Tue | May 14, 2024

Phillips pledges to establish a ministry of social transformation

Published:Sunday | September 16, 2018 | 12:00 AMErica Virtue/Senior Gleaner Writer
A large number of People's National Party supporters gather on the outside at the National Arena for the party's 80th anniversary conference in St Andrew on Sunday.

People's National Party (PNP) President Dr Peter Phillips promised that a future PNP government would established a ministry of social transformation and community development, which will depend heavily on social workers to reverse many of the negative behaviours permeating the society.

Phillips made the promise during his address in the public session of the 80th anniversary conference of his party on Sunday at the National Arena in St Andrew.

According to him, many of the problems besetting families were caused by negative interpersonal relationship between parents and their children, and the lack of care by communities in protecting each other.

"We are going to be establishing a ministry of social transformation and community, and we are going to be drawing on teams of social workers across our communities to deal with the mothers and fathers and their responsibilities. We have to build a country based on self-respect and personal responsibility and love of our children and love of our selves ... ," Phillips pledged.

A programme to assist unattached youth would also be developed in collaboration with social groups such churches, retired personnel and entrepreneurs.