#Thread 🧵 Summarizing my Op-Ed in Saturday’s publication of the Gleaner: The FSC sent a report in April 2020 about an examination of SSL in June 2019.
While the report was not brought to my attention it would not have made a difference if it was as:
(i) By the time the report was sent, the FSC Board had already implemented the recommendations in the report by issuing SSL with directions in October 2019.
(ii) SSL was confirmed by FSC as being compliant/largely with those directions with breaches being addressed.
Join me for my presentation on the 2022/23 Budget Debate || The Hon. Nigel Clarke - March 8, 2022 twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…
I would like to begin by thanking Almighty God for his kindness, as well as his many blessings, and mercy. To God be the Glory, great things He hath done. #BudgetDebate2022
Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day, a global day, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and call for action for generating gender parity. #BudgetDebate2022
#Thread Yesterday, in keeping with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, I tabled an Order in Parliament that designates the Montego Bay Bypass as a National Development Project.
The Project is to be implemented by China Harbour Engineering who developed the project.
The Terms and Conditions include:
1/ Minimum of 90% of the unskilled construction labour on the project to be Jamaican labour.
2/ Minimum of 50% of technical jobs to be Jamaican jobs as long as Jamaicans are available.
3/ Training Programme to be developed with HEART for Jamaicans to be trained through apprenticeship in the technical areas in which foreigners are employed
4/ Jamaican goods and services to be used where this is feasible.
During the year we passed the Bank of Jamaica Amendment Act that paves the way for the modernization of our central bank.
This legislation benefited from, and was strengthened by, the deliberations of a Joint Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament consisting of Government members and Opposition members.
Some highlights of the Act:
Full-fledged inflation targeting will be the clear mandate of the central bank. Given our torturous history of high, runaway inflation, we have empowered a well-resourced institution to keep inflation low, stable, and predictable.
This past year has been one of the most difficult and challenging years on record for Jamaica, for Jamaicans, and for all of humanity. #Budget2021
The coronavirus, a living organism incapable of life on its own, has sought hosts in the human population at great damage to our health, and with the skillful ability to hop, unnoticeably, from one human to another through respiratory activity.
I pause to express solidarity with all the individuals and families who have been impacted by this deadly disease, with those who have lost loved ones, those still in hospital, and with others in isolation.
The policies of this Government have been working for the majority of Jamaicans evidenced by the lowest levels of unemployment in Jamaica’s history and a 40% drop in poverty since 2015.
The unemployment rate, at 7.2% in January 2020 was the lowest level in Jamaica’s history i.e. in at least 58 years.
The gender gap in unemployment fell dramatically from 9.6% to 2.6%. Jobs grew faster for women who historically suffered from twice the unemployment rate of men.