News from the OPM

"We are very pleased today to bring this housing development as a microcosm of all the other housing developments that we are doing across Jamaica and to show you the difference between what we do for housing and what the previous administration did under their flagship programme called Operation Pride." - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has highlighted the significant strides made by his administration in delivering high-quality, complete, and sustainable housing solutions across Jamaica. Speaking last Friday (April 25, 2025), during a ceremony and tour of the Edmund Ridge development done by the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) in Rhyne Park, St. James, Prime Minister Holness firmly asserted that the work being done today far exceeds the failed Operation Pride programme of the previous administration. Prime Minister Holness stated: "We are very pleased today to bring this housing development as a microcosm of all the other housing developments that we are doing across Jamaica and to show you the difference between what we do for housing and what the previous administration did under their flagship programme called Operation Pride, which was really nothing but bring headache and quite a bit of shame to persons who occupied…

“Housing is about the dignity of people, the pride of people, the convenience of the people, and the comfort of the people. At the end of the day, it must be an asset for the people.” - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness has asserted that the Government will further boost support to the housing sector to increase the supply of houses and meet the demands of Jamaicans. Prime Minister Holness said the supply of houses must be increased to deal with the demand. Speaking on Friday (April 25) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Housing Trust (NHT) Brookside Estate Housing Development in St. James, Prime Minister Holness stated that the government is intensifying efforts to deliver more housing solutions across all income levels. “Shelter is a human right. Every human being is entitled to shelter. The government must provide not [just] shelter, but the government must provide the support mechanisms that make shelter accessible and affordable,” the Prime Minister declared. The Brookside Estate project, which will deliver 418 housing units under the NHT’s Guaranteed Purchase Programme, forms part of a broader strategy to accelerate the pace of housing developments across the island.…

The Honourable Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), led a high-level multiagency delegation to the Greater Portmore Ponds in St. Catherine on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The visit follows the recent and concerning discovery of ten (10) deceased crocodiles at the site, an incident that has sparked public outcry and highlighted the need for strengthened environmental monitoring. The affected facility comprises 09 ponds, of which 03 were taken out of service by the NWC due to an embankment defect. Based on the ongoing investigation, the NWC is currently working on effecting the necessary repairs to bring the ponds back into operation. The primary objective of the visit was to identify the root causes of the death of the crocodiles and identify measures for implementation to prevent recurrence. These include increased monitoring by the NEPA and installation of additional structures to allow crocodiles to move between ponds when there is a significant reduction in the water levels. During the tour, Minister Samuda announced plans to reconstruct critical infrastructure to enable the animals to move freely between the ponds. He also emphasized the introduction of new monitoring systems, in collaboration with the NEPA…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increasing national productivity and maintaining strong fiscal discipline as key strategies for ensuring Jamaica’s long-term competitiveness in the global economy. Speaking on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) at the Parnassus Irrigation Project opening ceremony, Prime Minister Holness said economic independence remains a fundamental principle of his administration. Dr. Holness noted that Jamaica, while no longer categorized as highly a indebted country, still faces vulnerabilities from global economic shocks. However, the Prime Minister highlighted that unlike in previous decades, Jamaica is now better positioned to withstand these disruptions due to sound fiscal management. “We have remained committed to driving down the debt so that when the global shocks occur, which they will, Jamaica will be able to withstand those global shocks. And the impacts on you and your life will be minimized. So, Jamaica is totally different today than it was 40, 50, 30, even 20 years ago,” he stated. This commitment making the economy resilient and reducing debt has not wavered. The administration has focused on long-term stability by implementing policies that foster resilience without compromising financial sustainability. Alongside debt management, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of building infrastructure…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says the Parnassus Irrigation Project, officially launched at the Parnassus Agro Park in Clarendon, marks a historic transformational shift for Jamaica’s agricultural sector. As part of the broader Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project, this initiative signals a major leap forward in the country’s efforts to build a climate-resilient, inclusive, and self-sufficient food system. It's the first such project of its kind in more than 40 years. Speaking on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) at the Opening ceremony, Prime Minister Holness underscored that the official opening of the Parnassus Agriculture Agro Park is an important step forward in the ongoing mission to transform agriculture in Jamaica. “Today, we are planting the seeds of resilience and opportunity. This agro park represents a future where Jamaican farmers are empowered, communities are revitalized, and our country moves closer to a competitive and climate resilient agriculture sector. Agriculture is not just a pillar of our economy; it is the foundation of our national food security,” stated Prime Minister Holness. Dr. Holness declared that a strong agricultural sector is vital to ensure food security, reduce import reliance, and support national independence amid global and climate challenges. In this regard, the Prime Minister…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has declared a decisive shift in government policy aimed at dismantling Jamaica’s long-standing culture of excessive bureaucracy. Speaking at the Official Opening of the Parnassus Argo Park on Wednesday (April 23, 2024), Prime Minister Holness emphasized that public sector inefficiency is no longer tolerable and must be treated as a national barrier to development. “Jamaica must address its public bureaucracy. We have gotten caught into this culture of analysis paralysis. There are those who will seek to say that you are corrupt, that you are trying to circumvent procedures. But what they are really wanting to do is to hide behind a wall of circuitous regulation that leads to nowhere. And in my mind, that is the corruption,” said Dr. Holness. The Prime Minister identified a recurring trend in which government entities absorb public funds annually but cannot clearly account for their contribution to national development. Dr. Holness warned that these structures create a false sense of order while hindering critical projects and delaying progress. This, the Prime Minister argued, is a form of corruption that often goes unchecked. “We have to rethink the dense layer of bureaucracy that we have placed on our public…

“Clarendon was always a parish that contributed significantly to the murder rate. We're happy to see that that is being reversed. The objective now is to make these reductions permanent and sustained." - Prime Minister Holness ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   The parish of Clarendon has seen a precipitous decline in murders, recording fewer than 70 since the start of the year, the first time in over 15 years. This milestone marks a turning point for the parish, once regarded as a significant contributor to the island's national murder rate. Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness credited the leadership of the division and the work of the policemen and women on the ground. Dr. Holness congratulated Senior Superintendent Shane McCalla, Commanding Officer for the Clarendon Division, and his team for the strategy leading to the reduction. “I'm so pleased with the work that you have done. Clarendon was always a parish that contributed significantly to the murder rate. We're happy to see that that is being reversed. The objective now is to make these reductions permanent and sustained. I want to commend you and your officers for the work that you have done. And please know that you have the full support of the…

“We are very pleased to see the [20%] reduction [in road fatalities]. We take this opportunity to encourage every road user, motorist, cyclist and pedestrian, to be aware of their circumstances, responsibilities and duties in using the road." - Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Government of Jamaica has received forty (40) new breathalyzer machines from the United Nations Road Safety Fund. The units are to be used across the island in strategies to help further reduce road traffic collisions and fatalities. Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, who chairs the National Road Safety Council, NRSC, welcomed the provision of the new machines in the operations of the police traffic branch. The Council met last Thursday (April 17) to get an update on policies, programmes and efforts to improve road safety and reduce fatalities. The Prime Minister announced a twenty percent reduction in road fatalities this year when compared to the similar period last year. However, Dr, Holness noted that the data also shows four parishes, St. Catherine, Westmoreland, St. Andrew and St. Ann, where a concentration of traffic collisions take place. “We note that some of the multiple fatality accidents are occurring at a particular time of day…

“To further increase productivity, we are reducing bureaucracy and improving the ease of doing business. This will enable businesses to thrive, attract greater investment, and keep this virtuous cycle of peace, productivity, and prosperity going.” - Prime Minister Holness ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness declared the Government’s unwavering commitment to reforming the public bureaucracy. Prime Minister Holness said the reform is crucial to driving productivity, supporting economic growth, and sustaining a "virtuous cycle of peace, productivity, and prosperity". Speaking on Wednesday (April 16) at the groundbreaking of the Raintree Commercial Complex led by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Prime Minister Holness acknowledged the challenges that have long plagued public sector entities. Dr. Holness highlighted stagnation and what he described as mission drift as challenges. Despite this, the Prime Minister made it clear that transformation in the public sector is underway, led by a renewed focus on results and national development. “The public bureaucracy can last forever. Sometimes it loses its mission, and people get caught up in bureaucratic routine, where success is gauged by paperwork and signatures rather than actual impact,” the Prime Minister said. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness highlighted the revival of the UDC as a…