News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared that his administration is committed to tackling domestic violence and the culture of aggression that has taken root in Jamaican communities. Dr. Holness says addressing these issues is crucial to building a peaceful and safe society. Prime Minister Holness has emphasized that violence is not only a public safety issue but also a deeply rooted social problem that continues to undermine the nation’s quality of life. “In many communities across Jamaica, particularly in the inner city, many of our women and children are suffering serious abuse. Some of our men are also experiencing serious domestic abuse. Believe it or not, 20% of the cases reported are of men being abused,” the Prime Minister stated. Importantly, the Prime Minister expressed concern about the culture that discourages men from speaking out about abuse, noting that this long-standing mindset has contributed to a wider societal problem. “We have a society where we tend to want to say, ‘You’re not tough. You have to tough it out.’ But what that has done for the last 40 years is to embed in us a certain aggression that has deteriorated the quality of life that we experience,” said Dr. Holness.…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaicans can trust his administration, which has delivered a strong track record of performance. Dr. Holness says he is committed to continuing to deliver real results for Jamaicans. This is as six additional families in the parish of Trelawny received the keys to brand-new homes under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). Speaking on Friday (June 6) as he handed over a unit to Ms. Ivylin Thompson, Prime Minister Holness said his administration will continue to improve and positively impact the lives of the people. “It's one government that has changed Jamaica in tangible ways that nobody can question, and it is this government. Every single day we change the life of a Jamaican. Whether it is a change through housing, a change through water, a change through road infrastructure, a change through social pension, and so on. We are the government that is changing Jamaica,” Dr. Holness said. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government’s ability to consistently meet the needs of the people, whether through housing, water, or roads, is rooted in strong economic management and disciplined fiscal planning, which are crucial to funding these critical infrastructure projects. Dr. Holness noted that previous administrations…

The Holness administration has moved decisively to protect the environment while advancing national infrastructure. Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness officially commissioned a $76 million investment in specialized tree-relocator equipment. The investment underscores the Government's commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Monday (June 9) held at Jamaica House, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. The new machinery, now housed at the Forestry Department, will support roadworks under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Programme, including the expansion of Arthur Wint Drive, Lady Musgrave Road, and Hellshire Road. The acquisition aligns with the government’s broader “Greening Jamaica” initiative, which resulted in the planting of more than three million trees in five years. The project is now in its next phase. “You can’t see development as a trade-off between the built environment and the natural environment. So, we have to figure out ways in which each reinforces development. The built environment reinforces the natural environment. And we use the natural environment to reinforce and support the built environment,” said Prime Minister Holness. The equipment allows for a 90% success rate when transplanting trees, marking a major advancement in the country’s ability…

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is urging citizens to take personal responsibility for maintaining peace in their communities. Prime Minister Holness made the call Wednesday (June 4) as he broke ground for a multifamily housing complex under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in Central Kingston. New housing units will be built on the site which was a tenement yard destroyed by arson in 2021. Thirteen residents, including children and the elderly, lost everything in the blaze. “This project is more than just concrete and steel,” said Prime Minister Holness. “We are going to transform a yard that was destroyed by arson. We are going to transform lives that were destroyed in that fire. We are going to be transforming a community that, by this act of violence, had been depressed.” The Prime Minister stressed that the progress seen in Central Kingston is only possible because of a shift in the community atmosphere, specifically a reduction in crime and violence. “I urge the community members, everyone, to be wardens of the peace. You protect the peace. Don’t let this peace that we have slip out of your hands again,” said Prime Minister Holness. “Everybody prospers when there is peace, even…

Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, has made a direct appeal to entertainment promoters and community members, assuring them that the Government is not against parties or events being held. Rather, he emphasized that the Government is calling for greater understanding and collaboration between promoters and the police to ensure entertainment spaces in communities across Jamaica are made genuinely safe. During an Area 3 police update, covering Clarendon, Manchester, and St. Elizabeth, Prime Minister Dr Holness addressed concerns from residents about restrictions placed on parties due to police curfews and other enforcement measures. These concerns have been especially prominent as the country enters the summer entertainment season. “As I've been moving around, one of the issues that keep coming up is the security forces allowing parties to go on… And I keep saying to the promoters that there is no institutional bias against keeping the events.” He explained that the real challenge lies in the fact that some of the most serious crimes are occurring in entertainment settings. “The challenge that we are facing is that much of the crime and many of the murders are being committed or taking place within the entertainment space, whether it…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says his government remains committed to building a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous Jamaica through bold investments in young people. Speaking Saturday evening (May 31) at the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence, Prime Minister Holness outlined how Jamaica’s growing economy is now delivering real results for youth in every parish across the country. “Your government is building a new Jamaica, a Jamaica that begins with education and training. We firmly believe that your development is the cornerstone of personal and national development,” Prime Minister Holness stated. From eliminating tuition fees for HEART/NSTA Trust training up to level 4, to removing guarantor requirements for student loans, the Prime Minister emphasized that young Jamaicans now have unprecedented access to skills training, education financing, and employment pathways. Since waiving fees at HEART, over 100,000 Jamaicans, primarily youth, have enrolled and are gaining certifications in high-demand areas. Dr. Holness added that the administration’s Community Action for Rewarding Engagement (CARE) and Learning and Investment for Transformation (LIFT) programmes are already benefiting more than 1,250 unattached youth, equipping them with tools to transition from school to work. In addition, strategic partnerships like the Amber HEART Academy have introduced cutting-edge digital and AI training, including Jamaica’s first Prompt Engineering course to…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is urging all citizens to exercise increased caution and responsibility on the nation’s roads. The Prime Minister's caution comes as the country marks road safety awareness month in June. Dr. Holness says the Government will continue to strengthen traffic enforcement and road safety systems. However, Prime Minister Holness emphasized that personal responsibility is vital to saving lives. Data from the police Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) indicate that between January 1 and June 3, 2025, there have been 148 fatal collisions and 164 deaths. This compares to 153 collisions, 177 deaths over the similar period in 2024 and 165 collisions, 181 deaths over the comparative period in 2023. Prime Minister Holness said despite the year-on-year improvements, the figures remain unacceptably high. Special attention is also being drawn to motorcyclists and pedestrians, two of the most vulnerable groups on our roads. The Prime Minister expressed concern over the high number of motorcycle fatalities, especially in western parishes such as Westmoreland and Hanover, and urged riders to exercise greater care. He also reminded pedestrians to be cautious when using the roads, acknowledging that as a nation, we do not yet have enough designated crossings. “Motorcyclists…

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, Honourable Floyd Green, has announced a bold new push to modernize rural infrastructure through the Government’s $900 million Farm Road Rehabilitation Programme. Speaking last Tuesday (May 27) during his 2025/26 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, Minister Green highlighted that the programme will target 60 farm roads this year, with a critical focus on long-term durability and proper drainage infrastructure. “We are going to be doing more substantial programmes,” Minister Green stated. “We are looking to ensure that wherever we do a road, the appropriate drainage is put in and it can stand up for a long time.” More farm roads being improved, benefiting thousands of farmers The Minister also reported that in 2024, the Government had spent $870 million, completing 41 roads under the original allocation and an additional 53 roads, including nine in the Coffee Belt, under emergency allocations. This year's plan also includes a strategic new element of $45 million, which has been earmarked for road maintenance, a move aimed at preserving investments already made and ensuring sustainable access for rural communities. “What the Opposition did in four years, this administration now does in four months,” the Minister…

The Government has committed $23.6 billion to the Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Project in St. Elizabeth. The project will draw from the Black River surface flow to expand irrigation access to more than 6,000 farmers across 4,000 hectares of land. Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness will officially break ground in July 2025 for the project, which will be a game-changing initiative to expand agricultural productivity and land ownership. Speaking last Tuesday (May 27) during his 2025/26 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Floyd Green says the initiative includes a significant land regularization component. Already 19,000 parcels have been mapped, and cadastral surveys have been completed for 1,000 parcels. Government to deliver free titles for St. Elizabeth farmers under the programme As part of the project, Minister Green said 1,000 land titles will be generated free of cost for area residents, addressing long-standing challenges in land ownership. “For a long time, we haven't had titles for our land in St. Elizabeth. As a part of this project, we will be generating 1,000 titles free of cost for the residents in that belt. And when we break ground, the Prime Minister will hand out 200 that…