The Queen opened the Parliament with an extensive and promising Throne Speech. Income tax laws, land reform, and improvements in the education sector were some of the issues that were addressed.

Published: Saturday, March 5, 1966

 QUEEN OPENS PARLIAMENT

-Firm stand on Rhodesia

HER MAJESTY, Queen Elizabeth, opened the 1966-1967 Session of Jamaica’s Parliament with time-honoured tradition yesterday.

In her speech, the Queen made reference to the situation in Southern Rhodesia. She told the assembled gathering of distinguished parliamentarians, diplomats, the clergy, and citizens gathered in Gordon House that her Government in Jamaica "deplores the actions of those governments which deny the fundamental principles of human rights to their people and is totally opposed to all forms of racial discrimination” and that it “supports all measures which may be used to put an end to the illegal Government of Rhodesia”.

 The opening of Parliament by the Queen yesterday was the highlight of the second day’s programme of her four-day visit to Jamaica, which began on Thursday.

 Yesterday’s programme included visits to Jamaica House, where the Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, called on the ailing Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, and Lady Bustamante; lunched with the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. Donald Sangster at Vale Royal; visited The University of the West Indies at Mona, and viewed  the Trooping of the Colours by the Jamaican Defence Force at Up Park Camp.

PROGRAMME

In the speech setting out the Government’s programme for the new financial year, the Queen made the following points:

A programme of land reform designed to achieve better utilisation of Jamaica’s limited land area would be put into effect this year.

Major emphasis would be placed on the development of food processing.

New incentives would be provided for increasing hotel accommodation on the island.

There would be legislation to regulate all forms of insurance.

A bill for the establishment and regulation of a Stock Exchange in Jamaica would be introduced.

The Income Tax Laws would be consolidated and amended.

There will be important changes in the present educational programme, including increased facilities for the training of teachers.

The speech was prepared by the Cabinet and was handed to Her Majesty yesterday morning by the acting prime minister.

Following is the text of the Queen’s Speech:

“MR PRESIDENT AND HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE,

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Pleasant recollections.

My husband and I are happy to be visiting Jamaica again. We have pleasant recollections of our previous visit and look forward to meeting many people here and to enjoying the hospitality and natural beauty of your country of which you are justly proud.

I regret the illness of my prime minister of Jamaica and one of my Privy Councillors, Sir Alexander Bustamante. I wish him a full recovery.

“I am grateful for the courtesies and friendship showed to my mother during her recent visit. Other members of my family have always felt that they are at home in Jamaica because they know that they are amongst friends.

It is now three and a half years since my sister, on my behalf, declared open the first Parliament of independent Jamaica. Since then, Jamaica has shown that the confidence which I then expressed in its ability to uphold democratic traditions has been fully justified.

My Government in Jamaica has played a full part in maintaining the strength and unity of the Commonwealth. This has been done not only through active participation in the highest Commonwealth organ, the meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers and through such organisations like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers, but through the interchange of views which Jamaica daily has with the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at which the youth from 40 Commonwealth countries will meet in friendly rivalry in the field of sport.

I wish the Games every success as they can make an important contribution to the task of building harmony and goodwill amongst all those participating.

My Government in Jamaica fully supports the United Nations and the principles in its Charter.

It deplores the actions of those Governments which deny the fundamental principles of human rights to their people and is totally opposed to all forms of racial discrimination. It supports all measures which may be used to put an end to the illegal Government in Rhodesia.

My Government in Jamaica looks forward to the meeting of heads of Governments of Canada and the West Indies, which is to take place this year, and welcomes this gesture of closer cooperation with its great Commonwealth neighbour in this hemisphere.

At the same time, the many points of contact with other Caribbean countries will be maintained, and the existing regional institutions such as the university will receive continued support.

A programme of land reform designed to achieve better utilisation of Jamaica’s limited land area will be put into effect this year. Legislation for this purpose will be introduced and the necessary financial provisions made in the estimates.

The Agricultural Marketing Corporation will be further strengthened to enable it to expand its purchasing, sorting, and distribution of local food crops. Major emphasis will be placed on the development of food processing.

These programmes will not only increase farmers’ incomes but by increasing the production of local foods, will reduce the country’s heavy import bill.

Food crops primarily for export, especially sugar and bananas, have encountered many problems. The Government is making a full enquiry into all aspects of the production, marketing, and efficiency of the sugar industry to determine what measures used to be taken in order to maintain the competitive position of the industry.

Encouragement

 The present policy of encouraging and assisting the expansion of the industry will continue. The import programme of the country will be kept under continuous review in order to ensure that there is adequate protection for local industry, adequate supplies at reasonable prices for the consumer, and the reduction of the deficit in the balance of payments to a level which can be financed by normal imports of capital.

“The Government will provide facilities by way of new incentives legislation and other means to increase hotel accommodation so that Jamaica will be able to benefit from the increasing tourist travel, which is taking place in the Caribbean.

“Three of the basic public utilities have been put on a new footing and should undertake important expansion this year. Franchises for the Jamaica Public Service Company and the Jamaica Telephone Company have been completed, and legislation giving effect to these franchises will be presented this year. Another basic public utility, the docks in Kingston Harbour, will have completed their first phase of expansion and modernisation this year and will be commencing the second phase immediately thereafter.

Air Jamaica expects to be fully operational this year, and the House will be asked at a later date to agree to the subscription to the increased capital on the basis set out in the Ministry Paper.

Special facilities are being provided to encourage a welcome expansion in the Bauxite and Alumina industries. This expansion is reflected in the very large capital expenditure being undertaken by the companies in the coming year and will provide increased employment and tax receipts.

Legislation to regulate all forms of insurance will be introduced this year. The objective will be to encourage the development of a strong and stable insurance industry in Jamaica, the protection of policyholders and to ensure that local savings are invested locally.

Stock Exchange

A bill for the establishment and regulation of a Stock Exchange will be introduced. This is a recognition of the increased interest displayed by all sectors of the community in acquiring stocks and bonds and the increasing number of companies heeding the Government’s desire to have a much wider dispersal of ownership of the productive assets of the country. The law when enacted will lay down standards for membership of the exchange and will seek to ensure the protection of the investors against fraud.

The Government expects to receive a report from the Committee inquiring into the decimalisation of the Jamaica currency and will then be in a position to announce its decision on this matter.

A bill providing for the consolidation of the Income Tax Laws will be presented to Parliament. The primary aim is to bring together the large number of amendments made to the principal law, but the opportunity will also be taken to introduce modifications in certain areas of the law.

“There will be important changes in the present educational programme. Training colleges will be further expanded so as to provide an increased supply of teachers. The content and quality of training provided from age 12 for all children will be greatly increased by the provision of junior secondary schools and an expanded programme of technical training. The school places released from the present all-age primary schools as a result of the transfer of children above 12 to junior secondary schools will make possible a sufficiency of places for all children under age 12. Compulsory attendance at schools will then be enforced for all children of the age group six to fifteen.

The National Insurance Scheme providing for the first time comprehensive social security for the majority of people in Jamaica will be inaugurated this year.

Accommodation

“The various housing schemes financed by the Government and the Agency for the International Development of the United States of America should be completed this year, thus providing accommodation for many people in the low-income group.

“Steps will be taken this year to increase the number of judges in the High Court to expedite the work of the courts. Other steps will be taken to improve the administration of justice and the organisation of the legal profession.

“A reorganisation of the Mental Health Services is being undertaken and a new mental health bill will be introduced this year. A new public health bill will also be introduced. These bills will embody the most modern principles in these fields.

Steps will be taken to proclaim and bring into force the Food and Drugs Act, the Pharmacy Act, and the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act.

There will be further expansion of the work amongst youth by the provision of more youth centres and youth club organisers. It is planned also to provide increasing outlets for young persons in the field of craft work by the construction of new buildings for the Institute of Craft.

My Government in Jamaica is grateful for the help in the field of technical assistance and loans received from the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and from the United Nations and other international agencies.

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.