Opposition Spokesperson on Social Protection and Social Transformation, Dr Angela Brown Burke, is calling for Jamaica’s social protection framework to move beyond temporary safety nets toward a fully rights-based system grounded in dignity, inclusion, and equity.

Delivering her Sectoral Presentation in Parliament on Tuesday, Brown Burke argued that social protection must not be treated as charity, but as a fundamental obligation of the State to protect citizens from poverty, vulnerability, and exclusion. Drawing on international standards, including the International Labour Organisation’s framework on social protection floors, she stressed the importance of guaranteeing access to essential healthcare, education, income security, and targeted support for vulnerable populations.

Dr Brown Burke acknowledged the historic role programmes such as PATH, the National Health Fund, and the National Insurance Scheme have played in supporting Jamaicans, but maintained that major gaps remain in implementation and accessibility. She pointed to ongoing barriers affecting persons with disabilities, low-income households, and underserved communities, arguing that the country has not yet achieved the integrated and inclusive system that has long been promised.

The Opposition Spokesperson also highlighted the importance of cultural awareness in policymaking, particularly in relation to the Rastafari community. She argued that current protections remain uneven and insufficient, leaving many Jamaicans vulnerable to inconsistent treatment within public systems and institutions. “Social protection demands cultural intelligence,” Brown Burke stated. “Policies must recognise the lived realities of all Jamaicans and ensure that no one is forced to choose between identity and security.”

Dr Brown Burke further argued that public systems must deliver support in ways that preserve dignity, protect privacy, and reduce unnecessary hardship for beneficiaries. She maintained that Jamaica’s long-term development depends on building social protection systems that are inclusive, transparent, effectively implemented, and capable of delivering measurable outcomes for the people they are designed to serve.