In this our third instalment, we continue to assess the performance of the Golding government after almost two years in office. Today we ask: How satisfied are you with the efforts of the Golding government to improve health and social security?

Theo Chambers

President, Hanover Chamber of Commerce

HANOVER

I am very happy that people can go to the hospital without having to worry about cash. People's lives should come first. On the social services front I think based on the economic constraints, it's the best that we can do.

TRAVERT SPENCE

Retired principal

MANCHESTER

I am not totally satisfied. I see a concerted effort being made to offer treatment to people, but I am not sure that the facilities have been improved to the level that is needed to provide health care. In terms of social services I am a bit concerned that we are still running two Jamaicas, where some children in the Corporate Area get certain facilities and rural children don't.

SUZETTE CLARKE

Youth leader

ST CATHERINE

I am not satisfied. The free health policy has allowed more access to health care but the facilities are still poor and the nurses are still disgruntled. In respect of the social services, the only change is that this Government has helped more people to know about them. The Government has not come up with anything new.

Kenrick Davis

Environmental advocate

WESTMORELAND

I believe that the whole health programme that the Government set up was ill-conceived. It was not properly thought out. Free health is one thing but it's going to crash if you don't have proper planning. I don't see anything happening in the social services. We don't tend to remember the elderly, the indigent and people who are incapacitated.

Lloyd B. Smith

Businessman

ST JAMES

I think the free health policy created a façade with respect to the realities surrounding the health services. Below the surface there are many, many issues and I don't get the feeling that the Ministry of Health is moving with alacrity to deal with them. While there are some efforts being made in respect of social services, there is no efficiency in that sector to ensure that people get benefits in a timely way. I am not happy with the level of attention to the elderly and poor children.

Dr John Brown

Medical doctor, businessman

ST ELIZABETH

We have seen seen vast improvement in the personnel in health but there is still too much delay in the time it takes to attend to patients because of the shortage of personnel and medication. In terms of the social services, I am not happy at all. There are just so many complaints about that sector.

Jeffrey Foreman

University graduate

ST ANDREW

I am not satisfied. I am OK with the efforts in health, particularly the elimination of user fees, but I don't think that was the biggest issue before they came into office. The biggest issue was the quality of the health facilities and that has not changed. In terms of social security, I have not seen any change either.

Leon Walters

Record clerk

CLARENDON

I am not satisfied with their efforts in the health service. Although the user fees have been abolished, we still have a lot of shortage of facilities. In terms of social services I have not seen any change. People are still in need of help and communities are still depressed.

DANOVAN HILL

Educator

PORTLAND

In terms of health, I am very satisfied as far as it goes in the rural areas. When it comes on to social services, I see some efforts being made like the changes to the student loan system and I think that is a very good gesture so on a scale with 10 being the highest, I would give them seven.

Lawman Lynch

Youth leader

KINGSTON

I think the Government is doing its best to improve the health situation in Jamaica with the economic constraints. As it relates to social security, I am not too sure they have lived up to my expectations. There is far too much inequity, especially at the community level.

ESTELLA GRANT

Returned resident

TRELAWNY

I am satisfied with what I have seen in health care. I think they are trying their best, but I think they still need a few more doctors. For social services, I think the Government is also trying its best but I think what they have done so far is good.

SHANIQUE GAYE

University graduate

ST MARY

In terms of social services, I'm satisfied. It's not the best but I see where there has been some effort. But on the matter of health, they need to do a whole lot more to improve the facilities. Right now they are not adequate.

Yapha Gordon

Secretary

ST ANN

I think it could be better. There are still too many people who need benefits and are not getting them. When it comes to the health aspect, I am satisfied. The free health policy has made the service more accessible and that is a good start.

Andrea Scott

Premises manager

ST THOMAS

I would say I am 95 per cent satisfied. The free health programme has helped poor people a lot. The only thing is that the health facilities cannot accommodate many people at the same time. They are doing a satisfactory job in terms of social service. I see where they are helping the people.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

We must stop taking comfort in how much worse things could have been.

- Bruce Golding during his swearing-in, September 11, 2007.

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