Madam Speaker,
As I rise today to speak, I give thanks to God for being here. I am particularly privileged to stand before this Honourable House to make my first presentation in the Sectoral Debate to report on the achievements of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Jamaica’s business ministry, for the 2021/2022 Financial Year, and to outline some of our programmes for the new Financial Year.
I am humbled and honoured to have this opportunity and must express my sincere appreciation to the Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, for the confidence he has placed in me, to appoint me to the esteemed office of Minister of State in this Ministry.
I also acknowledge the Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, who, since assuming office in January 2022, has been making inroads in fulfilling this Ministry’s mandate, which is so critical to the development of our nation. At the same
time, Madam Speaker, allow me to acknowledge the Honourable Audley Shaw, who formerly held the Ministerial portfolio, and under whose leadership and mentorship I was initially introduced to ministerial governance, and whose humility I continue to admire and emulate.
I thank my parliamentary colleagues on both sides of this Honourable House, as well as the dedicated Parliamentary staff, for your unswerving support since I became Member of Parliament.
My sincere appreciation also goes to the hardworking teams at the Ministry and its 21 portfolio entities, headed by Mrs Sancia Bennett Templer, Permanent Secretary, and Ms Michelle Parkins, our Chief Technical Director, who together, steer the work of the Ministry with steady hands. As a team, we have managed to achieve much during the year, and have executed a range of policies, impactful programmes and activities as we strengthened our responsiveness and resilience.