New Year's Messages

The following are edited excerpts of New Year's messages from the nation's leaders.

 

Cheers to the Year of Transformation

New beginnings generally elicit excitement and energy.

Despite any disappointments we may have had during 2019, we can take pride that our nation has accomplished much and we look forward to even more progress.

From my own interactions with our leaders and participants who have been involved with the social and outreach programmes generated by King’s House, I am encouraged by the spirit of Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora.

We must remain optimistic about 2020 as the Year of Transformation for our country, as we start the final push in the journey to achieve our goals for Vision 2030; our personal and moral development; our family bonds; and our values and attitudes.

Let us welcome the New Year with enthusiasm, and make our nation prouder and stronger as the months roll by.

SIR PATRICK ALLEN

Governor General

 

 

Great hope for 2020

We happily welcome the clear vision of 2020, embracing this New Year for all the potential and promise it holds and we give God thanks for sparing our lives to see yet another decade.

It pains my heart that many of our brothers and sisters, and our children were deprived of seeing 2020 due to violence. This is a social epidemic and requires national consensus around the use of emergency powers to bring the disease under control. My Government is committed to bringing the murder rate down.

The disorder on our roads and in public spaces is now a national concern. Billions have been invested in improving our road infrastructure, which will improve connectivity, efficiency and comfort ... . The Government has invested heavily in traffic management and traffic violation detection technology, and this year, the traffic ticketing system and the enabling regulations for the new Road Traffic Act should be complete.

The Government is also steadily increasing investments in the island's health infrastructure.

Many great things happened in 2019, which gives me great hope for 2020.

Happy New Year!

ANDREW HOLNESS

Prime Minister

 

 

We can build a stronger Jamaica

As we welcome 2020, let us take a moment to give God thanks for His many blessings which sustained us through a tough year.

Unfortunately, as we close 2019, it is clear that the dream of Jamaica becoming the “place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business" is not on course.

Together, we have to find a way to end the culture of violence. Too many of our schools, homes and communities have been scarred forever by bloodshed.

We cannot – we will not – lose hope. Despair and surrender are not characteristic of the Jamaican people.

In 2020, we must recommit to the vision and aspirations of our founding fathers and mothers. We must seek to build our nation on the foundations of democracy, the rule of law and the kind of economic and social development that offers equal opportunity for every Jamaican.

Despite all the challenges, with the resilience, tenacity, courage and good sense of the Jamaican people we can build a better and stronger nation.

I wish for everyone a safe, productive and happy New Year.

Dr Peter Phillips

Leader of the Opposition