Inside this issue:

Walking with the

Angels

2

Community Renewal

Programme

2

Tracking Our Progress 3

Vision 2030 Jamaica

Essay Competition

Winners

4

Kemesha is Vision

2030 Jamaica Youth

Ambassador

5

Outreach ... 6-7

Bite of the Quarter 8

Next Steps

What’s Happening

Stakeholders Finalize Draft MTF 2012 - 2015

including Small Business Association, International Development Partners (IDPs), and civil society groups, in-cluding: NGOs; Trade Un-ions; faith-based and com-munity-based organizations; representatives of the Ja-maican Diaspora and Re-turning Residents Founda-tions; and academia. MTF 2012-2015 is the sec-ond in the series of seven consecutive three-yearly MTFs for implementation of Vision 2030 Jamaica–National Development Plan.

O ver 100 representatives from key stakeholder

groups joined the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) at the Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF) 2012–2015 Review and Finalization Workshop on Fri-day February 15, 2013, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Chelsea Avenue, Kingston 5. The aim of the workshop was to provide critical feedback on the Draft MTF 2012-2015 to inform finalization and submis-sion to Cabinet. It was the last to be held in the consultative and inclusive process of identi-fying the priority national out-comes, strategies, programmes and targets for the next three years of national develop-ment. Feedback from the workshop and follow-up suggestions/comments from stakeholders for improvement were incorpo-rated into the document by the

Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretari-at which is coordinating the finalization process. Production of the document, including

editing, typesetting and printing is expected to be completed by April 2013 for distribution thereafter. Formulation of the MTF 2012–2015 process began with the two-day Vision 2030 Jamaica Country Assess-ment and National Prioritiza-tion Workshop in April 2012.

This was followed by a series of s e c t o r a l prior it iza-tion work-shops. Participants in the over-all finaliza-tion process compr ised senior tech-

nical officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), senior officers from private sector organizations

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 January 2013–March 2013

Vision 2030 Jamaica Programme Director, Mr. Richard Lumsden, speaking during the opening session of the

workshop. At left is Deputy Director General, Sustainable Development & Social Planning, PIOJ, Ms. Claire Bernard.

Workshop participants in break-out groups according to National Outcomes.

The National Vision Statement

is:

“Jamaica, the

place of

choice to live,

work, raise

families and

do business”

DID YOU KNOW?

Page 2

Walking with the Angels ...

you executed your tasks and interacted with mem-bers of the Secretariat. Walk good our colleague and friend!

She was the first to hand out a brochure or a Popu-lar Version to the young-est or oldest person. She took every opportunity to seek people out rather than wait for them to visit the Vision 2030 Jamaica booth whenever there was an outreach event in which the PIOJ/Vision 2030 Jamaica team was in-volved. We will miss you Kadian for the quiet and unas-suming manner in which

K adian Christie, who worked with the

PIOJ for almost four dec-ades and joined the Plan Development Unit/Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat in 2010, made her transi-tion on February 3, 2013, following a brief illness. An enthusiastic member of the Vision 2030 Jamaica Outreach team, Kadian used every opportunity to share the Plan with every-one, especially communi-ties across Jamaica.

M embers of the Community Renewal Programme (CRP) Secretariat, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), headed

by Programme Director (Actg.), Mr. Charles Clayton, took time out on February 27, 2013, to inform and educate staff of the Institute about the goals and objectives of the Community Renewal Programme (CRP), and prospects for the proposed Kingston Life-styles Centre (KLC).

Highlights of the presentation

were: a Case Study on the com-munity of Majesty Gardens, the current pilot community for the CRP; and an overview of the KLC project which is a partner-ship initiative between the Gov-ernment and the private sector towards the redevelopment of Downtown Kingston. On Friday March 15, 2013, the Secretariat, in partnership with

the Jamaica Diaspora Institute (JDI), hosted a Youth Summit at the Mona School of Business, Lecture Theatre,

UWI, Mona.

The Summit was a key activity under the Diaspora Youth Connect (DYC) Project. The event brought together

youth from eight at-risk communities under the project (August Town, Trench Town, Mountain View, Flankers, Rose and Farm Heights, Fletcher's Land, Tower Hill, Tivoli Gardens) and Majesty

Gardens, which are all communities under the CRP.

The Project, which is being implemented by the JDI in partnership with the Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO), seeks to leverage human and financial resources that are located in the Jamaican Diaspora. Activities are aimed at reducing poverty in the target communities and providing youth with a pathway to sustainable financial self-sufficiency, leadership and empower-

ment.

Participants at the Summit included NGOs, Local Government authorities, government & private sector agencies and organiza-tions, employment & educational institutions and the Jamaica

Diaspora Community. (See Page 7 for pictorial highlights.)

Community Renewal Programme Update

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is

immortal.”

Albert Pike

Vision 2030 Jamaica Update January 2013–March 2013 Volume 6 No. 1

Page 3 Volume 6 No. 1 Vision 2030 Jamaica Update January 2013–March 2013

Tracking Our Progress … (As presented at the PIOJ Quarterly Press Briefing, February 21, 2013)

T his quarter, we report on two key indicators of national well-being, under the Vision 2030 Jamaica - National Development Plan framework— Labour

Force Quality and Security Status. An overview of performance in both areas shows continued improvement. Diagrams, “National Goal #1…” and “National

Goal #2…” below, present a detailed performance.

Mr. Lumsden provides the media with

an update on the progress of imple-

mentation of Vision 2030 Jamaica, at

the PIOJ’s Press Briefing on February

21, 2013 at the PIOJ.

Diagram at right depicting the

key indicators of national well-

being which are examined

under eight main areas—

Health Status, Education Status,

Labour Force Quality, Security

Status, Justice Status, Economic

Growth, Employment, and Envi-

ronmental Stewardship Status—

under the Vision 2030 Jamaica

framework.

percentage point com-pared to 23.2 per cent with vocational or profes-

sional certification in 2011.

Labour Force Quality

As indicated in the diagram at right, 23. 7 per cent of the total labour force had vocational or professional certification based on the quarterly labour force surveys for 2012. This rep-resents an increase of 0.5

der rate of 42 per 100,000 population in 2011. These figures for 2012 continue the overall downward trend in crime rates that began in June of 2010, and represent the third consecutive year in which both rates have declined.

Security Status

With respect to Major Crimes (murder, shooting, rape, carnal abuse/sexual intercourse against a child under the age of 16, robbery, break-ins and larceny), see diagram at left, 386 such offences per 100,000 popula-tion were committed in 2012, a decline of 2.0 per cent from 394 per 100,000 population in 2011. The murder rate for 2012 was 40 per 100,000 population, down 4.1 per cent from the mur-

CATEGORY I - AGES 10–14

Vision 2030 Jamaica Update January 2013–March 2013 Volume 6 No. 1 Page 4

Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Competition Winners - Pictorial

CATEGORY II - AGES 15–19

2nd Prize Winner : Aliyah Wright Pratville Primary &

Infant School Manchester

Minister of Education The Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites,

presents Category II winners with their Awards

1st Prize Winner

Kadeja Stanley

Inverness Primary School Manchester

3rd Prize Winner: Tajay Platt Cornwall College St. James

Mrs. Marcia Blake-Hall Director, Corporate Affairs, Marketing &

Communication Division, PIOJ presents Category I winners with their

Awards

3rd Prize Winner: Mikhail Clarke Cornwall College St. James

1st Prize Winner

Victoria Bedward

William Knibb High School Trelawny

1st Prize: iPad 2 with Case

2nd Prize: Kindle Fire HD with

Case

3rd Prize: Kindle Fire with Case

1st Prize: Kindle Fire HD with Case

2nd Prize: Kindle Fire

with Case

3rd Prize: Coby Tablet with Case

Winners in the Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Competition received their prizes at the Awards Ceremony, on Wednesday, January 30, 2013

at the Planning Institute of Jamaica 16 Oxford Road, Kingston 5.

2nd Prize Winner: Janice Alexander Knox College Manchester

Page 5 Volume 6 No. 1 Vision 2030 Jamaica Update January 2013–March 2013

Kemesha Kelly is Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador

M ISS JAMAICA FESTI-

VAL QUEEN 2012,

Kemesha Kelly, has been

selected by the Planning

Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ),

as the Vision 2030 Jamaica

National Youth Ambassador.

In her capacity as Vision

2030 Jamaica National

Youth Ambassador, Miss

Kelly will assist in champi-

oning the Vision 2030

Jamaica – National Devel-

opment Plan, specifically

among the youth popula-

tion.

Kemesha is expected to

incorporate Vision 2030 Jamaica themes, as far as possible, during her

many speaking engagements/talks/discussions, and through her National

Community Project, over the remaining period of her reign (which ends in

August 2013), as the 2012 Jamaica Festival Queen.

Kemesha ‘hit the ground running’ in her new role, as she was the Master

of Ceremonies at the recently held Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Competi-

tion Awards Ceremony on January 30, 2013, the same day her position

as the Youth Ambassador was officially announced. Then in early Febru-

ary, she narrated a section of the Vision 2030 Jamaica Audio Book which

is currently being produced. (See sidebar for a report from Kemesha on

her other activities over the period.)

Mr. Richard Lumsden, Programme Director, Vision 2030 Jamaica, affixes the Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador button to Kemesha’s jacket following the announcement of her new role, during the Vision 2030 Jamaica Essay Awards Ceremony on January 30, 2013 at the Planning Institute of Jamaica.

Kemesha Reports … She’s Getting the Job done!

I remain quite honoured and excited to be serving in the

capacity of Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador. The

month of February provided several more opportunities to

share with Jamaican children and youth, information about

the National Development Plan, and the role we, as youth,

can play in the achievement of all the stipulated goals.

St. Jago High School Girls’ Day celebrations

On February 19, 2013, I was a guest speaker at the St.

Jago High School Girls’ Day celebrations in Spanish Town.

I received a warm reception. It was refreshing to hear the

young ladies share their knowledge of the Vision 2030

Jamaica Vision Statement, and they also made suggestions

as to how they could play a part in achieving the goals. I

handed out Vision 2030 Jamaica message pencils, glasses

and brochures. The Popular Version of the plan was hand-

ed out as a prize to some students and others were

presented to the teachers to be made available to the

students.

Holy Childhood Preparatory – Jamaica Day Celebrations

On February 22, 2013, Holy Childhood Preparatory

School hosted its annual Jamaica Day celebrations. I was

invited to be a guest speaker for the day. I had an hour-

long session with over 100 children from ages 6 to 12. I

shared with them information from the national develop-

ment plan. Several of them knew the Vision Statement.

They were able to articulate the simple things that they

could do as children to make Jamaica a better place, and

indeed “the place of choice to live, work, raise families

and do business”. The Vision 2030 Jamaica paraphernalia

was distributed. Teachers were provided with copies of

the Popular Version to be made available to the students.

For responding to questions from a quiz, the students won

Vision 2030 Jamaica glasses.

St. Ann Police Youth Club Awards Ceremony

On Wednesday February 27, 2013, the St. Ann Police

Youth Club Council under the guidance of the St. Ann

Community Safety and Security branch hosted their third

Annual General Meeting, themed “Upliftment through

Change”. I was invited to speak specifically about Vision

2030 Jamaica. I presented the executive of the council

with a copy of the Popular Version, and charged them to

conduct projects geared at achieving each goal. They

were encouraged to be the change they wanted to see to

make Jamaica the place of choice.

Thank you to the PIOJ team for affording me this oppor-

tunity and for the support I have been receiving.

At right: Kemesha presents a copy of the Vision 2030 Jamaica Popular Version to a student at the St. Jago High School Girls’ Day Celebrations, on February 19, 2013, at the school.

Kemesha poses with a group of children from the Holy Childhood Preparatory School, following her talk on Vision 2030 Jamaica at the school’s Jamaica Day Celebrations, February 22, 2013.

Vision 2030 Jamaica Update January 2013–March 2013 Volume 6 No. 1 Page 6

Outreach ...

At left: Secondary school students who

attended the Commonwealth Day 2013

Youth Symposium at the Jamaica Confer-

ence Centre, listen to a presentation dur-

ing the event.

Below: Students from the Norman Manley

High School visit the Vision 2030 Jamaica

booth to collect educational materials

and learn more about the Plan.

COMMONWEALTH DAY 2013 YOUTH SYMPOSIUM

MARCH 11, 2013

JAMAICA CONFERENCE CENTRE, KINGSTON

Just how much do you know about Vision 2030 Jamaica? A few youngsters

‘step up to the plate’ to demonstrate their knowledge by spinning the wheel

and answering the questions on which the pointer stops. Here, PIOJ’s Kha-

lia Nembhard tells them how well they have done.

HEART TRUST/NTA NATIONAL CAREER EXPO

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

LOUISE BENNETT GARDEN THEATRE

Students collect and browse through informational materials on the

Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and Vision 2030 Jamaica.

Samantha Wilmot of the Vision 2030 Jamaica team ensures that

they understand the link between the PIOJ and the Plan.

Page 7 Volume 6 No. 1 Vision 2030 Jamaica Update January 2013–March 2013

Howard University Student Pays a Visit ...

Outreach ...

At left: Saschane Stephenson,

Jamaican student at the Howard

University School of Law, USA,

greets Director General (Actg.) Plan-

ning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ),

Mr. Everton McFarlane, when she

visited the PIOJ on Tuesday, March

12, 2013 to get information on the

Vision 2030 Jamaica process as part

of her research on Sustainable

Development.

At right, she collects an Information

Kit from Programme Director,

Vision 2030 Jamaica, Mr. Richard

Lumsden.

Technical Specialist, Socio-Economic Development, Community Renewal Programme (CRP), Ms. Charmaine Brimm (c) addresses participants (at left)

from the community youth groups which participated in the Jamaica Diaspora Youth Connect Summit on Friday, March 15, 2013, UWI, Mona. At

right participants in one of the break-out groups during the day’s activities. Below: participants visit the Vision 2030 Jamaica booth to get a better

understanding of the Plan and its link with the CRP.

NEXT STEPS

Thematic Working Group Meetings

Ongoing presentations to key stake-

holders on Vision 2030 Jamaica

Completion and distribution of MTF, 2012 - 2015

Salute the Journey … Embrace the Vision

What’s Happening EVENTS DATE

April 10 Church Teachers’ College

Vision 2030 Jamaica presentations to students in tertiary Institutions

April 12 St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College

April 15 Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College

April 18 Shortwood Teachers’ College

April 23 & 26 Mico Teachers’ College

April 25 Bethlehem Teachers’ College

May 2 & 7 College of Agriculture, Science & Education (CASE)

May 3 Moneague College

May 6 & 8 GC Foster College

May 9 & 10 University of Technology (UTECH)

May 20 & 21 Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts

Thematic Working Group Meetings Dates to be decided

Panel Discussion “Vision 2030 Jamaica: Claiming the Victory”

May 15 Organization Development

Conference 2013

Exhibition at the 5th Jamaica Biennial Diaspora Conference Theme: A Nation on a Mission: Jamaica Diaspora Partnership for Development

June 16-19 Montego Bay Convention Centre

Montego Bay, St. James

Vision 2030 Jamaica Update is produced by :

The Plan Development Unit

Planning Institute of Jamaica

Design & Layout: Carmen V. Miller

For more information

Contact us at:

Planning Institute of Jamaica 16 Oxford Road, Kingston 5

Tel: 935-5150; 960-9339; 906-4471/2 Email: ndp@pioj.gov.jm

Website:www.vision2030.gov.jm Facebook.com/vision2030.ja

Bite of the Quarter

Kemesha Kelly, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2012

I am honoured to be serving in the capacity of Vision 2030 Jamaica Youth Ambassador. So far, it has been an amazing experience sharing the National Development Plan with Jamaican youth and other citizens.

Vision 2030 Jamaica Update January 2013–March 2013 Volume 6 No. 1 Page 8