Prime Minister Bruce Golding and wife Lorna arrive at the National Arena for the Jamaica Labour Party's 64th annual conference yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

THE government has stepped in to save 850 jobs in the banana export sector, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced yesterday.

He said that the Cabinet has also voted on an additional $500 million for emergency road repairs by Christmas, increasing to $1.5 billion the total amount it has made available.

The prime minister was speaking at the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) first annual conference since winning the September 3 general election, at the National Arena in Kingston.

In a wide-ranging speech to a huge crowd, slightly less than last November's record turnout for the pre-election conference, the prime minister warned supporters not to be intimidated by the high expectations of the people, nor to lose their humility.

"Let none of us clothe ourselves with power. Let none of us get up and talk as if we have power. We don't have any power. The power resides in the people of Jamaica, who have put it in our hands to be used in their name and for their benefit and for their purpose," Golding said.

"You have a new bus. You have a new driver, but the road is still rough," he cautioned the crowd. However, he said that he had a hard-working team which was responding to the needs of the people.

Turning to the immediate issues affecting his administration, Golding said that because of the banana industry's battering from the past three hurricanes, the government was faced with the possibility of the export sector shutting down.

He noted that some 800 workers employed to Eastern Banana and St Mary Banana were about to be made redundant.

"We couldn't afford to have banana workers, some 800 of them, facing that kind of Christmas. This government that I lead was not elected to throw people out of jobs. We were elected to create jobs and, therefore, we had to intervene," he explained.

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Dr Christopher Tufton, later explained to the Observer that the jobs of 850 workers employed to Eastern Banana Estates Limited in St Thomas and St Mary Banana Estates Limited in Annotto Bay, whose posts were scheduled to be made redundant last week, were saved by the government's intervention.

The Cabinet is understood to have provided guarantees for the industry to save it from the closures which, according to Dr Tufton, "would have meant the end of banana exports."

Hurricane Ivan in 2004 wiped out 100 per cent of the banana industry. After restoration, hurricanes Dennis and Emily knocked out 60 per cent in 2005. The following restoration was knocked out 100 per cent again by Hurricane Dean in August this year.

Golding also announced that hurricane relief for over 50,000 households affected by Hurricane Dean will start this week.
Over $1 billion will be given out for assistance, ranging from $10,000 for minor damage to $60,000 for destroyed houses.
He noted that $750 million had been sent out to secondary schools to cover tuition fees for September 2007, of which some $400 million should be returned to parents.

He reiterated the JLP's commitment to end hospital registration fees as of next April. However, he expressed concerns about the current treatment of some persons seeking attention at the hospitals and promised to rebuild the primary health care sector.

In terms of energy, the prime minister said that the government will have to look more closely at renewable energy to ensure that in 10 years no more than 50 per cent of Jamaica's energy needs should be filled by imported oil.
He also reiterated the party's commitment to provide additional resources for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, including personnel and equipment.

However, he said that the government was awaiting the appointment of a new commissioner as well as the reorganisation of the police force based on the proposals from the strategic review which, he said, combined with better use of resources should increase the capability of the force to tackle crime.

He also promised a revolution in local agriculture to encourage rural development and stem the rural-urban drift, as part of a national development plan.

He also promised special loan facilities for small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as increased training for the labour force through HEART/NTA and a 'speed-up' of the labour reform process.

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