News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the latest Spanish investment in Jamaica will offer over a thousand job opportunities for Jamaicans. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for Ocean Coral Spring Hotel, Prime Minister Holness expressed gratitude to the Spanish investors for considering Jamaica as the destination of choice for investment. “In a few months we will have a new resort here of a thousand rooms, but more importantly we will have more than a thousand workers. That means that we would have assisted more than a thousand households in lifting themselves out of poverty and that Is the shared benefit of investment,” stated Prime Minister Holness. The Spanish owned Ocean Coral Spring project is the first in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean. Prime Minister Holness underscored that with continued investments such as Ocean Coral Spring, Jamaica’s tourism will achieve tremendous growth and benefits for all. “That is what we mean when we say, we believe in inclusive growth and prosperity, not just the kind of investment that turns over money and increases profit but the kinds of investments that can turn around lives and increase the quality of life that people experience. Tourism is doing that in Jamaica,” said Prime Minister Holness.…

Parliament has approved the extension of the Zones of Special Operations in Mount Salem, St. James and Denham Town, Kingston. Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (Tuesday, February 5) sought and received the approval of Parliament for the extension of the two zones for a further sixty (60) days. Prime Minister Holness told the Parliament that the security measures in both communities have been effective. “These measures are long term in nature. They are not just designed to have a reduction in crime for sixty days, the intention is that these communities will develop the leadership, they will develop the institutions and the general environment of peace. Infrastructure and other kinds of development will be brought to these communities”, explained Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister also noted a significant reduction in murders in both zones. The communities are now in the build phase where there is a focus on development activities alongside security-based activities. Zones of Special Operations have been effective- PM Holness In the meantime, the Prime Minister told the Parliament that there are additional communities which will benefit from the ZOSO in the coming fiscal year. “We have budgeted for a few more communities in the coming fiscal…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness this morning (Wednesday, January 30) toured the upgraded Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) which now operates under a concession. The Prime Minister was briefed on the recent growth of the terminal as well as further plans for expansion. The upgrades so far include dredging of the access channel, turning and shipping basin, the expansion and improvement of the infrastructure, the upgrading of the ICT facilities and the acquisition and upgrading of the operating equipment. It was revealed that the company has already invested over US$200 million in upgrading works and created over 300 new jobs. Prime Minister Holness expressed satisfaction with the pace of the development of the port and welcomed further investment in Jamaica by CMA CGM. He noted that the competitiveness of the economy depends on the ability to improve its logistics capabilities and the Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited is important to that objective. KFTL was established in 2015 as the vehicle to be used in the execution of the terms of the 30-year Concession Agreement between the Government of Jamaica and CMA CGM. KFTL is responsible for the management and development of the Kingston Container Terminal.

KEY POINTS: Petrojam is not being asked to undertake a forensic audit or appoint a forensic auditor. No Terms of Reference has been finalized or approved by the Prime Minister. TOR has to go through a review process involving the OPM, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and other persons or entities as may be determined to have an interest. As a clarification to discussions at the Public Accounts Committee on January 29, 2019, regarding the planned forensic audit of oil losses at Petrojam Limited, the following should be noted: Petrojam is not being asked to undertake a forensic audit or appoint a forensic auditor. Under the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act, the Minister is empowered to commission a special audit and appoint an auditor or a firm of auditors to carry out such audit, other than the public body’s auditor. The Prime Minister as the Minister with portfolio responsibility for Energy has notified Petrojam of this intent to commission a special forensic audit into the oil losses and to appoint an audit firm to undertake the forensic audit, having regard to his opinion that it is necessary in the interest of the public to do so.…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed sadness at the passing of political historian and public commentator Troy Caine. Mr. Caine died yesterday (January 10). In paying tribute to Mr. Caine, Prime Minister Holness described him as an affable, humble man who was knowledgeable about Jamaica’s political history. “Troy was a reservoir of political historic knowledge. He was able to easily relate information on Jamaica’s political history seamlessly and in many cases had his own first hand anecdotal perspectives. In addition, he distinguished himself in the area of journalism in researching the politics and culture of Jamaica, often appearing in the print and electronic media as a commentator on current and political issues” said Prime Minister Holness In 2011, the Government of Jamaica conferred with the Order Distinction in the rank of Officer to Troy Caine, for his contribution to journalism in the field of political history, culture and Jamaican literature. “Troy was also a very talented man. He was an artist, studio manager, advertising copywriter and also designed and produced calligraphic citations. This is a special art and Troy did many excellent ones including that for the late Nelson Mandela when he visited Jamaica in 1991. Jamaica has lost one of…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is assuring residents of St. James that measures will be put in place to ensure safety and security in the aftermath of the State of Public Emergency (SOE) in the parish. The SOE for the parish of St. James is due to expire on January 31, following a Parliamentary vote in December where the Opposition did not support its extension. Speaking in St. James yesterday (January 9) at the Official Opening of the Montego Bay Free Zone Company Limited Data Entry Building Number 7, Prime Minister Holness said to the gathering that the security forces will use all the measures within the law, with respect for human rights and the dignity of the person to ensure that every community remains safe. “I want to give this assurance to the people of Montego Bay that the Government will continue to be resolute and relentless in its pursuit of your safety, security and, indeed, the peace of your communities,” declared Prime Minister Holness. St. James recorded a 70 percent reduction in murders following the declaration of the enhanced security measures in the parish on January 18, 2018. Prime Minister Holness asserted that SOE has been a successful strategy…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the policy of the Government is not just to create employment but to create a culture of work. Commenting on the increase in Global Services Sector through Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in the country and the record number of employment, Prime Minister Holness stated that the Government must increase training to support the expansion of the industry. “It is clear that the policy of the Government can’t just be employment. The policy of the Government has to be to create a culture of work. Employment can only happen in a significant way when there is a culture of work where people appreciate the value of their labour. So, it’s not just the employer that must appreciate the value of labour but people themselves and that culture is not always fully spread in the population. So, an agency like HEART has to configure its program to address this issue as to why it is some of its people (who) just don’t want to work and frown upon work and I hear it coming through in some of the criticisms of the BPO industry and I would rebuke those criticisms,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister…

Some twenty-seven (27) young people have returned to the country to contribute to nation building following intensive high-tech training in advanced engineering in China. The young Jamaicans who returned to the island on Monday, December 24, now qualify for immediate employment at the Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO)-operated Alpart bauxite/alumina plant in Nain, St Elizabeth. In March 2018, fifty-two (52) Jamaican engineering graduates from the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), the University of Technology (UTech), and the University of the West Indies (UWI) were selected by JISCO to undergo further training in China in the areas of industrial refinery and powerhouse operations. The training programme included academic studies at top universities; along with on-the-job apprenticeship within major companies. The remaining twenty-five (25) engineers are to return early in the New Year upon completion of their period of training in powerhouse operations. The twenty- seven engineers will be officially welcomed home by Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Mike Henry, who has responsibility for the implementation of the Jamaica-Gansu Industrial Park and Special Economic Zone that is being developed by JISCO at Alpart in St. Elizabeth. Minister Henry says, “all the participants who successfully complete the…

The Government of Jamaica and Security Forces remain resolute in their commitment to safety and security in the country. Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the Security Chiefs, after an intense two-day consultation meeting, reaffirmed the Government’s position on tackling crime and restoring security and safety across the island. The Prime Minister disclosed that so far,  Plan to Secure Jamaica has been working and has seen the establishment of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB). There has also been a full roll out of the recruitment strategy to bring in new human resources into the security forces. Prime Minister Holness also underscored another element of the plan; the use of extraordinary powers in cases where it was determined that there is an emergency. “We sat down as a body (National Security Council) and we worked out how we could use effectively the extraordinary powers in areas where it was clear that there was an emergency from a security point of view without in any way abusing the rights of citizens. It was carefully planned, carefully orchestrated to the point where the citizens have gained so much confidence in this measure. I’ve never before seen the Government of Jamaica executed…