Opposition MP Commends Government Policies and Programmes

Opposition Member of Parliament for Eastern Hanover, Dr. D.K Duncan has commended the Government for continuing previously established policies and building on existing programmes.
He said this has served to address the major concern, of putting the Jamaican people first.
Making his presentation in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Wednesday (July 9), Dr. Duncan said that the policy projections of the government reveal a great deal of convergence, continuity and building on previous programmes and policies.
“This is not surprising if one accepts the dialectical nature of political process and accepts that plans and programmes arise from policy,” he said.
The Opposition MP outlined several programmes that are continued by the current government. He commended several Ministers, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kenneth Baugh and the Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, for building on crucial areas.
He also pointed to the Agriculture Ministry, citing the “Eat what we grow and grow what we eat” policy. Also he said the Petro Caribe Agreement, which was under the previous administration, will be continued by the Ministry of Energy, which recognizes its impact on the energy challenges.
As it relates to the education sector, Dr. Duncan said, “The Minister and the Government must be congratulated for easing one of the burdens of education expenses by removing the tuition fees – in keeping with the policy that Education is a right not a privilege.”
He also outlined other programmes that were improved, explaining that previous work done paved the way for the abolition of user fees in the health system. Dr. Duncan stated that “it is important that we work together with a central concern in view, which is a better state of living for the Jamaican people”.