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News
www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending June 20, 2013
PM Portia calls for diaspora members to invest in Jamaica P rime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, has called on members of the Jamaican diaspora to secure their share of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), noting that international partners have shown their confidence in the local economy by investing in mega projects. “Along with our diaspora, we need our international partners, and we will continue to invite foreign investments. Belgian-registered companies have invested in our transport sector; the French, in our road network infrastructure; the Spanish, in expanding our tourism industry, and the Chinese, in sugar cane manufacturing, bridges and other infrastructural developments. All these are welcome,” the prime minister told delegates at the
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (2nd left), greets Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade A.J. Nicholson as she arrives at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel in Montego Bay on Sunday, June 16, for the opening ceremony of the Jamaica Diaspora Conference (JIS photo)
opening ceremony of the 5th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference on June 16 at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort, in Montego Bay. “There is room and space for everyone to participate, and this confer-
ence is a clarion call to all Jamaicans, at home and abroad, to engage in Jamaica’s drive for growth. I hope you will grasp the opportunities, which will be presented at this conference for investments in business
and social projects,” she urged. The prime minister emphasised that the government is determined to put the diaspora at the heart of the growth and development agenda. Simpson Miller also called for the “regeneration” of ideas from the youth population in the diaspora. “We must not lose sight of the need to keep regenerating our diaspora movement with new ideas and the boundless energies of our youth. We must increase our outreach to the youth of our diaspora, and in so doing, build upon inspiring projects like the Diaspora Youth Connect, that is making a difference in inner-city communities like August Town, Trench Town, Mountain View, Tivoli Gardens, and Flanker,” she said.
Simpson Miller pointed out that the Joint Select Parliamentary Committee on Diaspora Affairs is another important instrument, which was designed to provide a direct channel to the corridors of decision making and should be utilised to greater effect. “Throughout the past ten years, there has been a progressive sensitisation of government departments and agencies on issues and services pertaining to the diaspora. To this end, Diaspora Units have been established in various agencies of government, notably in the ministry of health, Jamaica customs, and the trade board. In keeping with the new approach of this administration, JAMPRO has also designed a Diaspora Global Business Connect strategy, which will be
in execution mode at this conference,” the prime minister told the audience. She said that her recent involvement in the 50th anniversary celebration of the African Union, held in Ethiopia, caused her to be more “seized” of the global relevance of Jamaica in the world. “Jamaica must continue to solidify our relationship with Africa, and to explore and engage our diaspora on the continent. African countries are amongst the fastest growing economies in the world, and it is imperative that we continue to improve our relationship with these countries. Consequently, we recently appointed Mr. Carl Masters, as Special Envoy to the African Union, at the rank of Ambassador,” the prime minister said. (JIS)
Barbados looks to reform financing of healthcare
- gov’t to engage health insurance providers
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he government of Barbados is looking to reform the financing of healthcare in the country, since according to Health Minister John Boyce, the state could not provide "all services to all people". “As a result,” he said the government “would be engaging providers of health insurance plans to discuss the way forward”. Speaking at the opening of Sagicor's two-day Hospital Showcase and Information Seminar entitled: ‘When Overseas Medical Treatment Becomes Necessary Finding the Best Quality and Most Affordable Care’ recently at the Hilton Barbados, the health minister said that the private sector had forged a niche in two vitally important areas -
the provision of healthcare insurance plans, and the delivery of healthcare services. He added that the move, globally, was towards a policy objective of universal health coverage. "The aim of universal health coverage is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they require without experiencing financial hardship when paying for them. In other words, people should not be plunged into poverty just to pay for healthcare. That defeats the spirit of the first Millennium Development Goal, which is to reduce poverty," he told the audience which included exhibitors from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United States representing hos-
pitals and facilities providing medical services and products. The minister lamented that there was not enough dialogue between the ministry of health and the plan providers. And, he noted that as a result, his ministry did not know the extent of the population that was covered by health insurance plans or their annual expenditure on healthcare. He pointed out that these issues must be addressed if the ministry of health was to meet Barbadians' demands for timely and appropriate services. Boyce stressed that the government would continue to provide an enabling environment that allowed private healthcare providers to operate in the interest of the wider so-
ciety. In this regard, he said the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) had been outsourcing dialysis services to the private sector to satisfy demand and noted that presently, there were 24 patients receiving treatment by private institutions at a cost of Bd$60, 000 per annum. He added, however, that the ministry maintained a very tight regime of inspection and monitoring in these private sector facilities. It was also pointed out that the government had no intention of reducing access to essential care at its state-owned facilities, but would continue to adequately resource its operations to meet the demands of the most vulnerable in society. "Within the param-
Barbados’ Health Minister John Boyce addressing the recent opening of Sagicor's twoday Hospital Showcase and Information Seminar at Hilton Barbados. (C.Pitt/BGIS photo)
eters of government's commitment to the provision of the best quality healthcare to the citizens of Barbados, is a scheme through which persons may be referred overseas for medical services, which are not available in Barbados. The Medical Aid Scheme has been in existence since 1987 and
is administered by the QEH. Each case is considered on its own merit and is initiated by a referral from a consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital confirming that the technology is not available in Barbados to treat the case," explained the health minister. (BGIS)
PPP/C congress to script mandate until next elections – Rohee
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e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) executive member Clement Rohee said plans are progressing for the staging of the party’s 30th congress which will see the party making final decisions about its future and the remaining period ahead of the next general elections. The PPP/C’s 30th congress is expected to highlight the administration’s plans for the next three years, following deliberations
PPP/C executive member Clement Rohee
among party members
on critical issues which are affecting the party internally and it’s governance of the country. Rohee disclosed that while plans are on stream for the party’s congress, efforts continue at electing a new Central Committee which will be tasked with managing the affairs of the country’s oldest political party. “We are suppose to have congress every three years and it has been five years since we last held the meeting,
much has accumulated and among the key issues to be addressed is the party’s mandate for the next three years among other things,” Rohee said. The party’s 30th congress is set for Port Mourant, Corentyne. The committee has decided the venue for the congress will be the JC Chandisingh Secondary School from August 2 to 4. The school was the site for the 28th congress which was held in 2002.
Their congress will feature delegates from all across the country, including representatives from the party’s overseas chapters, the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) and the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO). In addition to the participation of local and overseas party groups, the occasion will be graced by fraternal organisations such as the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union
(GAWU), the Guyana Agriculture Producers Association (GAPA), and the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA). President Donald Ramotar, the key personality and the party’s general secretary, will preside over the congress where the Central Committee will be elected by the delegates. This is the first congress that Ramotar will be attending since being elected head of state. (Excerpt from Guyana Times)