Dear Editor,
St Thomas has indeed achieved a number of positive things over the last 20-odd years, despite the many negatives that we are being told of in recent times.
Anyone who follows the socio-economic development of the country will understand why St Thomas should not be compared with St Andrew or St Ann.
While acknowledging that there is a far way to go and that there are many developmental plans slowly unfolding, there have been many solid achievements over the past 22 years.
Twenty-two years of continued political representation is indeed not an easy feat, moreso in a constituency where sugar, banana plantations and subsistence agriculture form the backbone of the economy, a constituency where 90 per cent of the land was owned by a few.
Dr Fenton Ferguson the Member of Parliament, has done well over the last 22 years. He set himself the difficult task to break into the vicious cycle of poverty, disease and ignorance.
Very early in his representation, Dr Ferguson launched an attack on education, determined to make a positive difference in the lives of young people. Bursaries, scholarships, books, computer labs, resource centres, tuition and updating libraries were all established and provided.
Not only were students the beneficiaries, but also teachers. They too wanted to upgrade themselves in order to better enrich the lives of the students. Fully conscious of the importance of quality and positive exposure during ones formative years Dr Ferguson spent great attention and funds in early childhood education. Many who now express disappointment at his stewardship have been beneficiaries of his generosity.
This area of personal development is undoubtedly the key to unlocking the door to economic and social advancement and throw off the shackles of ignorance.
Even before being assigned the health portfolio, the Member of Parliament demonstrated a passion to improve the quality of health care afforded to the constituents. Clinics, health centres, pharmacies, dental care, community health aides, the Princess Margaret Hospital and medical and nursing staff have all experienced a higher level of proficiency as a result of his representation.
His constant agitation for more up-to-date technology and the successes in these areas described the man.
On being appointed the minister of health the health facilities and services in Eastern St Thomas and indeed the entire parish have greatly improved. The Princess Margaret Hospital and Isaac Barrant Health Centre led in the improvement drive, fast becoming centres of excellence.
The citizenry of the constituency have at least tasted the efficiency of health service delivery. The strides being made to bring quality health care in easy reach of everyone continues. Healthy people cultivate progressive minds, exploratory attitude and appetite for an exploit in education.
Dr Ferguson, being conscious of the interdependence between education, health and economic empowerment, sought a myriad of ways to socially and economically equip constituents. Bridges, road construction, gullies, retaining walls, land acquisition, land titling, housing developments have been done to physically strengthen the basic infrastructure of the constituency and people.
Water supply systems, community centres, schools, playing fields have been refurbished and built to improve the quality of life and impart skills, which enhance sustainable empowerment. A wide range of agricultural initiatives have been carried out, thus contributing income, well-being and happiness to farming families and indeed improving the nutritional level, particularly of our children. Fishing co-operatives and agro-processing have become alive.
Apart from the social and economic infrastructure laid down, thousands of persons have benefitted from the employment these activities created. The level of poverty was shaken, albeit this is still a very worrying factor.
The face of Eastern St Thomas has made a positive change. We have a far more enlightened and sophisticated population. Twenty-two years in representational politics is a long time. Many moments of frustration and disappointments have been endured but to experience a constituency and a people being grateful, grow and develop is most heart-warming.
Well done, Doc! You have passed the test and we look forward to working with you for yet another year.
Morris Afflick, OD, JP, MSc
Kingston 8
St Thomas has achieved many positives
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St Thomas has indeed achieved a number of positive things over the last 20-odd years, despite the many negatives that we are being told of in recent times.
Anyone who follows the socio-economic development of the country will understand why St Thomas should not be compared with St Andrew or St Ann.
While acknowledging that there is a far way to go and that there are many developmental plans slowly unfolding, there have been many solid achievements over the past 22 years.
Twenty-two years of continued political representation is indeed not an easy feat, moreso in a constituency where sugar, banana plantations and subsistence agriculture form the backbone of the economy, a constituency where 90 per cent of the land was owned by a few.
Dr Fenton Ferguson the Member of Parliament, has done well over the last 22 years. He set himself the difficult task to break into the vicious cycle of poverty, disease and ignorance.
Very early in his representation, Dr Ferguson launched an attack on education, determined to make a positive difference in the lives of young people. Bursaries, scholarships, books, computer labs, resource centres, tuition and updating libraries were all established and provided.
Not only were students the beneficiaries, but also teachers. They too wanted to upgrade themselves in order to better enrich the lives of the students. Fully conscious of the importance of quality and positive exposure during ones formative years Dr Ferguson spent great attention and funds in early childhood education. Many who now express disappointment at his stewardship have been beneficiaries of his generosity.
This area of personal development is undoubtedly the key to unlocking the door to economic and social advancement and throw off the shackles of ignorance.
Even before being assigned the health portfolio, the Member of Parliament demonstrated a passion to improve the quality of health care afforded to the constituents. Clinics, health centres, pharmacies, dental care, community health aides, the Princess Margaret Hospital and medical and nursing staff have all experienced a higher level of proficiency as a result of his representation.
His constant agitation for more up-to-date technology and the successes in these areas described the man.
On being appointed the minister of health the health facilities and services in Eastern St Thomas and indeed the entire parish have greatly improved. The Princess Margaret Hospital and Isaac Barrant Health Centre led in the improvement drive, fast becoming centres of excellence.
The citizenry of the constituency have at least tasted the efficiency of health service delivery. The strides being made to bring quality health care in easy reach of everyone continues. Healthy people cultivate progressive minds, exploratory attitude and appetite for an exploit in education.
Dr Ferguson, being conscious of the interdependence between education, health and economic empowerment, sought a myriad of ways to socially and economically equip constituents. Bridges, road construction, gullies, retaining walls, land acquisition, land titling, housing developments have been done to physically strengthen the basic infrastructure of the constituency and people.
Water supply systems, community centres, schools, playing fields have been refurbished and built to improve the quality of life and impart skills, which enhance sustainable empowerment. A wide range of agricultural initiatives have been carried out, thus contributing income, well-being and happiness to farming families and indeed improving the nutritional level, particularly of our children. Fishing co-operatives and agro-processing have become alive.
Apart from the social and economic infrastructure laid down, thousands of persons have benefitted from the employment these activities created. The level of poverty was shaken, albeit this is still a very worrying factor.
The face of Eastern St Thomas has made a positive change. We have a far more enlightened and sophisticated population. Twenty-two years in representational politics is a long time. Many moments of frustration and disappointments have been endured but to experience a constituency and a people being grateful, grow and develop is most heart-warming.
Well done, Doc! You have passed the test and we look forward to working with you for yet another year.
Morris Afflick, OD, JP, MSc
Kingston 8
St Thomas has achieved many positives
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