Government Investing in Improving Quality of Life of Jamaicans through Infrastructure and Services
“We are really trying to improve the quality of the (bus) service and that is a tangible way in which the government can take the rewards of its good fiscal management and translate it into tangible benefits that improve your quality of life. This will improve the service you receive, reduce the pain point of public transportation, and reduce the cost of living to you.”
– Prime Minister Holness
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government has embarked on a series of strategic initiatives aimed at translating the benefits of sound fiscal management into tangible improvements in the quality of life for all Jamaicans.
These initiatives will focus on critical areas such as reducing the cost of living, enhancing public transportation, and making significant investments in education and human resource development.
Speaking on Monday (September 2, 2024), at Jamaica College, Prime Minister Holness highlighted the importance of these initiatives in addressing the everyday challenges faced by Jamaican citizens.
“We must now focus on addressing the pain points that you, as parents and students, experience in your everyday life. One area that the government will be focusing on heavily is on reducing the cost of living” the Prime Minister stated.
Prime Minister Holness emphasized that one of the key areas of focus is public transportation, which affects the daily lives of many Jamaicans.
The Prime Minister further elaborated on the government’s plans to improve the public transportation system by increasing the number of government-owned buses on the roads.
Increased Jamaica Urban Transit Buses will significantly reduce the cost of bus fares while simultaneously enhancing the quality, reliability, and safety of the transportation service.
Prime Minister Holness explained: “The buses are geo-tracked and they will be connected to an app, and when the app is launched you can keep track of where your bus is and prepare for it. We are really trying to improve the quality of the (bus) service and that is a tangible way in which the government can take the rewards of its good fiscal management and translate it into tangible benefits that improve your quality of life. This will improve the service you receive, reduce the pain point of public transportation, and reduce the cost of living to you.”
In addition to improvements in public transportation, the government is committed to making significant investments in education, recognizing it as a key driver of national development.
“We are now at a point where we have to give greater focus to making the investments in the things that matter to you now and for the future,” Prime Minister Holness remarked.
Critically, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to invest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, noting that the government plans to build six new STEM schools as part of this national priority.
The Prime Minister noted that Jamaica must be able to generate the skills needed to obtain the kinds of jobs that will be available in the next 20 to 30 years. With Jamaica’s unemployment rate now at 5% coming from up to 15%, Prime Minister Holness says as the country approaches full employment, the quality of skills in the country will be even more important for expansion and economic growth. This the Prime Minister says is why it is essential that Jamaica focuses on producing students trained in STEM. In this regard, the Prime Minister says parents should encourage their children to pursue and excel in those areas.
In making the call for parents to encourage their children along the path of STEM, the Prime Minister says those who only consume technology will be at a disadvantage compared to those who are the creators of technology.
Speaking to the overall efforts to advance Jamaica and Jamaicans, the Prime Minister says it is a reflection of the government’s dedication to leveraging the benefits of disciplined fiscal management to create a more prosperous and equitable society.
As Jamaica continues to navigate its path toward sustainable development, the government remains committed to improving the quality of life for all its citizens through targeted investments and policy reforms.