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| Jamaica’s new prime minister, Andrew Holness, his wife Juliet, sons Matthew (right) and Adam acknowledge the cheers from guests attending Sunday’s swearing-in ceremony at King’s House. |
Holness, 39, the the country's 9th Prime Minister and the youngest.
In his first official comments the former Education minister called on the leader of the opposition, Portia Simpson Miller, to work with him to dismantle political garrisons and bring down the country's ballooning debt.
Simpson Miller was not present to hear his speech, having left the ceremony before Holness spoke. Her party explained that she had a prior engagement and could not stay for the entire proceedings.
Simpson Miller was not present to hear his speech, having left the ceremony before Holness spoke. Her party explained that she had a prior engagement and could not stay for the entire proceedings.
Holness said he intends to write to Simpson Miller, inviting her to discuss the issue of co-ordinating access to closed communities for representatives of differing political persuasion.
"Both political parties have it within them to mutually agree to end the social construct of the garrison," he said.
Holness pointed out that the political polarisation is too strong for an overnight fix and also rejected the idea that it force is the way to go. The process, he said, should begin with the political leaders walking together in these areas of exclusion. He said he stands ready to walk the talk.
Bruce Golding's successor urged fellow politicians to transcend petty, mean-spirited, tear-down politics, erase lines of demarcation that created garrisons and open the doors of exclusion.
He expressed the hope this such an attitude would remove garrisons from the political landscape.
Holness also invited "talented people" at home and in the diaspora, who want to see this change in Jamaica to make themselves available. He assured them that his government will find "a space" to accommodate them.
"Jamaica needs her talented sons and daughters in the service of the public good, now more than ever," he said, adding that the contribution does not have to be in the political domain but in civil society as well.
Holness also devoted some of his speech to dealing with the country's debt noting that Jamaica cannot continue to borrow more than is produces in value.
He said his first strategy is to borrow less and generate greater revenues by increasing the efficiency and simplicity of the tax administration and waiver systems.
He lamented that Jamaica chose to live on borrowed money for the last 40 years, some of which has been wasted on ill-conceived ideas or simply been eroded by mismanagement, corruption and bureaucracy.
"We are caught in a vicious cycle of borrowing to the point where for more than a decade, the size of our debt has been larger than the value of what we produce each year," Holness said.
He said it cannot be business as usual and added that it is the a task of his generation to confront this problem. At the same time he gave the assurance that his government will stick to the plans it has agreed to with domestic and international stakeholders.
Noting that education is a tool to end poverty, Holness said he aims to tackle poverty through education. He pledged that his Government will achieve universal secondary education early in the next decade.
He said Jamaica's poor need meaningful employment and not "crash work". He urged citizens to make a decisive break from the elements of the past and commit to building a society where those who play by the rules will succeed.
He acknowledged that achieving all he wants will be difficult, but he will give it his best.
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen thanked outgoing prime minister Golding for his leadership during the harsh economic times the country has been through.
"You knew and understood the times, and in your way tried to do what you felt was best for Jamaica. History will judge whether you succeeded," he said.
Bruce Golding's successor urged fellow politicians to transcend petty, mean-spirited, tear-down politics, erase lines of demarcation that created garrisons and open the doors of exclusion.
He expressed the hope this such an attitude would remove garrisons from the political landscape.
Holness also invited "talented people" at home and in the diaspora, who want to see this change in Jamaica to make themselves available. He assured them that his government will find "a space" to accommodate them.
"Jamaica needs her talented sons and daughters in the service of the public good, now more than ever," he said, adding that the contribution does not have to be in the political domain but in civil society as well.
Holness also devoted some of his speech to dealing with the country's debt noting that Jamaica cannot continue to borrow more than is produces in value.
He said his first strategy is to borrow less and generate greater revenues by increasing the efficiency and simplicity of the tax administration and waiver systems.
He lamented that Jamaica chose to live on borrowed money for the last 40 years, some of which has been wasted on ill-conceived ideas or simply been eroded by mismanagement, corruption and bureaucracy.
"We are caught in a vicious cycle of borrowing to the point where for more than a decade, the size of our debt has been larger than the value of what we produce each year," Holness said.
He said it cannot be business as usual and added that it is the a task of his generation to confront this problem. At the same time he gave the assurance that his government will stick to the plans it has agreed to with domestic and international stakeholders.
Noting that education is a tool to end poverty, Holness said he aims to tackle poverty through education. He pledged that his Government will achieve universal secondary education early in the next decade.
He said Jamaica's poor need meaningful employment and not "crash work". He urged citizens to make a decisive break from the elements of the past and commit to building a society where those who play by the rules will succeed.
He acknowledged that achieving all he wants will be difficult, but he will give it his best.
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen thanked outgoing prime minister Golding for his leadership during the harsh economic times the country has been through.
"You knew and understood the times, and in your way tried to do what you felt was best for Jamaica. History will judge whether you succeeded," he said.
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