Mr. Speaker,
I consider it a great honour to have been asked by the Most Honourable Prime Minister to open the Sectoral Debate for the 2015/2016 financial year.
It is a real privilege to serve as an elected representative of the people and I thank God for blessing me with the health and strength to perform in this role.
I would like to thank the
- Most Hon. Prime Minister, whose continuous support I can always count on and for her confidence in me;
- My thanks also to you Mr. Speaker, the Clerk and the committed staff of this Honourable House;
- my colleague ministers, their staff and agencies, especially those whose work directly impacts the tourism sector;
- my Minister of State, Damion Crawford;
- my colleague MPs on both sides of the aisle and I would like to particularly mention the opposition spokesperson for tourism, Mrs. Shahine Robinson;
- my Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Jennifer Griffith, and the dedicated team within the Ministry and its agencies.
- the chairpersons of the respective agencies, their board members and their executive directors, as well as the Chairmen and members of our Resort Boards.
- And my personal staff who keep me in check.
- I would also like to acknowledge the President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig and her executive and members.
- Special thanks must be reserved for my constituents in Western Westmoreland, Mayor Bertel Moore, the Councillors and my management team.
- Last and by no means least I thank my immediate family: my lovely wife Sheila, our two children, my mother and my sisters for being very supportive over the years.
Mr. Speaker, this year we have a new format for the sectoral debate, one that calls for brevity. I welcome this innovative plan but it will present challenges as speakers will not be able to elaborate on all matters under their subject portfolio…READ MORE
Download Contribution to the 2015/2016 Sectoral Debate by the Hon. Wykeham McNeill