News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (April 30) launched the first phase of a project to provide 5000 solar lamps across the country. The pilot project will serve seven constituencies across the Corporate Area in the first instance. The lamps are aimed at reducing open flame fires in households. These fires have resulted in more than 125 deaths of adults and children since 2013, in a number of vulnerable communities across the island. “This is only one of hundreds of solutions; this programme is not the entirety of the government’s response. This is the start. This is going to be the pilot and so we have selected seven constituencies within the urban area where we would be better able to quickly identify households that are in need and to provide necessary support services not just the solar lamps but the eco-system to make the solar lamps usable,” said Prime Minister Holness. The constituencies benefiting in the first phase are: East Central St. Andrew, Eastern St. Andrew, East Rural St. Andrew, East Kingston and Port Royal, West Rural St. Andrew, West Central St. Andrew and South St. Andrew. “It is not just the gift of these solar lamps; the idea is that we…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said the Government will not give up its strategic intent to combat crime in the country. The Prime Minister’s response comes on the heels of Opposition’s position of not supporting the extension of the St. James State of Emergency [SOE] beyond the current request to be brought to Parliament. “We fell into that trap in 2010 when we were not able to get the support of the opposition to extend the state of emergency which was called then. Unfortunately I’m seeing where a similar situation is likely to play out based on the declaration made by the leader of the Opposition recently. My advice to the Leader of the Opposition is, do not let history repeat itself. Do not throw away the opportunity that we have as a country, to once and for all bring the crime monster to heal,” stressed Prime Minister Holness. Speaking in Montego Bay, St. James on the weekend, Mr. Holness said while the security forces remain committed to the task the SOE cannot address the propensity [of criminals] to commit crimes. “There are still violence producers sitting in waiting. We still have organized criminals who feel that the government doesn’t…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the key spurring economic growth in the country is supporting the Micro Small Medium-sized enterprises [MSMEs]. The Prime Minister while speaking at the DBJ’s Ignite Closing Ceremony today [April 27] said key to growth is to support the private sector. “We must stimulate innovation, through creating start-ups, increasing the number of start-ups and growing these entities. We must allocate or make investments which will support our start-ups and we need to enrich the MSME eco-system. This is vital for our economic growth and development,” said Prime Minister Holness. Responding to comments that Government policies make it difficult for new businesses to acquire a loan, Mr. Holness said the Government has to put in place policies that support the development of small businesses. “The real fix is that government has to change polices, government has to be more instrumental and more proactive in putting in place policies that support the development of businesses and in particular support the development of an eco-system that supports the development of small business,” stated Mr. Holness. He said that lending should be increased to the MSME which would mean that businesses will now have to formalize their operation. “We have…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says removing the existing bureaucratic culture will help to fast track several projects and grow the economy. Speaking yesterday (April 24) at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of 230 housing units as part of the Foreshore Estate development in Delacree Pen, South West St. Andrew, the Prime Minister said there must be unanimous political will. “The only way to get some projects out is if we resolve the bureaucratic culture that we have and it has to be done with political unity. Housing should not be politicized; housing is a right of every single Jamaican, regardless of your political affiliation,” said Mr. Holness. He emphasized the need to put an end to the bureaucratic culture as it is a hindrance to growth. “The process of permitting is an obstacle to growth in this country and part of what we have been doing as a government is to make sure that we improve the ease of doing business because we don’t have money to throw at the growth problem. We have something called a fiscal constraint- that fiscal constraint is that we owe more money than we produce in any one year,” said Prime Minister…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has congratulated members of the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) Entrepreneurship Team who copped second place at the recently staged Youth Entrepreneurship Summit at Delaware University in the United States. The Prime Minister yesterday (April 24) addressed the seven member team at Jamaica House. The team, under the name Paradise Care took the runner up prize in the Diamond Challenge competition in the social innovation concept segment. Paradise Care is a not-for-profit organization that addresses the improper disposal of plastic bottles and transforms disposed plastics whilst beautifying the environment and educating the population about recycling. Prime Minister Holness who conceptualized the Career Advance Programme had high praises for the team members and their achievement in the international arena. “It is very good to see the idea conceived to the point where it is now working. An employer can now make an investment without worrying that he/she will have to train and develop the right attitude because you would have already gone through the technical, vocational and apprenticeship stage,” said Prime Minister Holness. The CAP students competed against approximately 700 teams from across the globe. The team’s concept to re-use plastics to create energy efficient utility received high…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica has taken seriously its responsibility to each state within the African, Caribbean & Pacific (ACP) Group of States council, noting that no state will be left behind in the process. The Prime Minister stated that along with the CARIFORUM Group of states that Jamaica represents, the Council is committed to promoting a process of collaboration. “The ACP Group has a rich history and has accomplished much through its unity, strength and solidarity. Indeed, the Eminent Persons Group affirmed in its Report entitled, “ACP: A New Vision for Our Future”, that the ACP Group’s major strength lies in its ability to serve as a platform for its Member Countries to engage with bilateral and multilateral partners in order to secure sustainable development, inclusive growth and poverty eradication for its 1.1 billion people,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister was speaking to ACP Ambassadors in Brussels earlier this week ahead of attending the Commonwealth Summit in London. Mr. Holness highlighted the significant benefits of the ACP relationship which he stated has manifested at different levels. “A significant contribution to the eradication of poverty; Improved and more equitable access to basic services and infrastructure; Increased awareness of the…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness today (April 17) urged the United Kingdom Government to address the Windrush Generation matter. The Prime Minister’s response comes on the heels of the matter being discussed in the UK Parliament by the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd. Despite living and working in the UK for decades, thousands of people who arrived in the country as children in the first wave of Commonwealth migration (called the Windrush Generation) were being threatened with deportation. Many of those affected are of Jamaican and Caribbean heritage. Speaking following a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London today, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the British Government must address the matter. Mr. Holness said he is particularly encouraged by the Home Secretary’s statement which not only recognized the invaluable contribution of Caribbean nationals to the rebuilding of the United Kingdom after World War II, but also animates a process which will ensure that these persons who arrived pre-1973 will have their cases reviewed with haste and with the required sensitivity. He stressed the importance of outlining clear procedural steps that will ultimately ensure that the rights of Caribbean migrants are restored. “We think however that it is extremely important to…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed solidarity in condemning the killing of three journalists in Ecuador. Speaking at the Summit of the Americas yesterday (April 14), Mr. Holness joined leaders in the hemisphere in expressing outrage at the killing. On Friday it was confirmed that three journalists who were kidnapped along the Colombia Ecuador border were killed by their captors. Mr. Holness said the targeted killing of journalists is a threat to democracy and efforts to fight corruption. “Democracy, as a system of Government, has been instrumental in the maintenance of the rule of law in the Hemisphere...freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of democracy therefore in the context of our meeting here today, I express Jamaica´s solidarity and sympathies to the media community, people and Government of Ecuador on the tragic murder of three Ecuadorian journalists recently,” stressed Mr. Holness. He noted press freedom is essential to good democratic governance. The Prime Minister, who was making his statement at the full meeting of 33 Heads of Government of hemispheric leaders, noted that Jamaica has made improvements to its mechanisms to stamp out corruption through the Access to Information Act and the recently passed Integrity Commission Act among others. “I…

Jamaica and the Republic of Chile are close to signing an air services agreement. Prime Minister Andrew Holness and President of the Republic of Chile, His Excellency Sebastian Pinera held bilateral talks this morning (April 14) in Lima Peru. The leaders spoke of the need for ease of travel between the two countries and agreed to follow up on the discussions to ensure the agreement is formalised. An air services agreement would also boost tourism between both countries. The two leaders who are attending the Summit of the Americas also pledged to deepen cooperation in several key areas of mutual interest. The leaders agreed to greater cooperation on investment and in particular enhancing the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Jamaica and Chile during an official visit by Prime Minister Holness in August 2017. Prime Minister Holness and President Pinera also discussed exchanges in sports and culture. With Jamaica expanding its cooperation with several Spanish speaking nations, Prime Minister Holness noted particular interest in language training. In this regard both leaders pledged youth exchanges to build knowledge of each other.