Prime Minister Holness Urges Youth to Seize Opportunities, Reject Crime, and Build Jamaica’s Future
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has encouraged young Jamaicans to seize the opportunities and value of hard work, discipline, and ambition through the government’s National Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP).
Speaking on Tuesday (June 17) at the official launch of the YSEP, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Prime Minister Holness said Jamaica’s youth must take charge of their future with boldness, purpose, and creativity.
“I want you to be ambitious. I want you to be aspirational. I want you not to be afraid to dream. I want you to explore possibilities and options. I want you to disrupt the status quo and deliver new things and new values to society. I want you to be innovative,” said Prime Minster Holness.
The Prime Minister told participants to value the experience from the summer programme as a life-shaping opportunity. “The value of the experience is what you should appreciate and take away with you. That experience is going to make you a better person, a more knowledgeable person, a more rounded person, and a more prepared person. It is going to give you the edge in the world of work over others who would not have a similar experience.”
In this regard, Prime Minister Holness underscored Jamaica’s pivotal progress in reducing crime, highlighting the government has increased the risk for criminal activity. Dr Holness said the government has simultaneously opened new pathways for legitimate economic growth and youth empowerment.
The Prime Minister described Jamaica’s current trajectory as a pivotal moment shaped by years of investment, planning, and policy execution in national security, governance, and economic reform.
“Jamaica, my friends, is at an inflexion point. This is the point where the efforts that we have made in transforming Jamaica are yielding greater results relative to the efforts made. In other words, the efforts that we are making are yielding incredible results,” said Prime Minster Holness.
The Prime Minister highlighted a significant 44 per cent year-to-date reduction in the murder rate, a direct result of over $90 billion invested in enhancing the capabilities of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Customs, and other key security agencies. He stressed, however, that combating crime also requires the creation of viable alternatives and economic opportunities, especially for the nation’s youth.
“So, while we close the opportunities in criminal activity, we are opening up the opportunities for you to pursue legitimate, formal, pro-social, pro-growth, economistic opportunities in Jamaica that will make you a better person without depriving anyone else of their life or their freedom to enjoy their life. And that is a Jamaica that we want to build, and that is a Jamaica that we want you to inherit and build on,” said Prime Minster Holness.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to empowering young Jamaicans to thrive and lead in a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Jamaica.