Holness Administration Commits to Continuing to Change Jamaica and Deliver Results
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaicans can trust his administration, which has delivered a strong track record of performance.
Dr. Holness says he is committed to continuing to deliver real results for Jamaicans.
This is as six additional families in the parish of Trelawny received the keys to brand-new homes under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP).
Speaking on Friday (June 6) as he handed over a unit to Ms. Ivylin Thompson, Prime Minister Holness said his administration will continue to improve and positively impact the lives of the people.
“It’s one government that has changed Jamaica in tangible ways that nobody can question, and it is this government. Every single day we change the life of a Jamaican. Whether it is a change through housing, a change through water, a change through road infrastructure, a change through social pension, and so on. We are the government that is changing Jamaica,” Dr. Holness said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government’s ability to consistently meet the needs of the people, whether through housing, water, or roads, is rooted in strong economic management and disciplined fiscal planning, which are crucial to funding these critical infrastructure projects.
Dr. Holness noted that previous administrations did not allocate sufficient funds in budgets to address the needs of the people.
“We can do all these projects, including providing homes under the New Social Housing Programme, because finally we have an economy that generates enough revenues that we can make an allocation in the national budget to do this. One of the reasons why you didn’t have it in the first place was because previous governments didn’t have the economy that generated the money that could create the budget for it to be done,” the Prime Minister explained.
Dr. Holness acknowledged that many communities have waited for decades to receive basic services such as water, roads, infrastructure, and proper housing.
The Prime Minister reminded Jamaicans that change is now being seen, tangible, and happening steadily.
“Every single day, someone’s dream and aspiration is being fulfilled. That wasn’t happening before. Every week I make it a duty to deliver results for the people. Today, I’m giving out six houses. Last week I gave out five. The week before that we gave out more, and we will continue to do the work,” Dr. Holness said.
While progress is ongoing, Prime Minister Holness addressed the challenges posed by bureaucratic processes that can delay project implementation.
The Prime Minister called for increased efficiency within the Jamaican bureaucracy to expedite the delivery of essential services.
“We must make the Jamaican bureaucracy more efficient. We need to get the government to act quickly so you can get the benefits you have been deprived of for so long. That is the next step for your government.”
Dr. Holness explained that the government is sometimes constrained by necessary processes like investment appraisals, procurement, and contracting, which are all designed to ensure accountability and value for money.
However, Prime Minister Holness acknowledged the frustration this often causes for citizens awaiting urgent solutions.
The Prime Minister is therefore encouraging residents to look beyond the noise of negativity and recognize the transformational work being undertaken by this administration to uplift communities and improve the quality of life for all Jamaicans.
Dr. Holness reaffirmed that while not everything can happen overnight, Jamaicans can trust in a government that is working day by day, community by community, to deliver lasting change for Jamaicans.