News from the OPM

Gros-Islet, St. Lucia: Prime Minister Andrew Holness this morning (July 4) held bilateral talks with His Excellency Antonio Guterrez, United Nations Secretary-General. The meeting was held in the margins of the 40th Regular meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM in Gros-Islet, St. Lucia. Prime Minister Holness updated the UN Secretary-General on the plans to deal with the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Initiative. Jamaica is co-chair of the Initiative along with France and Qatar. Prime Minister Holness reaffirmed his commitment to the task to strategically raise awareness on climate resilience and funding. The leaders of the three nations have been assigned to help raise 100 billion dollars to help to support Global Climate Action. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness underscored the importance to replenish the Green Climate Fund (GCF), noting the necessity for developed countries and the private sector to donate more to climate change initiatives. Prime Minister Holness noted that progress is being made on the Climate Finance & Carbon Pricing work stream, on which Jamaica is co-lead. Prime Minister Holness said he is working to leverage support for the floating of climate resilience bonds which would attract the private sector. The Prime Minister also informed…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness will make an official working visit to the neighbouring Cayman Islands. Prime Minister Holness was specially invited to be the keynote speaker for the commemoration of the Cayman Islands  60th Anniversary of its first written Constitution. The celebrations will take place from June 28 - 30. In inviting Prime Minister Holness, the Premier of the Cayman Islands Alden McLaughlin said Jamaica and the Cayman Islands share a common history that goes beyond being neighbours which goes back almost 300 years. Given the invitation, Prime Minister Holness left the island this afternoon (Friday, June 28) for George Town, Grand Cayman. Prime Minister Holness will give the main address at the 60th-anniversary celebrations of the written constitution of Cayman and attend a series of bilateral engagements. Prime Minister Holness will attend the opening celebrations this evening. On Saturday, in addition to engagements with officials in the Cayman Islands, Prime Minister Holness will meet with Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Overseas Territories. The PM will also meet with the Jamaican diaspora in Cayman on Saturday. The Government of Cayman estimates that at least  40% of the Caymanian population have roots in Jamaica. On Sunday, Prime…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has encouraged parents and students to embrace the new primary student assessment, the Primary Exit Profile (PEP). The results of the first cohort of students who sat the PEP exam were released earlier this month. Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education ceremony held at the North Lawn of Jamaica House last night (June 26), the Prime Minister said (PEP) provides students with the platform for innovation and out of the box thinking required to re-engineer the education system and create a new Jamaica. “Following the recent release of the PEP exam, the Primary Exit Profile results, let me take the opportunity to again emphasize that PEP is part of the creation of a new type of Jamaica. One where a person applies critical thinking and the process of investigation and discovery is used in the solution to problems. Life chances are no longer being determined by grades achieved in two days of examination to determine your fate.” said Prime Minister Holness. According to the Prime Minister, education has been and continues to be the greatest force for positive social change and upward mobility. “I am happy that more students than ever…

The Government is embarking on a number of important projects that will be implemented in the next three to five years that will directly impact the parish of St. Thomas and the eastern section of Jamaica. Speaking at the historic groundbreaking ceremony for the Morant Bay Urban Centre yesterday (June 26) at the old Goodyear factory grounds in St. Thomas, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the Government is rolling out several major infrastructure projects that will strengthen the economic benefits to the parish. “As a Government, we decided that we are not just going to focus on the development of Kingston but we are going to develop plans for all our major townships in Jamaica, we’re going to improve their infrastructure”, said Prime Minister Holness. The Projects to be implemented include: The development of the Norman Manley International Airport through a public-private partnership concession agreement The installation of a state-of-the-art floating barge and the construction of supporting facilities for the docking of cruise ships in Port Royal. The Construction of a four-lane highway from Harbour View to Yallahs and the expansion of the main road from Yallahs to Port Antonio through Morant Bay to Cedar Valley. The construction of the…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced the appointment of Mrs Paula Kerr Jarrett Wegman as Ambassador and Special Envoy for Investment and Philanthropy. The appointment of Mrs Kerr Jarrett Wegman comes as the Government continues its focus on investments particularly from new and emerging markets to boost economic growth and job creation. Mrs Kerr Jarrett Wegman has been a member of the Economic Growth Council since its inception where she did exceptional work to promote new investments to Jamaica. Prime Minister Holness presented the instruments of appointment signed by the Governor General, to Mrs Kerr Jarrett Wegman earlier this week during a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister. Mrs Kerr Jarrett Wegman is a Director of Barrett Limited is also a Director on the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship Board. She also is a humanitarian for the We Care for Cornwall Regional, a non-profit group which assists the Cornwall Regional Hospital with funding; and the Ambassador for the Western Campus of the University of the West Indies. Mrs Kerr Jarrett Wegman is a lawyer with a Master’s Degree from the University College London, in Law and Politics. Prime Minister Holness said: “We believe Paula will assist Jamaica in opening…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (June 19) led tributes to the late former Prime Minister of Jamaica Edward Phillip George Seaga during a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament. Prime Minister Holness noted that Mr Seaga was the longest serving member of the Jamaican legislature who loved the people of Jamaica. According to Prime Minister Holness, Mr Seaga’s contribution to nation building can be seen in every area of Jamaican life including the economy, development, welfare, infrastructure, sports and culture. The Prime Minister declared that the Most Hon. Edward Seaga had a deeper understanding of the culture of the people. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness asserted that Mr Seaga defined Jamaican culture. “In many ways, he introduced Jamaicans to their own culture, brought it out of the dark and obscure, into the light of the mainstream to stand side by side with colonial culture. Thereby giving us a definition of who we are as a people and getting us to accept what we create as being valuable. He did this through his accomplishments with institutions dedicated to the promotion and preservation of our culture such as Jamaica Festival,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister said Mr Seaga…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Diaspora plays a critical role in the development of the economy. Speaking at the launch of the 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora conference at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston last evening (June 16) Prime Minister Holness underscored the contribution of the Diaspora to national development particularly in the areas of health and education. The Prime Minister assured the gathering of Jamaicans from home and abroad that the Government will continue meaningful engagements with the Diaspora. “Something is happening that is positive in the diaspora but more than that, we must never underestimate the value of our diaspora in ensuring that the economy of Jamaica remains strong even in the depths of a recession”, said Prime Minister Holness. So far this year, through the Diaspora, Jamaica has seen a record forty new projects being undertaken compared to previous years where the numbers were below ten. In that regard, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation to the members of the Diaspora for their continued participation in the country’s development. “The hospitals and health clinics that you have helped, the number of operations that you have sponsored and medical missions that you have indeed taken your own time to…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has stressed the critical importance of strategic development planning. The Prime Minister was speaking during a meeting with the Director General of the United Nations office in Geneva Mr Michael Møller. The Prime Minister also noted that Jamaica has always been aligned through the development goal process and Jamaica established its own national development framework, Vision 2030. He said the national goals are also aligned with and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In that regard, Mr Moller welcomed  Prime Minister Holness' appointment to co-chair along with France and Qatar  UN Climate initiative to raise funds for climate financing by 2020. Prime Minister Holness noted that his role is not only about mobilising the global resources but also mobilising global attention to the issue of climate change. The Prime Minister also met with the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Mr Roberto Azevêdo. The discussions focused on trade of the future which includes the digital economy. The Prime Minister noted that many countries will now have to grapple with the issue of a borderless economy and trade, and they must find creative ways to ensure that digital platforms are regulated but also safe, and secure. The…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Danka Akufo-Addo yesterday (Saturday, June 15) held bilateral discussions aimed at strengthening trade, investment and the movement of people, goods and services between the two countries. President Akufo-Addo arrived in Jamaica yesterday (Saturday, June 15) for a two-day official working visit where he met with Prime Minister Holness at Jamaica House. Prime Minister Holness said improving air services between Jamaica and Ghana is a priority. “I am pleased to recall that Jamaica and Ghana have signed an air services agreement and we discussed today ideas of how to utilize that instrument to advance our goal of deeper engagement, as we endeavor to further deepen the relationship between peoples and nations, the President and I have mandated our Ministers of Foreign Affairs to negotiate and conclude” stated Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister was giving a media statement following a working lunch with President Akufo-Addo and his delegation at Jamaica House where they also discussed “The Year of Return, Ghana 2019”. “The initiative from our perspective certainly presents excellent opportunities to build on the fraternal bonds and take the relations between our two countries and…