News from the OPM

Due to pressing national matters and to ensure the constitutional composition of the Cabinet of Jamaica, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has cancelled his scheduled trip to the 31st Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, (CARICOM) underway in Barbados. Prime Minister Holness presided over the meeting of the Cabinet yesterday ahead of the appointment of a new Minister. The decision to forego the CARICOM Inter-sessional also comes as the Government focuses on preparations for the upcoming Budget Debates and other national and political matters. The Prime Minister was slated to attend talks yesterday and today at the CARICOM Inter-sessional and return to Jamaica tomorrow. In the meantime, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith is leading Jamaica’s delegation and will offer apologies on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has hailed track and field star athlete Asafa Powell CD, for his outstanding performance in the 100-meter sprint over the years. Powell, who has broken the 10-second barrier 97 times, more than any other athlete, has been dubbed the Sub-10 King. While speaking at the ceremony recently to unveil a statue of the sprinter, at the Statue Park, National Stadium, Prime Minister Holness said that, Asafa has been widely regarded as the Jamaican sprinter who started the modern era of sprint dominance by Jamaican male athletes. “Asafa Powell stands tall among our elite athletes, powered by the drive to compete. Asafa has been a trailblazer and an avid sportsman determined to write his name in the historical records of global athletics. Today we elevate him into the global pantheon of our greatest athletes,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness underscored that the public recording and immortalizing of great athletes will serve as an inspiration to young upcoming athletes to replicate similar or greater results on the world stage. “Additionally, there is a greater chance of replicating the success of those who went before who are memorialized publicly, as we are doing now,”…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness left the island this morning for an international lecture series for Black History Month beginning at the Missouri University (MU) in Colombia, United States. Prime Minister Holness will lead a discussion on the Economic Development in Jamaica as well as a lecture on the Democracy in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Ahead of the lecture series, Prime Minister Holness will meet with the University President, Mun Choi, the Chancellor and key members of the MU faculty and administration. The Prime Minister will wrap up his four-day visit with a Post Lecture reception and participate in a dinner hosted by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science. Prime Minister Holness will return to the island on Friday, February 7. During his absence, Dr Horace Chang, Minister of National Security will be in charge of Government.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that a new governance framework has been developed to guide the operations of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) under its new 21 member board. The Prime Minister said discussions were had with the executive leadership of CMU and to date, there are a number of developments to be approved by the new board. In that regard, the Prime Minister listed the following pending approvals; Board Charter, Declaration of Interest, Investment Policy, Donations Policy, and Procurement Internal Procedures. Additionally, the Prime Minister stated that all the documents for approval have been finalized and are being reviewed by the Council. He pointed out that the annual report for all outstanding years will be submitted to the external auditors by the end of May 2020. “This would have been completed earlier, however the external auditors thought it prudent to await the completion of the Auditor General’s Report and therefore the CMU will be current going forward,” said Prime Minister Holness. In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness used the opportunity in Parliament to announce the new board of directors. In addition, the Prime Minister underscored that the new board will need to move quickly to put in place…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced a State of Emergency (SOE) for the Kingston Eastern Police Division. The Prime Minister said that acting on a recommendation of the leadership of the security forces he has petitioned the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen, to declare the State of Public Emergency in the police division. In that regard, the SOE will impact areas in some five constituencies to include hot spots such as Mountain View Avenue, Rockfort, Bull Bay and other communities in the police division. The announcement was made this morning (Sunday, January 26) during at Press Briefing at Jamaica House. According to Prime Minister Holness, the declaration comes against the background of the high levels of crime including gang warfare taking over the police division making it a crime hot spot. In the meantime, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of the national security budget and the details with regard to the expenses. He said that his Administration is spending more than four times the amount spent by the previous administration on the capital budget of the Ministry of National Security. “A primary reason is that we as a country did not see it as appropriate to allocate the necessary…

The Government of Jamaica will move to implement the Greater Infrastructure Development Programme (GIDP) on the conclusion of the Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP). According to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the GIDP will be used to promote productivity, connectivity, and protection of the environment. With the GIDP, the Government will also maximize the utilization of the historic asset, Port Royal, through sustainable infrastructure development. “The objective is to cut the travel time to anywhere on the island to an hour and a half, now imagine what that can do. Just yesterday (Monday), we opened a Kingston Cruise Ship Terminal, it’s called the Port Royal Cruise Ship Terminal. For many years we have toyed with the idea of what are we going to do with this major asset we call Port Royal,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister’s comments came yesterday (January 21) while speaking at the Caribbean Infrastructure Forum, CARIF at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston. During his presentation, Prime Minister Holness noted that, as the country expands its infrastructure, there will be issues of social equity and justice, protecting historical artifacts, and preserving and protecting the environment which must be dealt with. In that regard, to protect…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has asserted that the people will be at the centre of development as the Government aims to maintain order in Port Royal. The Prime Minister’s comments came in a multi-agency meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister on January 9, which provided an update on the planned development of Port Royal as a cruise ship destination. During the meeting, Prime Minister Holness stated that Port Royal’s reputation will be maintained as disorderly conduct will not be tolerated. “So, I want that to be upfront in the minds of the planners that Port Royal will not be a free for all. It is not going to be a place for hustlers and people to come to harass. It has to be a place of order. It will also be a place where not just visitors from overseas will have to opportunity to enjoy the experience, we want Jamaicans to be able to enjoy the experience as well. So, we are not creating an exclusive zone. What we will be creating, is an orderly zone,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the Government’s objective to uphold the peaceful characteristic of Port Royal for…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is calling on all Jamaicans including members of the Church community to utilise all platforms including digital, to share information on criminals. According to the Prime Minister, the Government is on a quest to reduce crime however the strategies will not be successful without information by the public. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness appealed to the nation to assist in the crime fighting efforts by coming forward with information. “Some of us know where the guns are.  I appeal to the nation, don’t create an environment of support for the criminals who are close to you in proximity, don’t give them succour, don’t support them, be smart about what you are doing – share information,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister was speaking on Wednesday, January 8 at the 15th Annual ‘Heal the family, Heal the Nation’ church conference at the National Arena. Prime Minister Holness, in speaking directly to the Church community, asked that the Church leaders carry through the message on the importance of assisting crime fighters with information on criminals roaming their communities. Prime Minister Holness further stated that the information should or can be otherwise shared digitally and anonymously. In the meantime,…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that the Government has granted Miss World 2019, Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh Diplomatic passport which enables her to travel the world with the blessing of the country. Miss Singh was named Ambassador-at-large for Jamaica. Prime Minister Holness made the announcement yesterday morning (December 23) during a courtesy call at the Office of the Prime Minister. According to the Prime Minister, Miss Singh will be an excellent Ambassador for Jamaica and the Miss World Organisation. Miss Singh, 23, who hails from Bath St. Thomas, last week won the Miss World competition from a field of more than 100 women representing their countries. Prime Minister Holness noted that there is something special about Miss Singh as she exudes sincerity and honesty with a purpose. In the meantime, an official reception was held in honour of Miss Singh at Jamaica House on Sunday night (December 22). The Government organized a four-day welcome home reception which culminated yesterday. "In my few moments of interaction, it was clear that she has a kind heart and a good soul, and she has a passion for women and children and the poor. And I know that she will serve in her capacity as Miss World as an ambassador and she will tour projects right across the world that she will bring the fame and the glory that she has by winning this title, she will bring it to bear on helping people who are in distress. People who need good cheer, people who…