Senator Says Policies of Government are Aimed at Improving the Lives of Jamaicans

The Administration will continue to implement critical policies that will improve the lives of Jamaicans, says Government Senator, Abka Fitz-Henley.

Making his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday (January 31), he said the Government, led by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is committed to prioritising the interest of the people first.

“The Government of Prime Minister Andrew Holness is not just a macro-economic stability administration. We put the interest of the people first and we have demonstrated that we have the skillset to put in place policies which benefit the people of Jamaica,” he said.

Senator Fitz Henley highlighted a range of policies and programmes that have been implemented by the Administration.

“It is this Administration that cut income tax twice. We have increased pensions. We have more than doubled the minimum wage from the abysmal $6,500 it was… and we have made strides in taking scores of Jamaicans off contract work, giving them permanent employment with additional benefits, thereby improving their standard of living and job security,” he said.

He further pointed out that the Administration, via PATH (Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education), has increased support to the most vulnerable in society by more than 30 per cent.

The Senator noted, too, that JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company) fares have been reduced and tuition fees have been removed for critical HEART/NSTA Trust programmes, “because we believe in giving people a chance to obtain a skill and ‘step up inna life’.”

Senator Fitz Henley said the Administration has made unprecedented investment in making communities safe and enhancing working conditions and service delivery in the medical care system.

He added, too, that thousands of Jamaicans received $20,000 via the income tax rebate initiative.

“And I can confidently say there is much more to come… because I know that our Prime Minister and the Administration he leads understand that at the core of our mandate is to continue to put in place a range of policies which make better the lives of the Jamaican people,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the economy is stable, adding that the Net International Reserves (NIR) is doing very well, inflation is under control and tax revenues are performing satisfactorily.

The Senator noted, too, that the Administration had achieved 10 consecutive quarters in positive expansion of the economy.

He admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic and weather events, including Hurricane Beryl, impacted the economy negatively.

“But I am confident, given that the core macroeconomic indicators are trending in the right direction, that key industries, including agriculture, are bouncing back; tourism continues to do well, and there are new and emerging industries, that not too long from now the Jamaican economy will no doubt return to a path of positive expansion, and I say to all stakeholders they can be confident that this will transpire not too long from now,” the Senator said.