Independence Dream An Illusion, Says PM
Published: Sunday | August 7, 20110 Comments
Students of the Buff Bay High School performing a quadrille dance at the Independence Day Parade ceremony at King's House yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Livern Barrett, Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Bruce Golding used the annual Independence Day ceremony at King's House yesterday to give a sobering assessment of the country's development in 49 years of Independence.
The ceremony, held on the picturesque West Lawn under slightly overcast skies, was the usual pomp and pageantry attended by a wide cross section of civil and political leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.
Golding, who was delivering his annual message, argued that the dream of Independence has not yet been realised, pointing out that there is too much crime and violence throughout the society and that too many people are unemployed or remain trapped in poverty.
"We ourselves must accept responsibility 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 said.
"There were times, too many times, that opportunity beckoned but we dithered and argued and those opportunities moved on," he added.
Despite this, Golding said the dream of Independence must be kept alive because "it is what will inspire us to greater efforts and greater achievements".
"Though there is so much more for which we must strive, there is so much of which we can be proud," Golding said.
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, in his annual message read by his deputy and custos of Kingston, Steadman Fuller, urged Jamaicans to embrace his values-based 'I Believe' campaign.
Fuller also appealed to Jamaicans at all levels to rise and be active in the service of their country.
"We must unite to secure our success. Despite the challenges, the combined efforts of dedicated and hard-working Jamaicans have set a foundation on which we can build a brighter future for our country," he said.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, in her message, said Jamaica has gone well beyond the initial steps of symbolic decolonisation to establish important self-sustaining institutions to safeguard the country's democracy and foster social and economic development.
"These are fitting pillars on which we should continue to build our society," Simpson Miller suggested.
Published: Sunday | August 7, 20110 Comments
Students of the Buff Bay High School performing a quadrille dance at the Independence Day Parade ceremony at King's House yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Livern Barrett, Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Bruce Golding used the annual Independence Day ceremony at King's House yesterday to give a sobering assessment of the country's development in 49 years of Independence.
The ceremony, held on the picturesque West Lawn under slightly overcast skies, was the usual pomp and pageantry attended by a wide cross section of civil and political leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.
Golding, who was delivering his annual message, argued that the dream of Independence has not yet been realised, pointing out that there is too much crime and violence throughout the society and that too many people are unemployed or remain trapped in poverty.
"We ourselves must accept responsibility 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 said.
"There were times, too many times, that opportunity beckoned but we dithered and argued and those opportunities moved on," he added.
Despite this, Golding said the dream of Independence must be kept alive because "it is what will inspire us to greater efforts and greater achievements".
"Though there is so much more for which we must strive, there is so much of which we can be proud," Golding said.
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, in his annual message read by his deputy and custos of Kingston, Steadman Fuller, urged Jamaicans to embrace his values-based 'I Believe' campaign.
Fuller also appealed to Jamaicans at all levels to rise and be active in the service of their country.
"We must unite to secure our success. Despite the challenges, the combined efforts of dedicated and hard-working Jamaicans have set a foundation on which we can build a brighter future for our country," he said.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, in her message, said Jamaica has gone well beyond the initial steps of symbolic decolonisation to establish important self-sustaining institutions to safeguard the country's democracy and foster social and economic development.
"These are fitting pillars on which we should continue to build our society," Simpson Miller suggested.
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