Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
PRIME MINISTER Portia Simpson Miller is appealing to members of the business sector in Jamaica to establish a partnership with the Government to improve early childhood education in the country.
She said Jamaica has enormous benefits to gain from children receiving proper early childhood tutoring and that it was important for members of the private sector to accept this offer as part of nation building.
"Partner with me. Partner with the Government. Let us work together to begin to shape the little ones," she urged.
Mrs. Simpson Miller made the appeal while speaking at the 51st annual dinner of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce held at Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios on Saturday night.
The Prime Minister said that children learn faster during the younger stages of their lives and argued that if the Chamber of Commerce and the private sector would partner with the Government and take on early childhood education seriously, most of the difficulties in attaining higher education would be solved.
The Prime Minister also used the occasion to defend her government's decision to use $1 billion from the National Insurance Fund to boost small business development.
Responding to repeated objections from Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, Mrs. Simpson Miller said that no amount of threats would deter this plan. "And so, I am not afraid if 'bangarang' comes down on me in the interest of the poor or to advance the case of the Jamaican people. I am prepared to take the 'bangarang' because then I will demonstrate the strength of a woman," she added.
Mrs. Simpson Miller said that while Mr. Golding speaks on behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party, she as Prime Minister, speaks for every Jamaican regardless of party affiliation and that she sees no reason why assistance should not be provided to poor Jamaicans to improve their earning power if funds could be identified.
On Saturday night, awards were presented to the Runaway Bay Heart Hotel and Training Institution for contribution to the development of education.
The tourism award was presented to Stafford and Mary Lyn Burrows of Dolphin Cove. Mrs. Hope Rose won the citizen's award while the corporate award, went to Chris Blackwell and Island Village in Ocho Rios.
