Health Minister Rudyard Spencer (left), member of parliament for South East Clarendon, makes a presentation to Prime Minister Bruce Golding at the constituency's annual fund-raising and awards dinner held at the Hilton Hotel on Friday. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

PRIME MINISTER Bruce Golding says his government remains committed to its vision for Jamaica, whereby every child must attend a decent school and every adult have a decent job. He believes that if these goals are achieved, then Jamaica will be well on its way to solving its problems.

Golding made the remarks after being presented with the award for 'Political Man of the Year' at a function in his honour on Friday night at the Hilton Hotel. The award was presented to the prime minister at the fourth annual Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) South East Clarendon annual fund-raising dinner, by the member of parliament and minister of health, Rudyard Spencer, who heaped praises on Golding for his outstanding leadership ability.

many challenges faced

Reflecting on the many challenges faced by his government since taking office September last year, Golding noted that the world had experienced the first global economic downturn in 15 years. "We came to office also battling with the after effects of Hurricane Dean and now the onslaught of Tropical Storm Gustav, but we are not offering any excuses. People still look to us for the same things they voted for. The targets have not been changed and can't be adjusted," he said.

Golding said that under these challenging economic times, his government will have to accelerate its efforts and will have no excuse but to deliver what is expected, and so remains committed to fulfilling its mandate. These commitments, he said, would be to restore hope and create opportunities for a better life, to build a society of peace and stability, and to entrench integrity in government and public administration.

dedicated men and women

The prime minister had high praises for the team support he has received from his Cabinet, ministers of state, and permanent secretaries, all of whom, he said, are committed to making Jamaica the best place in the world.

"Whatever I have accomplished has not been done alone. I lead a team of dedicated men and women. If this ship of state, with its catalogue of challenges, is to be taken into the future to achieve prosperity, no one man can do it alone," Golding said.

He noted that leadership and popularity were not necessarily the same, and that one had to turn away from popularity to provide leadership if the country was to overcome its difficulties. He said it was important to maintain the system of demo-cracy and unity within the overall political system.