News from the OPM

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a professional and accountable security force as part of a sustainable crime-fighting approach. At the most recent meeting of the National Security Council, the Prime Minister emphasized that the strict enforcement of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Use of Force Policy is a critical element in reducing crime while safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all Jamaicans. The Prime Minister's directive comes as the country continues to record an 18% decline in major crimes. According to the JCF's latest data, murders have decreased by 37%, shootings by 30%, rapes by 47% and robberies by 4% as of April 30, 2025. These outcomes reflect the success of the Government's comprehensive crime reduction strategy, which balances effective enforcement with respect for the rule of law and human rights. Speaking on the role of the JCF in the strategy, Prime Minister Holness stated: “I will be the first to tell you that my administration will never sit by and allow our state forces to act in a way that wantonly abuses the rights of our citizens.” He continued: “We will continue on the path to reduce crime and violence in Jamaica…

The Government of Jamaica is pleased to note that April 2025 was recorded as having the lowest number of murders in a month in a 25-year period, with 44 murders. This achievement follows February's record-setting low of 48 homicides, the fewest in a single month since 2000. Overall, the first quarter of 2025 has seen a 35.9% reduction in murders compared to the same period in 2024. Commissioner of Police Dr. Kevin Blake also highlighted in his weekly Force Orders that this period marks the sixth consecutive quarter of declining murder rates, with the first quarter of 2025 experiencing the most significant drop in major crimes since 2001. Prime Minister Andrew Holness attributes this progress to the work and commitment of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as well as sustained investments in national security with unprecedented levels of funding to the Force. Speaking on Tuesday (April 29) in his Sectoral Debate presentation in Parliament, Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, detailed the scope of enforcement efforts since the start of 2025. Minister Chang revealed that the security forces have disrupted 63 gangs, arrested 159 known members, and charged 34 individuals with serious offences including murder, illegal possession of firearms,…

Parliament has approved amendments to the Offences Against the Person, Criminal Justice and Child Care Protection Acts. The legislations, which seek to address the country’s murder rate, reviewed the penalties for persons who commit the heinous offence of murder. The Bills were piloted by the Justice Minister Delroy Chuck and previously went through a joint select committee where a wide cross-section of sectors in the society provided feedback, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Office of the Public Defender, the Jamaican Bar Association, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Psychological Society, and the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies, as well as civil society stakeholders. Minister Chuck noted that the Government is implementing a comprehensive approach to decisively addressing crime. “While this Government continues to invest in crime prevention, intelligence-driven policing, and social intervention programmes, it is also imperative that the justice system reflects the seriousness of the crimes that continue to undermine public order and confidence in the rule of law.” Among the amendments: Under the amended Offences Against the Person Act for capital murder, the mandatory minimum sentence to be served before being eligible for parole will move from…

We need you! That’s the appeal from Prime Minister Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness to young people who may be involved in or are being recruited into gangs and criminal activity. Speaking at the opening of a state-of-the-art Jamaica Packaging Industry manufacturing facility in Kingston yesterday (April 29), Prime Minister Holness noted that business persons have been complaining that there is a shortage of skilled labour. The country's employment figure is approximately 96.5% of the eligible workforce. Nonetheless, there are still persons who choose not to be in the labour force or are underemployed. Some of these persons are involved in gangs and criminal activity. “Where are some of the Jamaicans that are not in the labour force? Some of them are in gangs. Some of them are involved in criminal activities. The strategy of the government is to make crime an unprofitable endeavour so that our young men and young women who may be attracted by those kinds of endeavours will realize crime does not pay,” said the Prime Minister. Dr. Holness advised youngsters caught up in crime to take advantage of free skills training at HEART, as acquiring a skill and getting a job could save their…

“This administration is doing what is necessary. For three years you have seen a reduction. We got seven per cent, then 19 per cent, and currently, we are at about 37 per cent year to date. So, let's continue on this path.” - Prime Minister Holness Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says he will never allow the security forces to abuse the human rights of Jamaican citizens. Prime Minister Holness was delivering the keynote address yesterday (April 29) at the 70th anniversary of Jamaica Packaging Industries. Making the connection between crime and the economy, Dr. Holness said crime was not only a threat to public safety, life and property, but it also added significantly to the cost of living and the cost of doing business. The Prime Minister stated: “The issue of security is not just one of safety, the issue of security or rather insecurity adds a cost to the cost of living. In other words, the cost of living that you experience as a citizen, a part of that is the cost of security. So, every plant, every business operator has to add in their budget a line item which is quite significant for security.” Dr. Holness said…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has outlined the distinct and complementary roles of the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) and the National Housing Trust (NHT) as his administration aggressively tackles the country's long-standing housing shortage to transform the sector. Speaking on Friday (April 25, 2025) ahead of a tour of the HAJ’s Edmund Ridge Project in St. James, the Prime Minister emphasized that strategic planning, investment, and delivery have set this administration apart. "We have to display what we are doing for the people of Jamaica who don't know, and some who choose not to know; we have to put it in their face, to let them know that this administration is [making] the difference in housing. This administration has the plan for housing, but more than that, this administration can consistently deliver housing for you," said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister outlined that the NHT is tasked with delivering 43,000 housing solutions, while the HAJ focuses on 14,000. Dr. Holness disclosed that 19,575 NHT housing solutions are set to begin construction within two years, with 11,322 already in the contract stage, including major developments like Mount Nelson in Manchester, Longsville Park Penn in Clarendon, and Barrett Hall in…

Prime Minister Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness has extended hearty congratulations to the incumbent Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Mark Carney, and the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) on victory in the general election yesterday April 28, 2025. In a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister Carney, Dr. Holness said: "Your victory is a testament to the confidence reposed in you by the people of Canada to lead the country as the international community grapples with multifaceted challenges arising from geopolitical tensions, disruption in supply chains, market shocks, food and human insecurity, and climate change. I am confident that under your leadership, we will be able to forge a path towards unity and consensus on the issues that unite us as a family of nations." Prime Minister Holness noted that Jamaica anticipates a continued close bilateral relationship with Canada. Dr. Holness indicated to Prime Minister Carney: "Please be assured of Jamaica’s steadfast commitment to deepening its relations with Canada, with whom we have had a very solid partnership for more than six (6) decades. We are keen to ensure that the collaborative path that we have forged over the years will not only be sustained but enhanced as together…

Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, Prime Minister-designate of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, following victory in the general elections held yesterday, April 28, 2025. In a congratulatory letter to the Prime Minister-designate, Dr. Holness said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, I am pleased to extend heartfelt congratulations to the Prime Minister-designate on her victory in the general elections in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Her success at the polls is an indication of the confidence of the people of Trinidad and Tobago in her leadership.” Prime Minister Holness highlighted the strong and enduring friendship between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, emphasizing the shared history, culture, and collaboration across regional and international organizations such as CARICOM, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), and the Organization of American States (OAS). Dr. Holness noted that the mandate of the new administration of Trinidad and Tobago presents an important opportunity for strengthened cooperation: “Prime Minister-designate Persad-Bissasser‘s electoral triumph heralds a renewed opportunity to deepen and broaden our collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including, but not limited to, trade and investment, regional security, energy and climate…

"We are much better off today in the provision of housing than we were ten years ago." - Prime Minister Holness Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has dismissed promises from the Opposition on housing as unrealistic. Prime Minister Holness is cautioning Jamaicans against being misled by Opposition promises made purely for political gain. Speaking on Friday (April 25) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Brookside Estate Housing Development in St. James, Dr. Holness warned citizens to be vigilant, especially during the "promising season", when politicians exploit public frustrations for votes. “There are some politicians who are going to come to you, knowing your frustration, knowing your disgruntlement, knowing your anger, and try to feed upon that frustration, feed upon that anger, and make promises that may sound good to you now, but cannot be fulfilled,” Prime Minister Holness said. Dr. Holness emphasized that while homeownership remains a top priority for his administration, it must be approached responsibly through programmes that are sustainable and achievable, rather than through empty pledges designed to win votes. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness underscored that the real solution to housing affordability lies not in offering temporary subsidies to a few but in expanding the…