Gov’t Targets Family Unit to Drive Next Wave of Success

The Government is placing greater focus on strengthening the Jamaican family as a primary unit for national development.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said that while emphasis has been placed on individual areas such as housing, water, health and education, the next phase of government policy will target the family to drive long-term national success.

As such, he said that there will be a more “concentrated and coordinated” approach to supporting families.

Dr. Holness, who was addressing the recent ‘Heal the Family, Heal the Nation’ Day of Prayer at the Power of Faith Ministries in Portmore, St. Catherine, said that work has already begun within the Ministry of National Security and Peace, with particular emphasis on the peace mandate.

“It’s a more community-oriented strategy but that… strategy must have as its anchor, the family. So, we’re not only going to seek to target the youngsters in the community; we’re going to target the ecosystem around that youngster, meaning his or her family,” he pointed out.

“In education, it’s the same thing. We must get parents far more involved in the education of their children, and the education is not just for the children; it is also education for the parents,” he added.

The Prime Minister said there is a strong correlation between strong family units and a strong and stable economy.

He contended that the reliability, discipline and consistency required for a modern workforce are traits primarily transmitted within the home.

“I am not convinced that the same value transmission is occurring at the level that is needed to support the economic growth that this country has the potential to achieve. So, I do talk about the economics and the growth but these things are also connected to the society and the value system,” he said.

Dr. Holness noted that the church has a crucial role to play in reinforcing fundamental principles such as stewardship, respect for authority and dignity of work, which are essential for a productive society.

“All of these are fundamental Christian principles that need to be reinforced if our economy is to achieve the full potential that it has,” Dr. Holness argued.

Member of Parliament for St. Catherine Southern, Fitz Jackson, who represented Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, highlighted the societal benefits of strong families and the church’s essential role in fostering them.

“In a world facing increasing pressures, uncertainty, and social challenges, the call to rebuild our families on Christian values has never been more important. I encourage all Jamaicans… to commit themselves to unity, compassion, and mutual respect within their families and communities,” Mr. Jackson said.