News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the wellbeing of the country’s children must be given due respect and regard. Addressing the launch of Workers’ Week and Labor Day under the theme “Child Safety…It’s You, It’s Me, It’s All Ah We”, Prime Minister Holness underscored that children require special safeguards and care, including legal protection. The Prime Minister raised the matter in the context of violent incidents that have affected children. He also noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In that regard, he said safeguarding the future of the nation’s children is a critical component of the country’s national development. “After all, the most profound definition of sustainable development is the creation of mechanisms today that will benefit our children tomorrow. It is time for transformative action within Jamaica after 56 years of Independence” said Prime Minister Holness. In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness said the nation must be cognizant of the actions of adults that endanger children by rendering them unsafe and insecure especially on the roadways. “As Prime Minister, I have on many occasions lamented the mayhem constantly wreaked on our children, whether as victims of child abuse…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has called on the nation to condemn child abuse and murders. Speaking at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston on Tuesday (May 7) Prime Minister Holness also condemned acts of violence against the nation’s children. Alluding to the recent murder of 8-year-old Shante Skyers and 11-year-old Trisha Morris, Prime Minister Holness declared that the Government condemns these heinous crimes against children. He expressed condolences to the families of Shante and Trisha. “Our children deserve better and they need to know that they are protected and that we have their backs at all times. As a nation, we must actively condemn such heinous acts against our children and my heart goes out to the parents and families of both girls”, said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister said the crimes committed against children is a reflection of the communities and the unwillingness to point out wrong from right. “It is a reflection on the community, it is a reflection on the entire society that within our midst, there are those who would prey on our children and there are those who would use excuses whether it is cultural or traditional”, said Prime Minister Holness. In that…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness today (April 30) announced the declaration of a State of Public Emergency comprising all areas of the western parishes of St James, Hanover and Westmoreland effective immediately. The announcement was made during an emergency press conference at Jamaica House. The Prime Minister said: “After careful consideration and review of the crime statistics in particular violent crimes which have been committed in some western parishes, the security forces have advised that the situation now currently exists would warrant the Government advising the Governor-General to declare, proclaim a State of Public Emergency”. The  State of Public Emergency will remain in effect for fourteen days after which the Parliament may vote to extend the security measure.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says good management of the economy has caused further investment by the World Bank. In that regard, Jamaica has secured an additional US$140 million dollars in funding support from the Bank. Speaking during a joint media briefing yesterday (April 30) with Mr Axel van Trotsenburg, the new World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Prime Minister Holness stated the additional funding support is the result of good management of the economy. “So in effect there is a premium for good management, granted these funds are not grant resources but it does show that the World Bank and other international development partners are willing to place their loan portfolios with us because we are managing our economy the right way and these funds are usually at far better rates, concessional rates even than if we were to try and secure funding commercially”, stated Prime Minister. The US$140 million financing package from the World Bank will help Jamaica in building fiscal resilience, mitigating the financial impact of natural disasters, and strengthening social programs for the vulnerable population. The Prime Minister lauded the partnership between the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica. “I am pleased…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared that increased investments will be made to improve national security. Speaking on Friday (April 26) at the opening of the new Lathbury Barracks Offices and Accommodation at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Up Park Camp, Prime Minister Holness said the Government is recalibrating its efforts to restore order by making the necessary improvements. Against this background of “clear and present threats” affecting the country, the Prime Minister highlighted that 28 percent of the total capital budget has been allocated to National Security. “The unconventional threats that we face that is taking the lives of our citizens; increasing number of gangs, dons and guns. That is what we must now recalibrate; our civil defence and national security assets to tackle, and that is what the Government has been doing and that is what I want to convey to the leaders, the strategic thinkers of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) that this is now your new mission because this is now the clear and present danger to our society and the government will make the investment to support you in doing this”, said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, the Prime Minister further stated that the…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he intends to action a proposed new policy on the utilization of lands aimed at ensuring the orderly development of housing solutions across the country. Prime Minister Holness says there must be an orderly approach to development and housing. “There is always the issue of the utilization of land (we) shouldn’t be using land for housing which is good agricultural land, how will it affect the aquifer, the development and environmental concerns and it is something that I very sensitive to and it is never easy but the nation must never lose sight of the ultimate goal and the ultimate goal is to provide shelter in an orderly way and in a sustainable way”, said Prime Minister Holness. In his keynote address yesterday (April 24) at the National Housing Trust (NHT) groundbreaking ceremony for the SilverSun Estates in Innswood, St. Catherine development, Prime Minister Holness asserted that a small island state such as Jamaica can’t allow developments to spread in a haphazard manner. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness declared that he has requested a full brief on the Bernard Lodge housing development. “I have now requested a full brief. Since I’ve launched the programme…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he is moving to challenge the institutional way of thinking and the current bureaucracy in Government which are hindrances to the country’s growth prospects. The Prime Minister says a change is needed to attract greater investment. “Because of how our institutional thinking has emerged, we end up being stuck in a mould. My job is to break that mould and everything that I have done so far as Prime Minister, is to challenge the institutional thinking that has kept us from growing and I will continue to challenge it because it needs to be done”, said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister was speaking on Friday (April 12) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Amaterra Group’s Hotel project in Stewart Castle Trelawny. Prime Minister Holness said with several projects to come on stream, there is a real risk of delays because of bureaucracy as was the case with Amaterra Hotel project. “We lament there is this bureaucracy that for historical reasons for maybe sometimes political reasons and maybe sometimes just lethargy, we don’t get things done as quickly as we should. It is something that I (have) spent a lot of time on not because…

Minister with responsibility for water, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. says the National Housing Trust will undertake works estimated at JM$1.0 Billion to improve the Greater Mandeville Water Supply system. Minister Charles made the announcement yesterday (Thursday, April 11) while at the ground-breaking ceremony for Perth Estate Phase 1A. “The scope of works will upgrade the potable water supply infrastructure serving the town of Mandeville and its environs to meet the existing shortfall and provide a surplus for future developments,” explained Minister Charles. The works to be undertaken include: General works to improve the overall system Development of two (2) wells – Hanson & Cassava Factory- at Goshen in St. Elizabeth to produce up to 4.0 imperial million gallons per day of ‘new’ water Supply and Installation of 4 No. replacement pumping equipment at the existing Gutters and Spur Tree Relift Stations Supply and Installation of 2 No. additional pumping equipment for the Gutters and Spur Tree Relift Stations Upgrades to the transmission and distribution network serving Mandeville Specific Off-Site Works for Perth Housing Development Transmission main upgrades between Kingsland Reservoir and Perth Tank Upgrade of the 0.2M imp. gal. Perth Tank including construction of a new pumping station…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government has embarked on a strategy to make Jamaica an ownership economy. The Prime Minister says this is to give back to the people of Jamaica. “Our economic strategy is economic independence. For that we mean, the ability of the country and indeed its citizens to make decisions in its own economic interest without having to consider what it owes or what it will lose if it acts or does not act in a particular way,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, the Prime Minister contends that the Administration is on a path to secure its economic independence by pushing wealth into the hands of the people. “Our strategy is not poverty alleviation, our strategy is not welfare, our strategy is wealth creation. I know that in the minds of many Jamaicans there is a fear that wealth creation is synonymous with exploitation. Again, we have to get that out of our psyche, out of our way of thinking. Jamaica is destined to be a rich country and we must never be afraid of wealth, we must not be afraid of making a profit. Profit is a good thing,” stated Prime Minister Holness.…