News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government will pursue a new paradigm to transform the country’s labour force. Prime Minister Holness, who was speaking yesterday (August 3) at the opening of the Kupius Bridge in Clarendon, noted that training and up skilling of local workers on projects with international investors will be a key component going forward. He said investors chose to invest in areas where they find discipline workers to ensure that their investment is profitable. “It is our productivity and our efficiency that is going to be a critical asset in attracting investments here and a critical factor in whether it is Chinese, Americans, Germans, French; whoever wants to come and invest in Jamaica they must choose Jamaican workers because our workers are the most efficient and the most productive,” explained Prime Minister Holness. Mr Holness emphasised some of the necessary values to bring the country from poverty to prosperity. “It is not just knowing how to bend the steel, it is not just knowing how to read the plan. Mixing the mortar is important but we also want to learn how to design, we don’t only want to be makers we want to be engineers and designers. So…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness today (July 31) met with Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies across Government to emphasize the necessity for an all of government approach to the requirements set out in the Special Zones bill. The roles of the various MDAs in the implementation, particularly with respect to the Social Intervention component were discussed. The Law Reform (Zone of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill was signed into law on Friday, July 14. The Zones of Special Operations Act provides for special security measures in high crime areas while simultaneously ensuring social intervention and community development. Prime Minister Holness gave an extensive address during the meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) where he stressed that “The Government is treating national security as its priority”.  He indicated to the meeting that once a zone is declared the MDAs must make the needs of the Zone their priority. Prime Minister Holness reminded the meeting that Zones will have a joint operational command between the JCF and the JDF and that the social intervention committee will be established within five days of the zone being declared.  “Critically, the Government must provide the social services…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says there are global issues which affect Jamaica’s safety and security, one of which is the availability of small arms and their importation into the country. The Prime Minister took his message of secure Jamaica, to the Diaspora this week. Speaking to members of the foreign services in Europe at the Jamaican High Commission in London on Wednesday (July 26), Prime Minister Holness outlined strategic steps that have been taken to protect the country’s borders. “We have taken some steps internally to secure our borders by the acquisition of certain assets that will help us to stem the illegal flows through illegal channels, but there is the bigger issue of illegal flows through legal channels such as our ports,” he explained. The prime minister added that the issue of safety and security is the number one priority of the government. He said the Government is treating national security as a major concern of government as a whole and not a particular ministry. “In the same way we have recalibrated our foreign policy to support economic growth and development, we will do the same recalibration of our foreign policy to support safety and security of Jamaica,” stated…

The Government is to review Jamaica’s foreign affairs and foreign trade policy to strategically align them to the country’s growth and development targets. Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the disclosure today (July 26) to members of Jamaica’s diplomatic community in London at Jamaica’s High Commission in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister was en route to begin an official working visit in Singapore. Mr Holness told the Jamaican foreign officers that the country’s foreign policy must be taken from a more utilitarian approach. “At the end of the day, the foreign policy must support the economic and social developments of the country. For too long our foreign policy has just been for foreign policy sake. We must get something out of foreign policy.  So we have to take a strategic view on who we seek to strike up relationships with,” he explained. He says that the government must go out into the global market of countries and build strategic relationships that will complement the activities in the country. --30-- Contact:    Communications Unit-OPM Tel:   926-0244, 927-4101        Email:  [email protected]/[email protected] Website:      www.opm.gov.jm  Facebook:  www.facebook.com/jamaicahouse  Twitter:  www.twitter.com/opmjamaica

The Office of the Prime Minister, OPM officially launched the Jamaica House Petition portal today (July 24). The portal gives citizens the opportunity to petition the government on matters of national importance. The OPM will consider petitions submitted by local groups and members of the public as part of its national consultation approach. The portal can be accessed via the website of the Office of the Prime Minister, https://opm.gov.jm/participate/jamaica-house-petition/. Director of Communications in the OPM, Robert Morgan says the Jamaica House Petition portal is in keeping with the Government’s mandate of transparency and accountability. He says it will also allow for greater citizen involvement in the governance process. “Jamaica House Petition is an important element of good governance. This initiative not only supports greater citizen involvement but fosters greater levels of transparency and accountability within the government”, explained Mr Morgan. In the meantime, Mr Morgan asserts that public participation is an integral part of preserving our democracy and the government welcomes participatory governance as it strengthens the relationship between the government and the people. “This type of public participation is practised globally. In fact, we have had several petitions here in Jamaica from various organisations on varying issues. So while this is…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government is serious about strengthening the relationship between Jamaica and the Diaspora. The prime minister made the commitment while delivering the keynote address at the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference yesterday, (July 23) at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston. “The government is allocating the necessary time and resources to ensure that the National Diaspora Policy adequately represents the level of commitment we ascribe to building this relationship”, stated the prime minister. Mr Holness explained that the aim is to streamline the work of critical agencies and procedures to avoid duplication, thereby creating a more favourable business environment. “One of our principal objectives is to make it easier for prospective investors, inclusive of the Diaspora, to conduct business in and with Jamaica,” continued the prime minister. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness told the gathering that improving citizen security is priority number one for the government, at this time. “The recently passed Special Operation Zones Bill, (Law Reform (Zone of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) will, for the first time since our independence, empower the government to confront the breakdown in law and order and public safety in our country and to return Jamaica to…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness left the island this evening (July 24) for a two-day working visit to Singapore. During his visit, the prime minister will meet with his counterpart His Excellency Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore. The visit to Singapore is part of the Government’s move to explore investment and economic cooperation in several areas. The working visit is aimed at examining best practices in Singapore and will allow the delegation to see Singapore’s experience in economic development, ease of doing business, workforce planning and Singapore’s experience in infrastructure development. Prime Minister Holness will hold a series of meetings with representatives from the housing and investment sectors. He will also receive a briefing from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on urban development and city planning. Prime Minister Holness’ visit follows discussions held earlier this year with representatives from the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, SCE, on the development of special economic zones. The prime minister’s delegation includes Ambassador Nigel Clarke, Chairman, NHT; Dr Damian Graham, General Manager, UDC; Sharon Miller, Director of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; and Robert Morgan, Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister. The prime minister…

The National Security Council (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Andrew Holness met today (July 20) at the Office of the Prime Minister The NSC received and deliberated, extensively, on presentations by the Chief of Defence Staff Major General Rocky Meade and Commissioner of Police George Quallo on the preparations for the implementation of the Zones of Special Operations. The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations)(Special Community Development Measures) Act has been gazetted and is now law having been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed by the Governor General. Coming out of today’s meeting, Prime Minister Holness is to convene a meeting with all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies to ensure that the necessary structures and support are in place for the social intervention and development measures which are key components of the Zones of Special Operations. Cabinet on Monday approved for consideration of the Minister of Finance an increased allocation to the Ministry of National Security in the amount of $2.574 Billion. This is an increase over what was already tabled in the budget to facilitate the Zones and other crime response measures. --30-- Contact:    Communications Unit-OPM Tel:   926-0244, 927-4101        Email:  [email protected]/[email protected] Website:      www.opm.gov.jm  Facebook: …

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced policy changes for two National Housing Trust (NHT) benefits. The policy change will increase the amount of money persons will be able to access for Open Market and 15+ Loans. The changes will take effect today (July 17). Previously, only contributors who were constructing or who were buying into new developments whose Practical Completion Certificate dated September 1, 2015, and after could borrow up to $5.5M for Open Market Loans. Now a qualified contributor can access this loan category and borrow up to $5.5M to purchase any house on the open market. In addition, the loan limit for the 15+ category has been increased from $1.5M to $2.5M. This would bring the 15+ Loan in line with the other NHT Home Owner’s Loan. The 15+ Loan is for NHT contributors who want to repair, improve or expand an existing mortgaged property or those who want to purchase or construct a residential property once the beneficiary is no longer a home owner. Prior to May 1, 2017, a NHT contributor who was a homeowner, but had never accessed a NHT mortgage benefit, was eligible for a maximum loan of $1.5M. Prime Minister Holness announced the…