Towards a Future of Sustainability, Structural Innovation, Engineering Creation and Investment Opportunities
Madam Speaker, it is with heartfelt gratitude that I rise this afternoon to speak in this Honourable House. I want to thank the Most Honourable Prime Minister, Andrew Holness for once again entrusting me with this august responsibility in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC). There is no doubt in my mind that this Ministry is central to all that we as a government wants to and intend to accomplish for Jamaica and its people, through growth and development.
Madam Speaker, I also want to say once again, a big thank you to the people of South Western St. Catherine for their continued support in returning me to this Honourable House as their Member of Parliament for the seventh time.
Madam Speaker, the task is mine today to update this house and the people of Jamaica on critical aspects of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. This Ministry has a number of functions, but for the purpose of this presentation, I will be speaking on matters dealing with the Water Sector, including the work of the National Water Commission (NWC); land use and management, to include the role of the National Environment and Planning Agency, as well as the Government’s push to have a greater percentage of registered parcels; and the rehabilitation of the islandwide road network, which includes the extension of the east/west Toll Road and select corridors in Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. James.
WATER SECTOR
Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation continues to champion the cause to improve access to potable water to all citizens by 2030. During the 2020/2021 Financial Year, the MEGJC along with the National Water Commission and the Water Resources Authority undertook and implemented several initiatives which enabled us to improve access to the commodity.
Key to these initiatives is the recently approved National Water Sector Policy and Implementation Plan 2019 (NWSP). This has served as the master plan for ensuring the protection and sustainable development of our water resources.
The Water Policy & Monitoring Branch, of the ministry, undertook several plans aimed at highlighting the measures outlined in the Policy, as well as increasing and maintaining communication with the public on issues related to the water sector. One such initiative was the hosting of Virtual Information Sessions which sensitized the public on areas such as Water and Health, Rainwater Harvesting, Water & Agriculture and major initiatives being undertaken in the water sector, inclusive of measures to mitigate against drought.