Contribution to the 2015/2016 by the Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Almighty God for his continued care and protection. I am grateful to the Most Honourable Prime Minister for believing in me and supporting me through all the challenges. I will continue to give my best to her and to the people of Jamaica. I am grateful to the people of Eastern St. Thomas without whom I would not have the privilege of addressing this Honourable House for more than 22 years. I will continue to serve them as long as they will have me.

Mr. Speaker, I must thank my team of Constituency Executive members, Councillors – three of whom are here today Mathison, Hutchinson and Bryan along with Caretaker Councillor Bailey. Divisional Executives, PD workers and volunteers, Friends of Eastern St. Thomas, Support Staff at the Constituency Office and Parliamentary and Party Colleagues.

I thank my family for being my rock and my late mother whose belief in me was unquestionable. Her support and encouragement made me what I am today. I thank my fiancée, Blossom, for her understanding of the life of a Politician and for standing by me through thick and thin.

Mr. Speaker, this past year was a challenging one for the health sector but I received considerable support from the team at the Ministry of Health, Agencies and Regional Health Authorities. I acknowledge the audacious leadership of my Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kevin Harvey who took the reins of the Ministry less than a year ago but has already made a positive impact. I want to thank former PS Dr. Jean Dixon for her knowledge, experience and steady guidance during the first two years and eight months. I also thank the Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse; Directors of the Ministry, the Boards of Management, my Advisors and support staff, led by Valda.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all our local partners, the Pan American Health Organization, NGOs, UN Agencies and members of the Diaspora who over the years have stood by us and worked with us to achieve our goals. I also acknowledge the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Japan, Spain, the United States and Venezuela, as well as the European Union for their assistance and support.

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the constituency of Eastern St. Thomas, my time allows me to mention only a few of the many projects that are in the pipeline, such as:

• The Bath to Hordley road funded by the Sugar Transformation Programme will begin soon

• The Harbour Head Bridge – out to tender

• The Rudolph Elder Park – plans well advanced – will be upgraded to standards no less than our Emancipation Park

• The three Housing Schemes at Hampton Court, Duckenfield, and Stokes Hall Phase 2 – far advanced

• The Southern Coastal Highway from Harbour View to Port Antonio which will open up the length and breadth of St. Thomas.

I thank the Ministers from St. Andrew Southern and North West Clarendon for the Harbour Head Bridge in Pear Tree River and the Southern Coastal Highway which they have now placed on high priority…READ MORE

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