Speaking today (Friday, July 3) at the Caenwood SPARK Road Opening hosted by the National Works Agency in Portland, the Prime Minister said the country’s infrastructure ambitions demand contractors with the technical expertise, financial strength and corporate capacity to undertake increasingly complex projects.

The Prime Minister said, “We need an emergence of new contracting capacity that fits the ambition of the infrastructure we are trying to build.”

Prime Minister Holness continued: “We need good, strong, solid contractors. We need to dispel the view that a contractor is simply someone with limited equipment attempting to undertake massive and complex projects. Our contractors must move to a higher level of enterprise, invest in their businesses, strengthen their technical capacity and build the financial foundation required to properly execute the level of infrastructure work that this Government is delivering.”

In this regard, the Prime Minister noted that no previous administration has been positioned to invest as significantly in infrastructure as the current Government. While the challenge of securing financing has been addressed, the priority now is to ensure that every dollar invested delivers quality infrastructure through stronger execution, oversight and accountability.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Holness underscored that the Government is exploring measures to support the development of a new generation of contractors who take pride in their work and see the nation’s infrastructure as a reflection of their professionalism and commitment to national development.

Acknowledging the concerns of Jamaicans about road conditions, the Prime Minister emphasized that improving the national road network requires sustained investment, technical competence and institutional capacity.

“I understand the frustration of every single Jamaican about the road conditions. We will improve all the roads. It will take some time, but we are building out the plan. I want to give you the assurance, give the Jamaican people the assurance that your government is paying full attention to improving your roads,” stated Dr. Holness.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness noted that the SPARK Programme introduced a new delivery model that combines strong project management with rigorous quality assurance while creating opportunities for local contractors to build their capacity. The Prime Minister added that the newly opened Caenwood SPARK road reflects the standard of quality the Government intends to replicate as Jamaica continues to modernize its road network.

Speaking today (Wednesday, July 1, 2026) at the National Housing Trust (NHT) Handing Over Ceremony for the Vineyard Town Housing Development in Vineyard Town, St. Andrew, Prime Minister Holness said the project’s delayed completion illustrates the high cost of criminality and the transformative benefits that accompany peace and public safety.

The Prime Minister noted that although construction began in 2017, persistent violence, gang activity and extortion significantly disrupted the work, delaying the project for years. By 2021, the original construction contract had to be terminated, with criminal activity identified as a major factor affecting progress.

“The criminals are not Robin Hoods. They are not your friends. The criminals delay or prevent development. What we are looking at here is a development which started in 2017, and we can only hand it over now, almost nine years later. That is the impact of criminality on society,” stated Prime Minister Holness.

The Prime Minister also noted that the delays deprived deserving families of timely access to safe and affordable housing, demonstrating that criminal activity harms the very communities it claims to represent.

Prime Minister Holness urged Jamaicans to reject any tolerance for criminal behaviour, stressing that sustained reductions in violence create measurable benefits for the country.

The Prime Minister said: “Therefore, all Jamaicans must be invested in the reduction of the murder rate. There is a dividend for the country when crime and violence are reduced, and peace is flourishing in society. The only reason we are able to complete this project is that we have been able to bring the criminality and gangs under some level of control.”

Prime Minister Holness said Jamaica is already experiencing the dividends of improved public safety, with stronger confidence in the country’s stability creating favourable conditions for investment, housing development and economic growth. The Prime Minister added that when communities are peaceful, public projects can be completed more efficiently and citizens can benefit more quickly from national development.

The Vineyard Town Housing Development comprises 14 studio apartments across two locations at 2A Central Avenue and 7 Third Avenue. Each approximately 430-square-foot unit includes a fitted kitchen and bathroom, providing modern, affordable housing for Jamaican families.

Speaking today (Wednesday, July 1, 2026) at the NHT Handing Over Ceremony for the Vineyard Town Housing Development in Vineyard Town, St. Andrew, Prime Minister Holness said the Government is addressing housing challenges by increasing the supply of homes while ensuring that development creates opportunities for existing residents rather than forcing them from their communities.

“The challenge with housing in Jamaica is not demand; it is not necessarily affordability. The challenge with housing is the scale of output and the supply-side issues. We need to be building tens of thousands of houses each year, not two thousand or three thousand, because only by increasing supply at scale will we make home ownership more affordable for the average Jamaican,” said Prime Minister Holness.

The Prime Minister explained that the Government is actively scaling up housing output by tackling barriers to construction, including slow approval processes, limited availability of suitable lands and the need for larger developments that reduce the cost of each housing unit through economies of scale.

To further expand housing supply, Prime Minister Holness renewed his call for greater participation in the NHT Small Developers Programme, which supports developers constructing between five and 25 housing units, or developments of up to 50 rooms. Through this initiative, the NHT provides financing, technical guidance and development support to increase affordable housing for working Jamaicans.

The Prime Minister also outlined several initiatives aimed at making home ownership more accessible, including a deposit loan programme that allows qualifying contributors to access up to $2 million towards a down payment, a $3.5 million Home Resilience Loan to strengthen homes against natural hazards, the revised five plus loan programme that allows contributors to access home improvement financing after five years, a one percent reduction in mortgage interest rates for eligible public sector workers and the reservation of 20 percent of NHT housing units for persons aged 35 years and younger.

Dr Holness stated: “What we intend to do is facilitate the development of more lands for housing and strengthen programmes like the Small Developers Programme so that more Jamaicans can build affordable homes. We want development to expand opportunities for our people, not displace them, and that is why we are creating more housing options across the country.”

Prime Minister Holness noted that during the 2026-2027 financial year, the NHT is scheduled to commence 10,675 housing starts and complete 5,673 housing units, further advancing the Government’s commitment to increasing affordable housing across Jamaica. The NHT was previously tasked with delivering 42,000 of the Government’s target of 70,000 housing solutions over five years. The programme was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Beryl. Despite those setbacks, the NHT recorded 31,540 housing starts, completed 21,166 housing units and issued approximately 67,000 mortgages.

On behalf of the people of Jamaica, we extend our deepest condolences to the Government and the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our hearts are with the families who have lost loved ones, with the injured, and with the many still searching for those trapped beneath the rubble.

As a Caribbean nation that knows well the suddenness with which natural disaster can visit our region, Jamaica stands in full solidarity with Venezuela in this hour of grief and recovery. The bonds of friendship and regional kinship that unite our peoples are never more keenly felt than in moments of shared adversity.

Jamaica stands ready to support the relief and recovery effort in whatever way it can, and we join the wider Caribbean and international community in offering our assistance. We pray for the strength of the Venezuelan people and for a swift and full recovery.

Addressing regional leaders, investors, and industry stakeholders at the Suriname Energy, Oil and Gas Summit and Exhibition (SEOGS 2026) yesterday (June 23, 2026) in Paramaribo, Suriname, Prime Minister Holness underscored the importance of a balanced and practical energy strategy. He emphasised the need to combine traditional and renewable energy sources to secure the region’s future.

“Because we are realists about the climate, we must also be realists about energy. The responsible path is oil OR renewables. It is a pragmatic mix. Oil, gas, solar, hydro, and eventually nuclear. That keeps the lights on while we build a cleaner future our children deserve,” Prime Minister Holness stated.

The Prime Minister noted that the Caribbean is now positioned to achieve a level of energy security previously beyond reach, driven by significant discoveries and developments in Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and potentially other nations across the region.

“Something historic is now possible. Among Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and perhaps in time others, including Jamaica, this region holds world class resources that open an opportunity we have never had before; energy security supplied within our own family,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister continued: “Producers supplying reliable oil and gas at fair and predictable prices will give islands the runway to scale the renewable energy solutions that suit them best.”

Prime Minister Holness emphasised that greater regional energy cooperation would help shield Caribbean economies from volatile international energy markets while ensuring more stable and predictable energy costs for households and businesses.

The Prime Minister noted that energy independence would allow Caribbean nations to retain greater value, capital, and decision-making authority within the region while reducing vulnerability to external shocks and fluctuating global energy markets.

The Prime Minister also outlined Jamaica’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its own energy resilience. While noting that Jamaica imported nearly US$2 billion in petroleum products and natural gas in 2024, Prime Minister Holness emphasised the government’s determination to diversify the nation’s energy mix and reduce its exposure to international price volatility.

“Today, Jamaica is taking charge of its own energy future. We are seriously exploring our offshore frontier, and early-stage seabed work completed this year has returned encouraging preliminary signs of a working petroleum system. While these are early days and no promises are being made, we are cautiously and prayerfully optimistic,” Prime Minister Holness noted.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness congratulated Suriname on reaching a transformative stage in its development journey. The Prime Minister noted that the Grand Morgu project, supported by recoverable resources estimated at more than 750 million barrels, approximately US$10.5 billion in investment, and planned production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, represents a landmark achievement not only for Suriname but for the wider Caribbean.

Speaking yesterday at the RIU Hotels & Resorts 25th Anniversary Gala in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Holness said that the countries that succeed in today’s global economy are those that create the environments that attract visitors, inspire investor confidence, retain talent, and offer opportunities for future growth.

Dr. Holness said Jamaica must reject any notion that small nations cannot compete globally and instead embrace a mindset that sees the country as an active participant on the world stage.

“Countries are competing for visitors. They are competing for investments. They are competing for businesses. But you know what else they are competing for? They are competing for talent. That, in fact, is the biggest competition. Because no matter what investment, capital, business, rare earth elements, or lithium you have, you need talent,” the Prime Minister said.

He underscored that Jamaica must evolve beyond being primarily an exporter of talent and position itself to attract skilled people from around the world as the economy continues to expand.

“Jamaica must position itself not only as a net exporter of talent, which we have been for almost 200 years, but we need to now position ourselves to be receivers of talent into our economy if our economy is to grow and expand,” Dr. Holness stated.

The Prime Minister noted that decisions made by tourists, investors, businesses, skilled workers, and families are increasingly influenced by the same factors, including safety, good governance, efficiency, connectivity, opportunity, and confidence in a country’s future.

He said these realities are shaping the Government’s broader development agenda and underscored why investments in infrastructure, public safety, housing, public service modernization, and human capital development remain national priorities.

“The countries that succeed are those countries that become a destination of choice. Whatever we do, Jamaica must become and continue to be a destination of choice,” he added.

Prime Minister Holness pointed to RIU’s 25-year presence in Jamaica as a powerful example of the confidence international investors have placed in the country, and that this reinforces the country’s ambition to become a preferred destination for visitors, investors, skilled professionals and members of the diaspora seeking to return home.

“These are not separate initiatives. They are all part of a single national mission to make Jamaica a place of choice: a place where people want to visit, a place where businesses want to invest, a place where talented people want to work, a place where families want to live and a place where future generations can thrive,” he said.

Addressing the Opening Ceremony of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference today in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Holness said criminal organizations now operate across borders, requiring an equally coordinated response from law enforcement agencies.

“The criminals have representatives in the diaspora as well. As they become more transnational, the Government of Jamaica has increased its transnational cooperation with other countries and security forces to make sure that criminals have no place to hide,” Dr. Holness said.

The Prime Minister highlighted expanded cooperation with the United States and other international partners, which has contributed to major law enforcement operations, including recent actions targeting lottery scamming networks and the illegal trafficking of firearms into Jamaica.

Dr. Holness said the strengthened security strategy is delivering measurable results. Homicides have declined by 67 per cent over the past four years, including a further 22.5 per cent reduction as of May this year compared to the same period in 2025.

“These are not just numbers. These are lives saved. Communities where people are beginning to breathe a little easier. Businesses that can now open later. Young men who are alive today because violence did not take their lives,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that the transformation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), increased investment in national security, and stronger intelligence-led policing have been critical to the country’s progress.

However, he underscored that improved security is not only about reducing crime but creating the conditions for economic growth, investment, and national development.

“The key to the JCF and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is to create a space where communities can flourish and where businesses can grow and flourish as well,” Dr. Holness stated.

Addressing members of the diaspora, the Prime Minister acknowledged that crime has historically been one of the greatest concerns among Jamaicans living abroad who wish to return home or invest in the country.

“As members of the diaspora, one of the first things you point out to me is, ‘Prime Minister, I would love to come back, but the crime.’ As you can see, we’re getting that under control,” he said.

Prime Minister Holness reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to driving crime rates down even further as Jamaica continues its efforts to build a safer, more secure, and more prosperous society.

Speaking today at the Opening Ceremony of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Holness said Jamaica’s next phase of development will require a fundamental shift in attitudes, values, and systems to support faster decision-making, faster execution, and greater productivity across society.

“We are the fastest people in the world. So, we need the cultural revolution in the way in which we do business so that we can match the speed on the track with the speed of doing business,” the Prime Minister said.

“We must become the fastest economy and society in the world to do business. We definitely need to develop the kind of social movement towards that,” he added.

Dr. Holness said efficiency should be viewed as a national asset and a source of competitive advantage.

“Efficiency is a resource like oil, bauxite, and tourism… People are moving to countries that are efficient. And so, we need to add that to our value proposition: Jamaica, the efficient, productive country.”

Importantly, the Prime Minister said Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa highlights the importance of speed and execution. While the country successfully leveraged its strong economic credibility to mobilize more than US$6 billion in reconstruction financing, he emphasized that financing alone is not enough.

“We have the financing to pursue our recovery and resilience building, but now we must push forward quickly. We must focus on getting the families who are still in distress after Hurricane Melissa back on their feet. The question is how we can do it faster, better, and stronger,” he said.

Dr. Holness called on members of the Jamaican diaspora to support the national conversation around the cultural changes needed to improve efficiency and productivity at every level of society.

“We are fighting a battle here of culture, and we are going to need your help in guiding the conversations about the changes that are needed at every level of society to become a more efficient player on the global stage,” he said.

As part of that effort, the Prime Minister highlighted the Government’s establishment of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) and its FAST initiative, which is designed to accelerate strategic investments and streamline project implementation to drive faster results for the Jamaican people.

Dr. Holness said Jamaica possesses the ambition, talent, and potential to compete with the world’s most successful economies, but achieving that vision will require a cultural shift toward greater efficiency, productivity, and innovation.

“We must never forget our history of colonization and exploitation. But we must move from victimhood to agency. We must move from the consumer mentality to the producer-innovator mentality. We must believe that we have it within ourselves to take charge of our destiny and chart our own course.”

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the University Chapel, The University of the West Indies, Mona.

Mr. Hart, who passed away in April 2026 at the age of 96 in the Cayman Islands, served Jamaica with distinction across the fields of law, business, and government. As a founding partner of the law firm Hart Muirhead Fatta, he established a reputation as one of the country’s leading legal minds while also contributing significantly to national development through public service.

He served in the Senate on two occasions, from 1972 to 1976 and again from 1983 to 1989 and was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Mining and Energy. He also served concurrently as Minister of Tourism.

Throughout his tenure in government, Mr. Hart contributed to the development and stewardship of sectors critical to Jamaica’s economic growth. His leadership in mining, energy, and tourism helped strengthen industries that continue to play a vital role in the nation’s development and prosperity. He also provided strategic guidance to several key national institutions, particularly within the bauxite, alumina, and energy sectors.

In recognition of his outstanding service to the nation, Mr. Hart was conferred with the Order of Jamaica (OJ) in 2011 for his contribution to the bauxite and alumina industry and the legal profession.

The Government of Jamaica honours the life and legacy of the Honourable Hugh Hart, and Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness extends sincere condolences to his family, friends, former colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched through his decades of service to Jamaica.

The Government of Jamaica today announced GAINS, the Growing AI Innovation and National Skills Programme.

GAINS is a national workforce transformation initiative designed to deliver AI skills certification and direct employment pathways to each of Jamaica’s 63 constituencies.

The announcement was made in Parliament on Tuesday by Dr. the Honourable Andrew Wheatley, Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, during the Sectoral Debate.

GAINS is designed to ensure that Jamaica’s AI economy is inclusive from the outset, reaching rural communities, at-risk youth, low-skilled workers, and unattached young people who risk being displaced by automation rather than empowered by it.

HOW GAINS WORKS
GAINS will utilize enhanced Universal Service Fund Community Access Points. These are digital infrastructure already present in communities across Jamaica. GAINS will deliver a six-week AI Mastery Curriculum built around Jamaica’s national priority sectors. Every participant will graduate with a nationally recognised HEART/NSTA Trust certificate, a live portfolio and a direct pathway to employment, freelancing, or enterprise creation.

For qualifying at-risk youth, a participation stipend of JMD $50,000 per month will be available. This gesture is in recognition of the importance of removing financial barriers that usually prevent the most vulnerable participants from completing tailored government programmes.

Stressing the programme’s inclusive design, Minister Wheatley said, “No AI agenda means anything if it reaches only corporate offices and university campuses. It must reach South Central St. Catherine, rural St. Mary, and all parts of Westmoreland. The young mother who has the talent but not the tools. The unattached youth with capacity, potential, and no clear pathway. The low-skilled worker who is concerned about how AI will impact their ability to get or hold a job.”

IMPLEMENTATION AND FINANCING
The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is the implementing authority, with the Social Development Commission providing community outreach. HEART/NSTA Trust will provide certification, while the Universal Service Fund is set to provide the digital infrastructure. The Office of the Prime Minister is set to provide strategic oversight.

The national investment is JMD $545 million, with the Government as the anchor investment designed to unlock multilateral co-financing from the World Bank, the IDB, UNESCO, UNDP, and bilateral partners. No single funding stream will exceed 40% of the total programme cost. Private sector partners across key industries have committed to the employment pipeline, with formal partnership agreements to be announced ahead of the pilot launch.

A pilot in selected constituencies in St. Catherine and St. Andrew will generate the evidence base before the national rollout. The target for each national cohort is a minimum of 1,260 HEART/NSTA-certified graduates, 20 per constituency, with a direct pipeline to private sector employment.