From: Hon. Bruce Golding, Prime Minister
To: Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller, Leader of the Opposition
Dear Portia,
On assuming the office of Prime Minister of our beloved nation, I promised the people of Jamaica a fresh start and more importantly, a new type of governance.
The hallmarks of this new governance to which I have committed my administration are, vision, accountability, competence and non partisanship in the management of Jamaica's public affairs.
It is in this spirit of governance that today I extend the hand of my administration to the Peoples National Party, in a time of unprecedented national challenge, both within Jamaica and worldwide.
Our country is faced with multiple intractable and systemic crises as you well know. I will not enumerate them here.
I am of the belief that only a sustained and united effort by all elements of society can allow Jamaica to achieve the hitherto elusive dream of peace and prosperity today and a secure future for our children tomorrow.
It is clear to me that this task is beyond the capacity of our political and economic system as it currently operates.
It's time for real change that people can believe in.
The flip side of any great crisis is great opportunity. I intend to make sure that Jamaica does not miss the great opportunity before us.
To reach this destination of peace and prosperity, Jamaica needs a roadmap which reinvigorates our values, guides our national policy and supports our Constitution.
I am convening in June 2009 a Jamaica National Summit to be held at the National Conference Center under the chaimanship of Rev. Herro Blair.
The purpose of this Summit is to bring together all the significant sectors of our country to discuss and agree on a detailed framework to achieve the national progress we all desire.
The Summit will conclude with a Treaty of Jamaica, which I hope will be signed by representatives of all sectors of society. This treaty will be our new roadmap to peace and prosperity.
In preparation for the Summit and with reference to the Jamaica 2020 initiative aimed at achieving developed nation status, my administration has prepared detailed 20 year plans covering:
Education & Training
Community Development
Agriculture
Housing
Energy
Industrial Policy
Security & Crime Mitigation
The PNP and all other stake holders in Jamaica will receive copies of our plans and ideas tomorrow.
Plans are being sent to:
All unions, church organizations, NGOs, all private sector organizations as well as all properly constituted community organizations we can identify. They will be asked to appoint representatives to take part in these national deliberations.
Leading up to the Summit we will have breakout sessions for each individual sector... this to achieve some consensus as early as possible among sector leaders. The dates and locations of these sessions will be included with the plans sent to all invitees.
All sessions at the Summit will be open to the general public and will be televised live. This will ensure transparency, public participation and limit posturing.
It is my fervent hope that The Treaty of Jamaica will be our communal pathway to peace and prosperity, to be adhered to regardless of which party happens to be in power.
As a publicly negotiated contract, it will be incumbent upon the signatories to keep this contract with Jamaica sacrosanct and the public whom we serve to keep us honest when we are weak.
I intend to publish this letter in the daily newspapers in one week. There will be equal space in that public notice of our intentions, for the PNP's response.
I trust, for our nation's sake, that your response will be affirmative and enthusiastic.
Yours in our nation's service,
Bruce Golding
To: Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller, Leader of the Opposition
Dear Portia,
On assuming the office of Prime Minister of our beloved nation, I promised the people of Jamaica a fresh start and more importantly, a new type of governance.
The hallmarks of this new governance to which I have committed my administration are, vision, accountability, competence and non partisanship in the management of Jamaica's public affairs.
It is in this spirit of governance that today I extend the hand of my administration to the Peoples National Party, in a time of unprecedented national challenge, both within Jamaica and worldwide.
Our country is faced with multiple intractable and systemic crises as you well know. I will not enumerate them here.
I am of the belief that only a sustained and united effort by all elements of society can allow Jamaica to achieve the hitherto elusive dream of peace and prosperity today and a secure future for our children tomorrow.
It is clear to me that this task is beyond the capacity of our political and economic system as it currently operates.
It's time for real change that people can believe in.
The flip side of any great crisis is great opportunity. I intend to make sure that Jamaica does not miss the great opportunity before us.
To reach this destination of peace and prosperity, Jamaica needs a roadmap which reinvigorates our values, guides our national policy and supports our Constitution.
I am convening in June 2009 a Jamaica National Summit to be held at the National Conference Center under the chaimanship of Rev. Herro Blair.
The purpose of this Summit is to bring together all the significant sectors of our country to discuss and agree on a detailed framework to achieve the national progress we all desire.
The Summit will conclude with a Treaty of Jamaica, which I hope will be signed by representatives of all sectors of society. This treaty will be our new roadmap to peace and prosperity.
In preparation for the Summit and with reference to the Jamaica 2020 initiative aimed at achieving developed nation status, my administration has prepared detailed 20 year plans covering:
Education & Training
Community Development
Agriculture
Housing
Energy
Industrial Policy
Security & Crime Mitigation
The PNP and all other stake holders in Jamaica will receive copies of our plans and ideas tomorrow.
Plans are being sent to:
All unions, church organizations, NGOs, all private sector organizations as well as all properly constituted community organizations we can identify. They will be asked to appoint representatives to take part in these national deliberations.
Leading up to the Summit we will have breakout sessions for each individual sector... this to achieve some consensus as early as possible among sector leaders. The dates and locations of these sessions will be included with the plans sent to all invitees.
All sessions at the Summit will be open to the general public and will be televised live. This will ensure transparency, public participation and limit posturing.
It is my fervent hope that The Treaty of Jamaica will be our communal pathway to peace and prosperity, to be adhered to regardless of which party happens to be in power.
As a publicly negotiated contract, it will be incumbent upon the signatories to keep this contract with Jamaica sacrosanct and the public whom we serve to keep us honest when we are weak.
I intend to publish this letter in the daily newspapers in one week. There will be equal space in that public notice of our intentions, for the PNP's response.
I trust, for our nation's sake, that your response will be affirmative and enthusiastic.
Yours in our nation's service,
Bruce Golding
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