Prior to entering Parliament, he had a distinguished career in academia. He has also been a Fulbright Scholar and has done scholarly work at the University of Florida at Gainesville. A Ford Foundation Fellow, he completed doctoral studies at The State University of New York at Binghamton, in International Political Economy. Peter Phillips earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master of Science in Government from the University of the West Indies. He also served as Minister of Health between 19, Minister of Special Projects in the Office of the Prime Minister from 1991 to 1994, and Senator and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister between 19.Ī graduate of Jamaica College, Dr. Previous to that, he was Minister of Transport and Works from 1998 to 2001, where among other things he had major success in reorganizing the transport system in the corporate area and in the rehabilitation and improvement of the road network across the island. Phillips has served in a number of ministerial capacities including Minister of National Security, a position which he held for six years and had significant success in reducing illegal narcotic flows through Jamaica and led a reform effort for Jamaica’s Security Forces. Peter David Phillips has had a distinguished career in Government, politics and academia. There was also a very puzzling development in the guidelines: “Applications are to be submitted to the divisional commanders of each parish through the police station closest to the place of worship with the list of no more than 12 persons who will be involved in the services during the periods of lockdown to facilitate streaming of services.” What does this mean? Do the police have the right to turn down these applications? Instead of the police trying to solve the ever-increasing crime in Jamaica they will now be busy reviewing church lists.Dr. This is a model Jamaica can examine and implement. Florida made efforts to protect its at-risk citizens instead of seeking to quarantine and lock down the entire population. Florida kept schools, churches and businesses opened throughout the pandemic, while California adopted more stringent measures yet both states have similar COVID-19 deaths and hospitalisations ('Florida sees same COVID case rate as California, despite no statewide restrictions', Newsweek, March 16, 2021). Which reports are they using? Some experts see no difference between areas with draconian lockdowns and those who give more freedom to their citizens. It would be good to see the scientific data the Government is using to guide its strategies. This disconnect is causing deep resentment amongst the populace. There is a disconnect between the policymakers and the people on the ground. The corner shops are overflowing between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Most people had to be leaving work at the same time hence, public transportation became crowded. There is seemingly no analysis whenever there is a change in strategy for example, the curfew start being moved from 10:00 pm to 8:00 pm seemingly had the opposite impact to that desired. The lack of business hours over the weekend is going to lead to a new round of lay-offs and redundancies across the private sector. The entrepreneurial spirit will be crushed, deepening poverty and mental illness throughout the country. The shortened hours on Friday and Saturdays will destroy small and medium-sized businesses. The Government may mean well, but the announced plans do not seem to be properly thought-out. Without proper explanation this smacks of favouritism for some and discrimination of others.
The Government of Jamaica needs to explain the logic of this decision. Is there something special about Sundays? The new curfew for Saturdays is 12 noon, while on Sundays there is a stay-at-home mandate, and these are borderline ridiculous. Who is advising the prime minister? Are his advisers trying to make him look silly? Some of the strategies mentioned are impractical. Despite the serious nature of the speech I laughed so loudly that family members and neighbours came running to ask what was happening. I heard aspects of the prime minister's speech during newscasts Sunday evening on how the Government aims to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus in Jamaica.
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