NDM News
News regarding progress within the National Democratic Movement.
8 NDM Candidates Nominated for Vote 2016
NDM CONSTITUENCIES Parish Constituency Constituency Representative Party Telephone Numbers 1] St. Andrew – North Eastern Terence Lindo NDM 804 3728 2] St. Andrew – North Western Dr Rosemarie Higgins-Campbell NDM 792 0257 3] St. Ann- North Western Graham McDonnough Jr NDM 532 9111 4] Hanover – Western Leonard Sharpe NDM 364 7166 5] St. James – Southern Ras Astor Black NDM 435 8401 / 545 7423 6] Clarendon – Northern Eton Williams NDM 340 2171 / 566 2324 7] St. Catherine – North Central Lloyd D Smith NDM 823 6178 / 535 8513 8] St. Catherine – South Eastern Curtis Campbell NDM 336 5411...
read moreNDM opposes separation of NCC from the OCG
President of the National Democratic Movement, NDM, Peter Townsend, says he does not agree with the government’s decision to separate the National Contracts Commission, NCC, from the Office of the Contractor General, OCG. Public Service Minister, Horace Dalley, announced the pending change to the public sector procurement process, while making his contribution to the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Minister Dalley disclosed that the NCC will be separated from the OCG and given its own office and staff. But, Mr. Townsend says it only appears on the surface to be a progressive move. Mr. Townsend says the government’s decision to separate the two entities is cause for concern. Minister Dalley also revealed yesterday that the NCC will be renamed the Public Procurement Commission and that there’ll be a Public Procurement Appeals body where contractors who feel wronged, can seek redress. Last month, Transport and Works Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, announced that the 84 contractors who were denied the right to register or re-register with the NCC, had been given the green light to update their status. The contractors had been denied registration rights, some from as far back as 2009, due to a review undertaken by the police fraud squad. That review was prompted by a request by the Office of the Contractor General which asked the Fraud Squad to determine whether criminal charges should be pressed against the contractors. According to Mr. Townsend, the amendment which will allow contractors who feel wronged to seek redress, could facilitate corruption. The NDM Chairman says the new NCC mandate could also cost tax...
read moreA call to action
Speech delivered by NDM President Peter Townsend at the Kiwanis Club, North St. Andrew, February 20, 2014. Thank you for introducing me tonight at this meeting of this august institution, the Kiwanis Club, North St. Andrew. Mr. or Madam MC, President Howard Walker, IPP John Allen, President Elect Winston Clarke, Other distinguished persons at the head table, Vice Presidents, Officers & Members of the North St. Andrew Kiwanis Club, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, friends, my fellow Jamaicans all, good evening. First of all let me thank you for inviting me to speak to you tonight as this prestigious club celebrates 40 years of existence, for which I congratulate you and salute all members, past and present who have served; Secondly I want to introduce you to a few of my colleagues from the National Democratic Movement, in the audience, attending your meeting with me tonight. It is indeed an honor to be among patriots and servants like you tonight. Servants committed to the service of your fellow human beings. We could all chose to live our lives for ourselves alone ….. Trying to get ahead in these difficult times, but not so, say you Kiwanians! You have chosen a life of service to our community, and to our children, and the lives of many, many Jamaicans are enriched by your selflessness. Service to each other, through our parents, our families, friends, church, school, volunteer and service clubs like Kiwanis, trade unions, various associations, community centers, and in many other ways that individuals have invented just to give to their fellow man – is a very significant and important thing. It is THIS giving, that makes each of our lives what it is today and we are all better off because of it. Let us just imagine for a moment, a society in which our individual and collective giving stops or reduces drastically. You and I would not want to live in such a place and we would not want our children to live there either – because such a place has no future. Every Jamaican has been the recipient of the selfless giving of many who have been here before us……..From our parents to our National Heroes, and many others, too numerous to mention. It was their intention, their dream that our lives would be better, much better, than what they experienced. I question – whether we have made the best use of the opportunities they created for us….. —whether we have taken their sacrifices for granted….. Has our generation dropped the baton by allowing a FEW, to lead us where WE, the majority, do NOT want to go?! Are we happy with where we are as a country, 70 years into internal self government and 52 years after political independence? Do you think that Bustamante and Norman Manley would be proud with where our country has reached today? I certainly am not! I remember when the Jamaican dollar was stronger than the US dollar! Why is it that some Caribbean countries still have strong currencies while ours is still sliding? I am alarmed at the rapid erosion of good governance and good order expected of civilized societies. Jamaica ranks some 83rd out of 177 countries on the Global Corruption Perception Index (which means we are seen as...
read moreGeneral Secretary Michael Williams on Nationwide News Network’s “Point of View”
The National Democratic Movement is again thankful to Nationwide News Network for presenting the Point of View on national issues to provide the public with useful information important to further the education of the Jamaican people. Today the NDM will focus on three National Issues, using the theme: Is it Good For Jamaica? The important Commission of Enquiry into the West Kingston incursion to find Jamaica’s #1 don Mr. Christopher Coke. The lack of Investments and Job creation by the government. The recent debate on Tax Reform to investigate individuals without disclosure to the individual. [1] The NDM has will say up front we fully support a Commission of Inquiry if it is structured to: Advance the wellbeing of the Jamaican people by outlining specific guidelines for the Security Forces to interact, engage and protect the People of Jamaica. Establish the truth of what caused the death and disappearance of nearly 100 Jamaican citizens. Determine the compensation and assistance that will be given to the victims killed, disappeared, injured and belongings destroyed. The present terms of reference proposed by the government does very little to advance any of the above! What they do is to present a self-serving approach which is designed to further promote and advance tribalism and divide the people deeper in tribes & gangs instead of uniting everyone as Jamaicans. The NDM also condemns the recent position of the JLP to opt out of participation in the enquiry without making an effort to get the Enquiry to serve Jamaica’s interest instead of their political party. We say SHAME ON THE JLP LEADERSHIP!! [2] The present government has being paying mere lip service and cheap politics with the Jamaican people with their approach to Job Creation and Job Facilitation. All Jamaicans, except the PNP diehards, know that the “JEEP programme” is a farce. No real jobs are being created. Nearly 20 thousand YOUNG Jamaicans leave University annually and there are no government facilitated programs in place to guide, place or direct these YOUNG Jamaicans. If Information Technology has the kind of earning potential it is said to possess, why not start at the easiest place and facilitate call centres island wide to employ all levels of Jamaicans to earn a decent wage. India is in the process of preparing their country to employ 4 million of their citizens in call centres. We in Jamaica are competing with countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, Trinidad and St Lucia for call centre business. Even C&W and BNS use call centres outside of Jamaica. The PNP government is relying on HighWay 2000, the Free Zone and Trans Shipment Hub as their answer to the demands for Jobs but those are all “pie in the sky” as the Ministers responsible don’t even know where to start to get the projects from dream stage to implementation. [3] The recently passed Tax Amendment is another draconian law to give even more powers to the Finance Ministry and the Tax Department to further pick the pockets of all Jamaicans. This law would not be needed if the present government implements the long proposal to create a National Identity Number for all Jamaicans which would be used to access all government services, pay taxes, go to school, hospital or get medical services, drive a car, buy...
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