Gov’t Committed to Social Partnership – PM

Prime Minister, the Most Hon, Andrew Holness, has renewed commitment to the social partnership over the next four years, involving the State, represented by the Government and Opposition; civil society; the private sector; and the trade-union movement.

He said the objective is to ensure collaboration in fulfilling the national targets aimed at achieving social and economic progress for the country’s citizens.

The Prime Minister was speaking at Wednesday’s (December 7) official signing of the Partnership for a Prosperous Jamaica Agreement at King’s House.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Holness and representatives of the stakeholder groups.

These are Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), Diana MaCaulay on behalf of civil society; Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) President, O’Neil Grant, for the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU); and Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President, Paul B. Scott. The Parliamentary Opposition is to name a representative.

The Partnership for a Prosperous Jamaica Agreement, to be spearheaded by the National Partnership Council, is underpinned by five priority areas.

These are inclusive economic growth and job creation; public-sector transformation for efficiency and effectiveness; adherence to the rule of law and timely justice outcomes; national debt reduction and macroeconomic stability; and enhanced tourism flows and inter-sectoral linkages.

Mr. Holness, who chairs the Council, said the Administration is pleased to be signing the agreement.

“(This) is not just about signing a piece of paper. For me, it is a very important mechanism to manage change and resolve conflicts,” he said.

He noted that a well-structured partnership with clear objectives and a monitoring framework “will ensure that conflicts are resolved (so) that we meet our targets… working together”.

“(We) need to have social partnerships… for all stakeholders to figure out how to move from a win-lose to a win-win, so that we all have the benefit of these ambitious goals that we all agree are necessary,” he said.

He noted that the Government has set an “ambitious” agenda for the transformation of the public sector that is focused on economic growth and job creation; fiscal management and debt reduction; the rule of law and reduction of crime and violence; and the environment.

The Prime Minister gave an undertaking to do his part in ensuring that all stakeholders “achieve the shared vision of making our country a prosperous nation for all”.

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, in his remarks, said the new agreement is a successor to the 2013 partnership and is focused on reshaping a programme that was conceived under the constraints of an Economic Reform Programme.

“Today is a clear and very welcome sign of mission advanced, mission renewed and confidence in mission to be accomplished,” he said.

He commended “all who have stayed the course” and encouraged new and returning Council members “who will be carrying the process forward”.

“May the signing… be the start of another productive phase in the progress of our country and to the benefit of all our people,” he added.

All signatories gave an undertaking to cooperate with the tenets of the agreement.

Former Prime Ministers, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, and the Hon. Bruce Golding, headed the list of dignitaries who attended the signing ceremony.