AUGUST 6, 2003

My Fellow Jamaicans and friends,

Forty one years ago, we witnessed the birth of Independent Jamaica. Our founders were confident that the people of Jamaica had the will and qualities that would enable us to fulfill their bold vision. Now free to chart our own course, we would be able to devise the economic programmes and social systems that would lead to a better life for all our people.

The ensuing years have admittedly been a mixture of struggle and of triumph.

But today, we can take justifiable pride in the democratic systems which are now firmly entrenched in our society. We can take pride in our continuing progress towards more meaningful participation of people at every level of our society in the evolution of governance that is transparent, accountable and responsive. In this area, we have fulfilled the dreams of our nation’s founders.

Over the years, this and other administrations have embarked on aggressive programmes of legislative, social and economic change to enhance our Independence and complete our sovereignty.

The prominence of our country worldwide belies our small size. We can take justifiable satisfaction in the international recognition we have achieved in a number of areas, most notably in music and in sports. We enjoy a wonderful reputation as an exciting place to visit, as much for the natural beauty of our land as for the vitality and self-assuredness of our people... a people confident in ourselves and our place in the world.

It is this sense of self and our creativity that will enable us to meet successfully the formidable challenges we face in the international arena. Continuing technological advances and the demands of a globalised world call for new and urgent responses in order to survive. The government has led the way with its alliances at the regional level, through the strengthening of CARICOM and its institutions, and at other levels throughout the international community.

Here at home, we must bring all our resources to bear in order to meet the new levels of productive performance the world economy demands.

It is imperative that our educators and trainers, our workers, unions and employers come together in a new dynamic partnership to ensure our economic survival. We must seek to accelerate the pace at which we prepare our workforce to satisfy the new exacting standards that are required to ensure our competitiveness in world markets.

Even as we work together to meet these new demands, we continue with unflagging determination to fight against crime and violence which still plague our nation. There can be no let-up in our efforts to eradicate this cancer.

As we look ahead, I am heartened by a growing acknowledgment of the need to restore decency, decorum and mutual respect in the way we relate to each other. We are also experiencing a new spirit of cooperation in a significant section of our society, a willingness to approach our problems by engaging in dialogue and a meaningful exchange of views. In this way we can best harness the creative energy of all our people in the task of nation building.

It is our strength and maturity as a people, depicted by the colour black in our flag, which in the foreseeable future must inform our path toward the fulfilment of the promise of our Independence.

We have taken steps to seal that independence through strategic alliances with our brothers and sisters in CARICOM. We are setting up a Caribbean Court of Justice and working towards a Caribbean Single Market and Economy. These will guarantee us the benefits to be derived from an enriched integrated economic space in the fight against poverty and unemployment.

We continue to invest heavily in the development of our human resources through education at all levels, both nationally and regionally. All of this gives us just cause to celebrate. And so, let us move forward confident in our ability to overcome the challenges that still lie ahead.

Let us renew our faith, and our commitment to building a proud and enlightened nation, where we show respect and tolerance to each other and reflect those sound values to make us a truly great people.

On this forty-first anniversary of Independence, let all Jamaicans, living at home and abroad, vow, each in our own way, to make a positive contribution to our country.

Let us renew our determination to build the Jamaica which our founders envisioned – a nation that is harmonious, peaceful and prosperous.

I wish everyone a happy Independence.

May God bless us all and bless Jamaica, land we love.

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