Prime Minister Andrew Holness is welcoming the year 2020 with high expectations.
In his New Year’s Message, Holness expresses confidence in the reduction of crime, maintaining law and order on the nation’s roads and improving the country’s public health system.
While looking ahead to 2020, Holness gave a review of the many great things that happened throughout the past year.
-The lowest unemployment rate in the history of Jamaica (7.8%)
-The longest period of consecutive growth in history (19 quarters)
-Record fall in our debt to GDP ratio (93%)
-Record low inflation
-1.5 million tax break for all workers
-Successfully completed IMF Programme
-Record tourism arrivals (approximately 4.5 million)
-Record us$3.8 billion in tourism earnings
-Launch of the tourism workers pension fund
-A record over 400 roads resurfaced and rehabilitated (Mandela highway, Marcus Garvey Drive, Ferris to Mackfield, Barbican, Hagley Park, Constant Spring Road, and Three Miles Roads – all completed)
Despite an increase in murder, Holiness is commendingcrime-fightingg strategies, and reiterating the government’s commitment to reducing the murder rate.
2019 saw 1,326 murders compared to 1,287 in 2018.
Holness adds that the disorder on the roads and in public spaces is now a national concern. He is urging motorists to slow down and abide by the law.
On health “the government is now steadily increasing investments in our health infrastructure to better serve patients with over $10b of investments planned for health facilities and over $3b dedicated to rebuilding the Cornwall Regional hospital,” he said.
