PM Portia Simpson Miller promises a bright 2013 for Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jan 7, CMC – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has acknowledged that while the record of her ruling People’s National Party (PNP) over the past 12 months “has not been perfect” her government came to office “at a difficult time” and has since restored trust, brought back respect and decency to governance while making important progress in some key areas.

In a nationwide radio and television broadcast on Sunday night, Prime Minister Simpson Miller said the mission of uplifting the population and working towards economic independence was challenged during the past year by the slippage of the Jamaican dollar.

She said that the Net International Reserves (NIS) also dipped, but not the country’s reserve of courage, determination and resilience in the face of the international economic environment and domestic challenges.  Yet, our confidence in the Jamaican people has never been stronger.

“Our ancestors did not fight so gallantly; did not shed their blood for us to now capitulate to gloom and doom,” she told the nation, adding that despite the challenges, last year there were “concrete achievements”.