Prime Minister Bruce Golding touched on a range of issues Wednesday night during his monthly radio talk show, Jamaica House Live. The following are excerpts:

The election and inauguration of President Barack Obama:

"We have witnessed the inauguration of Barack Obama as president of the United States; the first black man ever to attain that position; something that many people thought they would never see in their lifetime, if it would ever occur! And we were able to witness that inauguration with all its pomp and pageantry; but most important was the powerful signal that it sent, and the tremendous symbol that it represents. It has generated hope right across the world, not just in the United States. There is a sense that the world's most powerful nation is in safe and capable hands."

The global economic recession:

"The impact of this global recession is increasingly being felt in Jamaica; we have serious problems with the bauxite industry for the simple reason that 50 per cent of the bauxite that is produced throughout the world is utilised in the automobile industry and the construction industry. Much of that goes into the United States and I am sure many people are aware that the construction industry in America is in a serious slump. The automobile industry is expected to decline by 25 per cent and, therefore, the demand for bauxite and alumina has fallen considerably."

Tourism:

"We are doing better than most other Caribbean countries in terms of our arrivals [of tourists], but we must understand that there are going to be tough times ahead. And the tourists that are coming here are perhaps spending less, coming here with less money and, therefore, we are going to see some stress in that industry as well."

Crime:

"I am hoping, we can strengthen the capacity of the police."

Unemployment:

"There are a number of things we are doing: We have provided some special funds through the Jamaica Business Development Centre, through credit unions, through the Scotia Small Loans Programme, because we are trying to see if we can provide some capital support for people to do something while jobs are in retreat because investments are on hold and business is bad because of what is happening throughout the world."