BUILDING A NATION
PICTURE
A strong and proper building needs firm soil, a good foundation to support strong pillars connected by sturdy walls
upon which a secured roof is placed. Similarly a nation needs to have a good foundation upon which the society can
be built. This foundation will support the pillars which are essential for any society to survived in a meaningful way.
These pillars will enable activities essential to the growth and functioning of the society to take place. These activities
can be equated to the walls. Other measures which allows for the entertainment, socialization and interaction of
persons and ensure their well being will serve as the roof thus completing the nation.
THE FOUNDATION
The foundation of any nation has to be a secure environment in which its citizens can freely go about their business
in a disciplined manner. In the event that their rights are infringe upon by either the state or another citizen(s) then
there must be proper channels through which he/she can seek redress resulting in the punishment of the guilty party
and the compensation of the victim to restore him/her to the position that they would have been in if the breech had
not taken place. Lawlessness and indiscipline must be curtailed through public education along with steps to bring
any offender to book. Any casual observation will always show that the most successful families, institutions and
countries are the ones where a high level of discipline is maintained.
The primary duty of the state is to ensure the well-being of its citizens and to ensure that they can obtain justice
where their rights are breeched. All the needed resources must be alloted to the security forces, and new and more
effective methods of policing must be introduced. Steps must be taken to establish neighbourhood watch
programmes in all communities, and to build a strong relationship and trust between the police and communities right
across Jamaica. New laws will be enacted where necessary to help control and eliminate all types of crime.
The Justice system will also be give the necessary resources as a priority to clear the backlog of cases and keep new
cases current in both the criminal and civil courts. The quick and fair dispensation of justice will be a major plank of
the effort to curtail crime. At present most persons are unable to access civil justice and most offenders will only face
the criminal court to answer the charge. The complainant need to have quick and easy access to seek
compensation from the offender for the crime which will serve a great deterrent to offenders knowing that they will
have to face the civil as well as the criminal side of justice. Security and justice will be given the greatest priority even
at the expense of the other ministries.
THE PILLARS
.The pillars of society are agriculture, education, health, local government and environment. Preadial larceny,
irrigation and the use of agricultural chemicals need to be addressed right away. Agricultural lands must be zoned
and not be allowed for any use which will prevent such land from being used in the future for agriculture. RADA
service must be expanded to better assist farmers. Greater discipline must be instilled in our school and an
environment conducive to learning be established. More power must be given to school board, principals and
teachers so as to enable them to establish such an atmosphere. A major civic programme is needed to educate the
public on the functioning of the society, their rights and responsibilities, Effort will be made to make everyone feels
as a part of the society and end the feeling that it is 'us versus them'. The health of the nation is of extreme
importance and measures to expand and improve the health care system must be made. Lifestyle changes should be
encouraged to avoid and control certain diseases instead of depending only on medical treatment. A major goal to
free up some resources of the hospitals by drastically reducing the number of persons seeking treatment for injuries
from motor vehicle accidents, shootings and domestic conflicts. These resources will be channeled to improve the
care given to other persons admitted, persons seeking elective surgeries and out-patients. Local issues are best
dealt with by persons who have a vested interest in the outcome of these issues, therefore the system of local
government is of utmost importance. As it now exist, the local government system is extremely ineffective and serve
very little purpose. A great amount of the problems existing in our communities can be directly link to the poor system
of local governance that now exist in Jamaica. Local laws are breached in every respect with impunity and nothing is
done about it resulting in flooding, conflicts, lowering of the standard of living and the degeneration of communities.
Local government must play a greater role and its provisions must be entrenched in the constitution thus preventing
it from continually being used as a political football. More experienced and capable persons must be sort to fill the
seats within the local government authority.
THE WALLS
Housing, transportation, works, labour, industry, trade, tourism, energy and technology are essential in meeting the
needs of the populace. These functions will serve as the walls of the nation. A comprehensive study of the
transportation needs must be done right across the nation and measure will be implemented to improve it. The rail
service will need to play an important role in transportation in the future and though resources will not likely allow for
its revitalization at present, lands must be identified and reserved for its future expansion. Maintenance must be
actively carried out by the works ministry. As it stands at present very little maintenance is being done and where it
do occur it is not done in a timely manner but instead when thing have reached into a state of disrepair. Buildings,
roads, bridges and other facilities which are the responsibility of the works ministry must be better maintained which
will result in savings and better infrastructure over time. Effort must be continued to provide low cost housing and to
regularise squatter settlements where they exist and prevent the establishment of new ones. Thousands of houses
across Jamaica are locked up and left to disintegrate. Attempts must be made to get these houses back into the
market or sold to prospective purchasers. For industry and trade, measure must be put in place to help
manufacturers modernise their factories and increase outputs. Taxes, duties on raw material and other inputs need
to be looked at in order to enable the best prices for consumers and make our products more competitive overseas.
Small industries and individuals must be encouraged and facilitated to look overseas for markets for their products.
The customs department which has proven to be nightmare to businesses will have to be reorganised. Emphasis
have to be placed upon improving the tourism product in order to get a larger share of the top-end market and have
more repeat visitors. Medical tourism ought to be promoted where person can come and have medical procedures
done at a much cheaper cost and recover in a relaxed setting away from home with all it demands and distractions.
The uncertainty in the cost and supply of fuel make it very important for us to look toward renewable and cheaper
sources of energy. Too often there is a push toward it when the cost of fuel goes up but goes away once the price of
fuel has dropped as it has at present. Cheaper and more sustainable forms of energy must be pursued regardless of
what the cost of oil is.
THE ROOF
Sports and culture does not need a ministry but they are very important in the cohesiveness of the nation and they
ought to be given the adequate attention for them to grow and expand. Technology is very important in the
modernization of the country but it too does not need a ministry. The modernization that are needed are best done
under the ministry that is responsible for that area. For example, the Tablets in School programme should be done
under the ministry of education. Social security is extremely important especially for the many persons who have
reached retirement or is in need of the state assistance. Over the years this ministry has not been given adequate
attention or resources and many of its function have now been taken over by MPs and councillors and have been
politize thus preventing deserving persons from benefiting from these services. These services must be restored to
the ministry of Social Security where they can be carried out by civil servants and MPs concentrate on legislating,
which is their core function. Good relations with other countries are of utmost importance and must be based upon
shared respect. Mutual beneficial agreement must be pursued. The treatment of Jamaican nationals at all ports of
entry overseas and within all countries must be closely monitored and firm actions taken when the rights of our
citizens are breach.
PICTURE
A strong and proper building needs firm soil, a good foundation to support strong pillars connected by sturdy walls
upon which a secured roof is placed. Similarly a nation needs to have a good foundation upon which the society can
be built. This foundation will support the pillars which are essential for any society to survived in a meaningful way.
These pillars will enable activities essential to the growth and functioning of the society to take place. These activities
can be equated to the walls. Other measures which allows for the entertainment, socialization and interaction of
persons and ensure their well being will serve as the roof thus completing the nation.
THE FOUNDATION
The foundation of any nation has to be a secure environment in which its citizens can freely go about their business
in a disciplined manner. In the event that their rights are infringe upon by either the state or another citizen(s) then
there must be proper channels through which he/she can seek redress resulting in the punishment of the guilty party
and the compensation of the victim to restore him/her to the position that they would have been in if the breech had
not taken place. Lawlessness and indiscipline must be curtailed through public education along with steps to bring
any offender to book. Any casual observation will always show that the most successful families, institutions and
countries are the ones where a high level of discipline is maintained.
The primary duty of the state is to ensure the well-being of its citizens and to ensure that they can obtain justice
where their rights are breeched. All the needed resources must be alloted to the security forces, and new and more
effective methods of policing must be introduced. Steps must be taken to establish neighbourhood watch
programmes in all communities, and to build a strong relationship and trust between the police and communities right
across Jamaica. New laws will be enacted where necessary to help control and eliminate all types of crime.
The Justice system will also be give the necessary resources as a priority to clear the backlog of cases and keep new
cases current in both the criminal and civil courts. The quick and fair dispensation of justice will be a major plank of
the effort to curtail crime. At present most persons are unable to access civil justice and most offenders will only face
the criminal court to answer the charge. The complainant need to have quick and easy access to seek
compensation from the offender for the crime which will serve a great deterrent to offenders knowing that they will
have to face the civil as well as the criminal side of justice. Security and justice will be given the greatest priority even
at the expense of the other ministries.
THE PILLARS
.The pillars of society are agriculture, education, health, local government and environment. Preadial larceny,
irrigation and the use of agricultural chemicals need to be addressed right away. Agricultural lands must be zoned
and not be allowed for any use which will prevent such land from being used in the future for agriculture. RADA
service must be expanded to better assist farmers. Greater discipline must be instilled in our school and an
environment conducive to learning be established. More power must be given to school board, principals and
teachers so as to enable them to establish such an atmosphere. A major civic programme is needed to educate the
public on the functioning of the society, their rights and responsibilities, Effort will be made to make everyone feels
as a part of the society and end the feeling that it is 'us versus them'. The health of the nation is of extreme
importance and measures to expand and improve the health care system must be made. Lifestyle changes should be
encouraged to avoid and control certain diseases instead of depending only on medical treatment. A major goal to
free up some resources of the hospitals by drastically reducing the number of persons seeking treatment for injuries
from motor vehicle accidents, shootings and domestic conflicts. These resources will be channeled to improve the
care given to other persons admitted, persons seeking elective surgeries and out-patients. Local issues are best
dealt with by persons who have a vested interest in the outcome of these issues, therefore the system of local
government is of utmost importance. As it now exist, the local government system is extremely ineffective and serve
very little purpose. A great amount of the problems existing in our communities can be directly link to the poor system
of local governance that now exist in Jamaica. Local laws are breached in every respect with impunity and nothing is
done about it resulting in flooding, conflicts, lowering of the standard of living and the degeneration of communities.
Local government must play a greater role and its provisions must be entrenched in the constitution thus preventing
it from continually being used as a political football. More experienced and capable persons must be sort to fill the
seats within the local government authority.
THE WALLS
Housing, transportation, works, labour, industry, trade, tourism, energy and technology are essential in meeting the
needs of the populace. These functions will serve as the walls of the nation. A comprehensive study of the
transportation needs must be done right across the nation and measure will be implemented to improve it. The rail
service will need to play an important role in transportation in the future and though resources will not likely allow for
its revitalization at present, lands must be identified and reserved for its future expansion. Maintenance must be
actively carried out by the works ministry. As it stands at present very little maintenance is being done and where it
do occur it is not done in a timely manner but instead when thing have reached into a state of disrepair. Buildings,
roads, bridges and other facilities which are the responsibility of the works ministry must be better maintained which
will result in savings and better infrastructure over time. Effort must be continued to provide low cost housing and to
regularise squatter settlements where they exist and prevent the establishment of new ones. Thousands of houses
across Jamaica are locked up and left to disintegrate. Attempts must be made to get these houses back into the
market or sold to prospective purchasers. For industry and trade, measure must be put in place to help
manufacturers modernise their factories and increase outputs. Taxes, duties on raw material and other inputs need
to be looked at in order to enable the best prices for consumers and make our products more competitive overseas.
Small industries and individuals must be encouraged and facilitated to look overseas for markets for their products.
The customs department which has proven to be nightmare to businesses will have to be reorganised. Emphasis
have to be placed upon improving the tourism product in order to get a larger share of the top-end market and have
more repeat visitors. Medical tourism ought to be promoted where person can come and have medical procedures
done at a much cheaper cost and recover in a relaxed setting away from home with all it demands and distractions.
The uncertainty in the cost and supply of fuel make it very important for us to look toward renewable and cheaper
sources of energy. Too often there is a push toward it when the cost of fuel goes up but goes away once the price of
fuel has dropped as it has at present. Cheaper and more sustainable forms of energy must be pursued regardless of
what the cost of oil is.
THE ROOF
Sports and culture does not need a ministry but they are very important in the cohesiveness of the nation and they
ought to be given the adequate attention for them to grow and expand. Technology is very important in the
modernization of the country but it too does not need a ministry. The modernization that are needed are best done
under the ministry that is responsible for that area. For example, the Tablets in School programme should be done
under the ministry of education. Social security is extremely important especially for the many persons who have
reached retirement or is in need of the state assistance. Over the years this ministry has not been given adequate
attention or resources and many of its function have now been taken over by MPs and councillors and have been
politize thus preventing deserving persons from benefiting from these services. These services must be restored to
the ministry of Social Security where they can be carried out by civil servants and MPs concentrate on legislating,
which is their core function. Good relations with other countries are of utmost importance and must be based upon
shared respect. Mutual beneficial agreement must be pursued. The treatment of Jamaican nationals at all ports of
entry overseas and within all countries must be closely monitored and firm actions taken when the rights of our
citizens are breach.
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THE JAMAICA ACTION PARTY
J A P