Tufton: Gov't still in job search mode
BY COREY ROBINSON Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, January 23, 2012
OPPOSITION Senator Dr Christopher Tufton says Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's appeal last week to private sector firms to employ one person each under a new programme she has titled 'Jamaica Employ' demonstrates that her Government is still in search mode for a solution to joblessness.
Stating that Jamaica Employ was driven more by altruistic considerations and not necessarily based on the firms' needs, Tufton, the Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, foreign trade and investment, said the programme's sustainability could be questioned by investors. "And they would have a valid point if they do," he said.
Opposition Senator Dr Christopher Tufton (left) is greeted by managing director of Carimed Ltd Glenford Christian at the company’s 25th anniversary long-service award ceremony on Saturday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
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Tufton was delivering the guest address at Carimed Ltd's 25th anniversary long service awards at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
He noted that before Jamaica Employ, Simpson Miller, during the election campaign, was championing the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) which is a State-driven job creation thrust.
"But the days of catchy phases and clichés ended with the election campaign, and JEEP and Jamaica Employ will soon ring hollow to Jamaicans who have to confront a tight economy -- even with the progress our Government made since 2007 -- and [who] voted to support a change of Government based on a promise to 'balance the books while balancing people's lives' or better yet, 'putting people first'," Tufton said.
He said that in today's Jamaica, everyone should appreciate the impatience of any Government to get the economy moving and its citizens benefiting from expanded economic activity.
"The prime minister is impatient for progress in this area, and as a former minister with responsibility for investment generation I can fully relate to that feeling," Tufton said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1kISI9RUq
BY COREY ROBINSON Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, January 23, 2012
OPPOSITION Senator Dr Christopher Tufton says Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's appeal last week to private sector firms to employ one person each under a new programme she has titled 'Jamaica Employ' demonstrates that her Government is still in search mode for a solution to joblessness.
Stating that Jamaica Employ was driven more by altruistic considerations and not necessarily based on the firms' needs, Tufton, the Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, foreign trade and investment, said the programme's sustainability could be questioned by investors. "And they would have a valid point if they do," he said.
Opposition Senator Dr Christopher Tufton (left) is greeted by managing director of Carimed Ltd Glenford Christian at the company’s 25th anniversary long-service award ceremony on Saturday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
1/1
Tufton was delivering the guest address at Carimed Ltd's 25th anniversary long service awards at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
He noted that before Jamaica Employ, Simpson Miller, during the election campaign, was championing the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) which is a State-driven job creation thrust.
"But the days of catchy phases and clichés ended with the election campaign, and JEEP and Jamaica Employ will soon ring hollow to Jamaicans who have to confront a tight economy -- even with the progress our Government made since 2007 -- and [who] voted to support a change of Government based on a promise to 'balance the books while balancing people's lives' or better yet, 'putting people first'," Tufton said.
He said that in today's Jamaica, everyone should appreciate the impatience of any Government to get the economy moving and its citizens benefiting from expanded economic activity.
"The prime minister is impatient for progress in this area, and as a former minister with responsibility for investment generation I can fully relate to that feeling," Tufton said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1kISI9RUq
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