Robert Montague, a member of parliament for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and representative for St. Mary Western, thinks the government has to give serious thought to preparing specific segments of Jamaican workers for the export market.
Although Montague, the JLP Chairman, made the call during his most recent appearance in the House of Representatives during the State of the Constituency Debate for 2023–2024, he has been expressing this viewpoint for decades, ever since he was the only JLP council member in the St. Mary Parish Council, which is now known as St. Mary Municipal Corporation.
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During the constituency discussion, Montague said that the Jamaican government should get together to talk about the failures of the US Department of Labor and Education and try to come up with a compromise.
Montague said that under the terms of the agreement, the US government would “make the persons available to them on a contracted basis” and would also cover the cost of or contribute to the development of certain talent.
Montague specifically said that such a scheme would include educators and nurses, who go in large numbers annually for higher-paying positions in the US and the UK. He emphasized that attention should also be paid to law enforcement, skilled tradespeople, and medical support personnel.
Montague stated, “For example, our Ministry of Labor should be asking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to talk to Homeland Security (in the United States) so that we can provide the 2,000 masons and 1,500 welders and 500 truck drivers that will be needed to help build the new wall on sections of the Southern border. This is an opportunity worth pursuing.”
