From left Patterson, Davies, Paulwell, Whiteman, Pickersgill and KnightTHE 400 employees at the Montego Freezone who were slated to lose their jobs in two weeks, could be reinstated as early as next week, says Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Technology.
He made the disclosure last night while addressing delegates at the 62nd annual conference of the People's National Party (PNP) inside the National Arena.
"Recently we had some job losses in Montego Bay...and I am pleased to say that after negotiations over the past couple of days next week we will be announcing the reinstatement of those 400 jobs," the Minister said to loud applause from the delegates.
He asserted that despite recent setbacks, the garment sector is poised for growth and should in the near future regain some of the competitive edge it lost to Mexico. This, he said, was the result of the passage of legislation in the United States which places all Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) countries on equal footing. He said the country was now in a position to encourage companies to locate here to operate textile plants.
Mr. Paulwell told delegates that the Government was negotiating with a major Mexico-based company for it to relocate here, a deal already 90 per cent complete. According to him, "when that company comes I think it is going to put our textile industry on a totally different footing". In what has become a customary high-tech presentation, Mr. Paulwell reiterated the Government's commitment to provide 40,000 jobs in the Information Technology sector over the next five years, and urged the private sector to play its part so the jobs can be realised.
Other presentations were given by Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Omar Davies, who spoke on the economy and expressed confidence the inflation rate will remain at single digit; and Education Minister, Burchell Whiteman, who gave an overview of the social sector. He pointed to the lowering of the infant mortality rate and increased life expectancy as major achievements for the country.
This year's conference, which ends with a public session tomorrow, is being held under the theme "Towards safe and prosperous communities". Crime and Local Government matters are being given priority treatment and a number of discussions will centre around these topics.
Today's proceedings will be highlighted by a presentation by party president P.J. Patterson at 12 noon. He will be preceded by Local Government Minister Arnold Bertram, who will present a status report on Local Government matters, including the reform process. K.D. Knight, National Security Minister, will give a detailed review of the Government's crime policies and initiatives at 2:30 p.m.
Also the executive of the party's youth arm, the PNPYO will present its proposals to assist in the reduction of crime.
"From my perspective, I think delegates would be coming to hear how we intend to tackle some of the problems that we know about and some of the problems that the polls have highlighted," party chairman, Robert Pickersgill told The Gleaner. "And I don't think the polls have highlighted any problem that we were not concerned with -- namely jobs and crime."
