PNP to tackle crime concerns at retreat

Jamaica's staggering crime rate will be placed under the microscope today by the opposition People's National Party (PNP) as it completes a three-day retreat of its shadow cabinet.

The PNP's shadow cabinet, has been in retreat since Friday, and the party says that its focus has been on developing a policy framework for achieving growth in the society based on equity and the desire of the majority of the Jamaican people to be included in mainstream Jamaican life.

The party says that it is committed to deliberate actions to eliminate the blight of inequality that has continued to plague the Jamaican society.

Agriculture key to growth

According to PNP President Dr Peter Phillips, one of the ways to achieve this is by unlocking the nation's reserves of land so that the growth capacity of agriculture can be fully unleashed.

"It is also critical that decent housing is provided and that there is focus on broadening the economy through the massive expansion of small and medium-sized businesses." said Phillips.

He added that taking into account the challenges

facing the education sector, the hopelessness among the nation's youth, landlessness, stagnant rural development, and skyrocketing crime and violence, the shadow ministers brought to bear extensive research and best practices to define solutions to the ills that have kept Jamaica from advancing in critical areas.

Phillips said that central to the discussions were the findings of the commissions on land ownership, education and youth employment and the new economy.

The commissions, which were launched last year, focused on the main platforms for inclusive growth under a PNP-led government.

They were tasked to develop new ideas and proposals that would inform and drive party policies in these critical areas in line with the PNP's commitment to social justice and equality.