Patterson THE GOVERNMENT is considering several options to boost employment and spur greater levels of productivity and economic growth to accelerate national development.
A meeting of the National Development Council, chaired by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson on Wednesday agreed on the need for a renewed thrust to create jobs and economic growth.
Several working groups involving the key Government Ministries and agencies are already finalising plans for the implementation of various development projects aimed at increasing employment and general economic activity. At Wednesday's meeting of the Development Council at the Office of the Prime Minister, presentations on possible ways to achieve these objectives were made by the national economic promotions agency JAMPRO, the Port Authority of Jamaica and the Planning Institute of Jamaica.
These proposals are to be discussed and concrete decisions taken at the annual retreat of the Cabinet scheduled for the end of January.
The Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Bank of Jamaica and the Planning Institute of Jamaica have been assigned responsibility for collating the papers to be presented at the Cabinet retreat.
At Wednesday's meeting Prime Minister Patterson noted that the retreat of the Cabinet was being held earlier than usual this year because of the clear need to sign off early on the implementation of several major projects and policy initiatives designed specifically to create jobs and economic growth.
Meanwhile the Government's Business Facilitation Board is to be revised and the Prime Minister has mandated that it is to play an even more vital role in encouraging business start-ups.
The Development Council is itself expected to play a direct role in resolving differences between agencies and removing obstacles, which hinder the implementation of development projects and impede business activities.
