KINGSTON – Jamaica was celebrating its 49th year of political independence from Britain today with a public holiday and Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that despite its size, the island has made a “significant impact on the world”.
“Our music, our prowess in sports, our cuisine, our attractiveness to visitors, the respect we have earned in the important councils of the world, are among the attributes that make us a proud nation,” Golding said, reminding citizens that plans for the island’s 50th anniversary had already started.
But Golding acknowledged that while the island had made significant strides, it also faced “many problems”.
“Our economy has not grown anywhere near as much as we would have expected after 49 years of independence. We have not attained the quality of life for many of our people that we had anticipated. There are too many who are unemployed and too many who remain trapped in poverty. There is too much crime and violence among us.
“The dream of independence has not been realized. But it is a dream that must be kept alive for it is what will inspire us to greater effort and greater achievement.”
But the Prime Minister told the nation that Jamaica was not alone “in this struggle for achievement.”
“Many countries across the world are wrestling with this development deficit. The recent global recession is putting to the test even advanced, developed countries that we thought had already passed the test. We are not immune.
“As a small, vulnerable island state, we have suffered setbacks brought about by factors far beyond our control. But we, ourselves, must accept responsibilities for much of our failures. There were times – too many times – when we made the wrong turn and we have paid dearly for those mistakes.”
He acknowledged that there were “too many times” that opportunity beckoned but “we dithered and argued and those opportunities moved on.”
“In going forward, we must learn from our experiences of the last 49 years. As a nation, we will not advance unless we find and unite behind a common purpose, an overarching objective that transcends all our differences and divisions.”
Golding said that while the country is proud of its democratic traditions that have been sustained and matured over 67 years since universal adult suffrage in 1944, “most of the nations of the world cannot claim that longevity of democracy”.
“However, we must ensure that despite all its intensive competitiveness, our democracy leads us to a shared vision, a unity of purpose and a common agenda to make Jamaica, as we proclaim in Vision 2030, a place of choice to live, work, raise our families and do business.
“The transformation that we seek, the improvement in the lives of our people that we long for will not be achieved overnight. But every journey, no matter how long and difficult, is made easier by the knowledge that we are on the right track and that victory is not only within our sights but within our reach. Our focus must be to ensure that it is firmly within our grasp.” (CMC)
