dec_2017c

52 53 about travelling fromEuropeor theFarEast tothe westernhemisphere,theirpointsof entryareusually Miami,PanamaCity,andotherU.S.andCanadiancities. Wewant tocompetentlyandaggressivelydrill downon theconceptof Jamaicaasawesternhemisphere logistics center for trans-shipmentpurposes,whereaU.S.visa is not required. “Anothermajorproject is toredevelopoururbancenter ofdowntownKingston.That involvesbuildinganew parliamentbuilding.Allministriesanddepartmentswill bearoundtheNationalHeroesCircle,withparliament in themiddle.Then,atVernamField,insouth-central Jamai- ca,we’regoingtocreateanewlogisticscenter for cargo andpeoplemovement.ThedefunctWorldWar II airbase, recentlyusedfor car racingonSundays,will be re-estab- lishedat an international levelwithmaximumrunway lengthfor amoderncommercial airport.It is important tonote that thesemegadevelopmentswill utiliseaPPP modalitythat limits the increaseofpublicdebt. “Not far fromthat location ispotential for aseaport,and thousandsof acres suitable for assemblyofgoods,shipre- pair,andaircraft repair.Wealreadyhave investorsdevelop- ingbusinessplans forbiddingon it.Bytheway,all these projectsareprivatesector investments–notgovernment. MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE, JAMAICA BVM: What areyour administration’sgoals for the futureof Jamaica? MinisterShaw:“ After54yearsofpolitical independence, it’s time for Jamaica togaineconomicindependence. That’swhat thePrimeMinister andhisgovernment are focusedon: economicenablement; jobopportunities; job training.The reformof our educational systemtoensure all our littlechildrenfromage threeupwardsget agood foundation. “Toomanyof our kids that entergradeoneandprimary school are functionallyilliterate.Thisbecomesamajor crisis forus.Wehaveproblemswithcrimeand lackof productivity.Butourbiggestproblemis thatofhumande- velopment.Wemust start at thebeginningandgiveevery childborn inthiscountrytheopportunitytobe intheearly childhoodsystem. “Youcannot createprosperityunlessyoufocusonthe mindsofyourpeople.Prosperitybegins inyourmind,not yourpocket.Weneedtogiveourpeoplehope.To inspire themtobelieve inthemselvesandtounderstandthat,in pursuingexcellence,onepersoncanmakeadifference. If each Jamaicanuses‘Iwant topursueexcellence’asa sourceof inspiration,that ishowwe’regoingtoachieve prosperity.”