News from the OPM

The Prime Minister has assigned persons on the back benches of Parliament various tasks in support of the development of broad policy. These assignments are not part of the formal parliamentary process. For example, the Prime Minister assigned Senator Matthew Samuda the task of studying the impact of plastics on the environment and ways in which its effects can be managed. This resulted in a resolution being tabled in parliament to ban the use of single-use plastics and straws. Other Senators and backbenchers have been given assignments as well. The current process has been particularly about how to integrate persons will disabilities and in state care and how to improve their prospects for employment. This is an area that has not had much attention. It is important that the party and the parliament has a deeper understanding of how this can be done. Those assigned will not be using any government resources to do these tasks nor will they have charge of any staff. These tasks are to be executed in their capacity as private members of the House of Representatives. There is no appointment or formal committee. The expectation is that as private members of the house, they will…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is reassuring the Jamaican public that Plan Secure Jamaica is in full effect. The Prime Minister has declared that the plans to reclaim control of Jamaica’s security and safety followed a series of intense consultations with Security experts and stakeholders. Prime Minister Holness underscored that two critical issues; Plan Secure Jamaica and the continuation of the Security arrangements were addressed during the intense two days of consultations with the security chiefs. “The plans will obviously include reconfiguration of the security deployment but it will ensure that presence is maintained. It will ensure that there are operations undertaken within the context of regular policing and it will ensure that the public will continue to have a sense of safety and security particularly in those areas that have been badly affected by violence”, said Prime Minister Holness. Plan Secure Jamaica is a whole government plan which focuses effort on ten strategic subject areas. It was tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in late 2016 and it was outlined in his budget presentation in 2017/2018. Noting his understanding of public concern about the modus operandi following the expiration of the various States of Public Emergency (SOPE), the…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the spur in growth in the economy is in part the result of the numerous investments being undertaken in the country. The Prime Minister was speaking at the Groundbreaking ceremony of the new showroom for Land Rover and Jaguar for the Stewart’s Automotive Group. "What you are seeing happening now is a return to investment in capital goods,” said Prime Minister Holness. He added: "One, you can see movement in the Stock Market, you can see movement in the Private equity and debt market because usually those kinds of movement and liveliness in that market would signal that people are borrowing to make capital investments and we’re seeing that now happening in Jamaica." Jamaica’s economy grew by 1.8 percent for the third quarter of this year when compared to the corresponding quarter for last year. The Prime Minister further stated that the Government is pleased with the growth numbers as it is creating significant employment. “I am proud to say there are more Jamaicans employed today than ever in the history of the employment statistics. Jamaica can and will achieve full employment. We need to continue this pace of capital formation, we need to continue…

JOINT STATEMENT Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness and the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Peter Phillips, this afternoon (January 2, 2019), held private discussions at Vale Royal. Both Leaders held full, frank and confidential discussions on security and crime management in Jamaica. They agreed that a meeting of teams from the Government and Opposition will take place next Monday, January 7, 2019. They also agreed that, at the Monday meeting a date will be determined for a meeting with other stakeholders.

Prime Minister Holness has taken several decisive steps to address the Auditor General’s Report into the operations of the country’s oil refinery Petrojam. The Prime Minister has given key directives to Government Ministers to make changes to accountability practices arising from the Report. The mandates will take immediate effect and will be codified by the Cabinet Secretary. The announcement was made this morning (Monday, December 10) during a press briefing called by Prime Minister Holness at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Prime Minister Holness tasked Cabinet to establish immediately in the Code of Conduct for Ministers two critical mandates. They are as follows; Ministers must have quarterly meetings with the Chairmen of Board which fall under the respective Ministries their Board Chairman with specific task of reviewing minutes and activities of the Board and to plan for the quarter to come. Ministers must meet with their Board Chairmen and Board members bi-annually to review policy. “The quarterly meeting is to enshrine the process of interrogation of administration and the bi-annual meeting is to ensure that the Boards are focused on policy. So, this is a mechanism for evaluation,” explained Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister noted that the…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has directed the Petrojam Board to seek legal advice and prepare to recover funds that were possibly misused at the oil company. The directive came as the Prime Minister yesterday (December 10) outlined decisive action arising from the Auditor General (AG) report into Petrojam which was tabled in Parliament last Tuesday, December 4. Speaking at the press briefing to announce the directives Prime Minister Holness explained that while he is unaware about the details of the investigation being conducted by Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) and the Integrity Commission, he is of the view that they are focused on matters that are criminal in nature. “Where the Board [of Petrojam] sees that for example, payments were made for work on a contract and by virtue of delays and changes the contract is terminated but full payment was made and work not completed; the board should seek legal advice and prepare to recover such funds through civil means,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, the Prime Minister underscored that the directive given is a part of the principle of restitution that will ensure that there is accountability. In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness asked for…

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz, has announced the Enterprise Team that will lead the Bernard Lodge Master Plan. Minister Vaz named the team during the Post Cabinet Press Briefing on Wednesday, December 5, at Jamaica House. Members are: Mr Joseph Shoucair, (Chairman) Attorney- at- Law and Chairman of SCJ Holdings Limited; Martin Addington, Town Planner; Mr Desmond Young, Civil Engineer; Mr Wayne Straughn, Chartered Accountant; Mr Maurice Jones, Civil Engineer The Enterprise Team, which has been working since earlier this year, will give oversight to the implementation of the Cabinet's decision, including the operationalisation of the Master Plan and ensuring that the activities undertaken comply with the policy direction of the Government of Jamaica. The Master Plan consists of 4677 Acres with several components namely; agriculture, detached housing units, townhouses, mixed-use utilities, commercial, light industrial, open space, and social services. “The infrastructure is not only about what is required for the new Bernard Lodge Master Plan it is going take into consideration the many legacy issues in terms of infrastructure which have faced the people of Portmore and the surrounding communities…It will also deal with the legacy issues in relation to…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has again signaled the Government’s intention to tackle the systemic inefficient bureaucracy in the public service. Speaking at the National Competitiveness Council meeting today (Thursday, November 15), the Prime Minister said bureaucracy is inevitable in organizations. However, he said the challenge for Jamaica, is that the bureaucracy is process driven rather than embracing outcomes to deliver service. “Bureaucracy is necessary, it’s the systematic representation of an organization. That’s how organisations channel power and authority to get things done. It’s the hardest thing to change because it is not the outcome that matters but (the) process, and there is a dilemma. The stage of development that Jamaica is in, we have to now focus on both compliance and outcome and that is the challenge,” explained Prime Minister Holness The Prime Minister further noted that as an independent society, Jamaica must adjust to comply with rules while getting necessary outcomes at the same time. “Much of the lag time that we have is by virtue of the new rules that we have put in, the new regulations to which you have to comply; some of it generated internally, some of it generated externally by virtue of our treaty…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (Thursday, November 15) convened a meeting with the National Works Agency (NWA), China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and the management of Flow to resolve challenges associated with the major roadworks taking place. The meeting was attended by the Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo Forte, QC as well as Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Douglas Saunders and Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister,  Audrey Sewell. During the meeting, the management of Flow Jamaica agreed to seek an adjournment of its court action against the NWA and CHEC, to facilitate further negotiations. Additionally, a schedule to ensure a notice period for excavation work prior to excavation activities will be sent to Flow by CHEC. Prime Minister Holness mandated that regular meetings be held involving all parties to ensure the major infrastructure development projects continue in a seamless fashion.