thomas Youth Empowerment Fair

Above: Research Assistant, JamStats Secretariat, PIOJ, Mr. Kirk Chambers, explains the features of the e-Dashboard of National Indicators, at the launch of the online facility, December 4, 2013. L-R: Members of the audience give feedback on the new tool and listen attentively.

PIOJ Director General, Mr. Colin Bullock, centre, draws the attention of from left: Vision 2030 Jamaica Programme Director, Mr. Richard Lumsden; UNICEF Deputy Representative, Ms. Deidre Kiernan; Deputy Principal UWI, Mona, Prof. I. Kahwa; and PIOJ Director, Mr. Easton Williams, to the Vision 2030 Jamaica Plan.

E-DASHBOARD LAUNCH

Middleton Primary School - October 24, 2013 Middleton, St. Thomas… Teachers of Middleton Primary School are happy to be armed with information, following a presentation on Vision 2030 Jamaica, and the role of teachers in its implementation.

The Vision 2030 Jamaica communication team was on hand to ensure that participants at the GOJ/Adaptation Stakeholders’ Consultation, held October 30, 2013 at the Cardiff Hotel & Spa, were prepared with information with which to set the context for their discussion.




What’s Happening January – March 2014

EVENTS DATES & VENUES

Sensitization of MDAs to MTF 2012 – 2015

Dates and Venues TBA

Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Ministry of Water, Land, Environment & Climate

Change Ministry of Transport, Works & Housing

Alignment of MDA plans & budgets to Vision 2030 Jamaica

January – Date and Venue TBA PMES/MTEF Meeting

Key MDAs

Presentations January 9, 2014 Council of Community Colleges;

College of Agriculture, Science & Education - TBA

Thematic Working Group Meetings

Briefing Meetings – Dates and Venues TBA Manufacturing; Services; Enabling

Business Environment; Culture, Creative Industries & Sport

Dates and Venues TBA Infrastructure & Construction; Energy & Minerals Development; Effective Social Protection; Justice

January 7, 2014 Environmental Management & Planning

January 16, 2014 @ 9 AM Don Mills Training Rm. PIOJ

Population

Feb 4, 2014 & March 6, 2014 Health

Caribbean Growth Forum (CGF) Jamaica Chapter – Completion of Action Plan for commencement of CGF Phase III

January - Date and Venue TBA

Meeting of Implementation Council for 5

th Diaspora

Conference

January 27, 2014 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

Bite of the

Quarter

Vision 2030 Jamaica Update is produced by:

The Plan Development Unit

Planning Institute of Jamaica

Design & Layout: Carmen V. Miller

For more information

Contact us at:

Planning Institute of Jamaica

16 Oxford Road, Kingston 5 Tel: 935-5150; 960-9339; 906-4471/2

Email: [email protected] Website: www.vision2030.gov.jm

Like us on @:

Facebook.com/vision2030.ja &

@ndp_2030

NEXT STEPS

Ongoing monitoring of implementation of Vision 2030 Jamaica by Thematic Working

Groups

Ongoing presentations to key stake-holders on Vision 2030 Jamaica and

MTF 2012-2015

Dissemination of information on MTF 2012 - 2015

Finalization of three-year Vision 2030 Jamaica Progress Report

Extracted from The Daily Observer, Editorial, Thursday, December 19, 2013.

…We must ask ourselves, where is that latent energy in us that comes out so rarely to galvanize us in the most stupendous way, as demonstrated in the support of Jamaicans from every corner of the world for Tessanne ... We last saw this outpouring of national pride during the 2012 Olympics… …Is it not possible, for example, to put this kind of energy behind the Vision 2030 [Jamaica] objectives that are meant to make Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, play (sic), and do business?




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Update newsletter oct 2013 dec 2013