MORRIS
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I HAVE been prompted to write this letter because in recent times, there have been individuals who have been questioning Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's legacy. My prompting is based on the fact that as an individual my appointment by Prime Minister Patterson to both the Senate and Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is indeed significant.
My appointment to the Senate and to the ministry constitutes a first by any Prime Minister in Jamaica and must be seen as a fundamental achievement for our country. A few weeks ago, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in association with the disabled community, held an employment and disability fair. The purpose of this fair was to put the talent and abilities of disabled persons on display and to bring them into direct contact with the private sector. The fact is that the bulk of disabled persons who are employed, are employed by the state, as the private sector which supposedly constitutes the engine of growth, should be the major employer of citizens. Most of those who have been condemning Prime Minister Patterson's legacy would never dare employ one disabled person much more to entrust them with such major responsibilities that he has accorded me.
MY RESPONSIBILITY
As Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, I have responsibility for all Social Security matters. This means that subjects such as National Insurance Programme of Advancement through Health and Education; senior citizens and the disabled, all fall under my responsibility. Over the past 14 years and most certainly since I have been in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, we have seen significant improvement in the service being offered to the beneficiaries of the various social welfare programmes. It was through the instructions of Prime Minister Patterson why we added a new product for NIS pensioners called NI Gold where we provide medical coverage for over 80,000 pensioners. It was through the instructions of the Prime Minister why we now have the PATH programme wherein we have sought to modernise our social welfare system and to develop human resource capital and break the inter-generational cycle of poverty. This has seen over 180,000 Jamaicans who are below the poverty line benefiting from a more efficient and dignified social security system for the poor. It is based upon the instructions of the Prime Minister why Jamaica has modern senior citizens and disability policies which are being copied by countries in the region and the world.
I am proud of the fact that this humble man has asked me to give service to our country. His appointment of me has opened up great opportunities for many individuals in Jamaica, especially the disabled. More disabled persons are accessing the education system and are therefore empowering themselves. We are aggressively pursuing legislation to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. To this end, we have been actively participating in the United Nation's drafting of a new international covenant to protect the rights and dignity of the disabled.
This convention will have legal obligation on those states who are signatories to this document and Jamaica intends to sign once the draft is completed. All of this has been made possible through a Prime Minister who is ahead of his time. History will absolve him for his good works and will show him as a man who has opened up the door and given more opportunities for the poor and dispossessed than any other Prime Minister of Jamaica.
I am, etc.,
FLOYD MORRIS,
Senator and Minister of State
