Debate - Is There Room for the Poor in Jamaica?

University of Technology, Jamaica

School of Business Administration

Business Ethics

Lecturer: Mr Milton Vassell

Date: July 6, 2016

Group Members:

Keniesha Walker

Denise Savary

Keneisha Morrison

Amoy Campbell

Sherica Brown

Joewayne Mills

MOOT:

Is there room for the poor in Jamaica?

Group Members

Proposing Team:         Joewayne Mills

Amoy Campbell

Sherica Brown

Opposing Team:         Denise Smith

                        Keniesha Walker

                        Keneisha Morrison

Proposing Team

First Speaker: Joewayne Mills

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Team mates and last but most certainly not least my Fellow opponents a pleasant Good evening to you all. We are gathered here to discuss the moot “IS THERE ROOM FOR THE POOR IN JAMAICA”. We define the topic as a valid and vital question of the less fortunate members of the Jamaican society who seem to always be struggling to make ends meet and the challenges they face in trying to better their way of life and rise from poverty.  Over the last 30 years according to the World Bank Jamaica is one of the slowest developing countries in the world with a 1% real per capita increase per year. The poverty rate in Jamaica currently  stands at 16.5%, this is described as the national estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line that are based on surveys of some groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. The definition of poverty varies and is defined based on countries and their way of life. According to the business dictionary Poverty is the condition where people’s basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met. It is usually measured by absolute poverty and relative poverty. The poor is then described as a person who is lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.

 the affirmative believe that with enough planning, organizing, coordinating, funding, and proper use of state resources and government implemented policies “There is room indeed room for the poor in Jamaica. Today my job as first speaker has many objectives and has few limitations. In order to explain and successfully highlight why we believe there is enough room for the poor in Jamaica we examined, measured, and arrived at valid points to assure you that there is indeed room here in Jamaica for the poor. As the first speaker I will elaborate on the point that with the use of Entrepreneurial avenues and ingenuity individuals can rise from poverty. Our second speaker will elaborate on these points-

Our third speaker will highlight and further elaborate on these points -

I am going to discuss to point that people need think Entrepreneurial use ingenuity to better their way of life, rather than working a 9-5. Individuals need to make better use of natural resources, take advantage of government implemented programs/opportunities and use their talents and ideas to work towards a better way of life. In a broadcast made in February 2016 past Member of Parliament Damian Crawford highlighted and suggested reasons why majority of the poor remain poor. He proposed that individuals should stop sitting around waiting for miracles to happen and urge people to find their earning opportunities. The importance of people making use of different earning opportunities made by the government is very vital in ensuring the betterment of human lives. With the introduction of many new policies and renovation of older ones, they present room for the average man to become small business owners and therefore increase personal earning opportunities. In this new era where new machinery is being introduced to different production areas, people have to become very creative and resourceful in order to rise above poverty. In doing this it will also impact the countries’ economy benefiting the country by decreasing the poverty line rate.

We Jamaicans are very talented and well rounded. We often succeed in all areas and are often described as well-rounded people. We often strive in areas of athletics, academics, arts and recently have made making strides in other areas. Recently a Jamaican born chef Andre Fowles who was raised by his grandmother was featured and amongst some of the greatest chef from around the world in a popular competition “Chopped” is just a n example of how one can rise above poverty and become of the best. With use of natural talents and other noted individuals such as popular dancehall artiste Movado who uses his talent to highlight the high level of poverty of living in the ghetto is a good example of how one can use talent to rise from poverty. Other noted storied of Jamaicans that use their talent to rise from poverty include the world famous Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff among many others.

So ladies and gentlemen and my most worthy opponents in the words of the now incarcerated, most debated best lyrics and controversial dancehall artiste Adijah Vybz Kartel Palmer “Look pon the life we living, look pon the life we living in, is a better way wi seeking” Jamaicans are always looking for ways to better their way of life and with the help of the government by creating more opportunities and with our hard working Jamaican attitude we will always win the fight against poverty.

Proposing Team

2nd Speaker: Amoy Campbell

In today’s society if such a question was posed to citizens, many might be quick to respond a resounding “NO”. But do we really want to believe that we are living in a society where the poorer class of citizens have no place or even no hope of survival. I think not. Everyone has a place or a role to play in their society regardless of class or status. The poor is no different.

Persons classified a poor are more often of the belief that it is hopeless living in the Jamaican society where the economy always seems to be down. One might argue that this statement is true but those have risen above poverty might say “being poor is a mindset”.