News from the OPM

I am truly saddened, this morning, at news of the death of Pope Francis. Pope Francis, the first poniff from Latin America dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and vulnerable. As head of the Catholic church, Pope Francis was a champion and advocate for change and used his papacy to highlight issues of fairness, equity, climate change and more. His quiet humility endeared millions to his style and to a deeper belief in God. His death came at the end of the holiest period in the Christian calendar, with him making an appearance on resurrection Sunday reflects the Pope's dedication to duty and to the people. Pope Francis has influenced and touched the lives of millions in every corner of the world. On this deeply sad day I send condolences to the Catholic community, Christians, and all who mourn the death of Pope Francis. May his soul rest in peace.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has issued a stern warning to criminals and their facilitators as the government embarks on another large-scale project. During the groundbreaking and contract signing ceremony for the highly anticipated Raintree Commercial Complex on Wednesday (April 16) in Ferry Pen, St. Catherine, Prime Minister Holness declared that no form of criminal interference, extortion, or gang control will be tolerated at the development site or anywhere else in Jamaica. “If it takes the deployment of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to secure the site and to run the site as if it were a military barracks, then that is what I will do to ensure that no criminal, no don, and no one who feels that they have control over any area can come here and say they are securing the site or extorting,” Prime Minister Holness declared. Dr. Holness emphasized that the government’s approach to national development cannot coexist with criminal intimidation. “If we allow that to take root at the beginning of the construction, then we would have given up the sovereign control of the state over the development. So for those criminals listening: Try it and see. Play the fool and find out!" the…

Prime Minister Holness Highlights Accelerated Water Infrastructure Development   Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says the Government of Jamaica has significantly accelerated the pace of water infrastructure development across the island through public and private investments. The Prime Minister was speaking on Thursday (April 10, 2025) at the commissioning of a new water tank and pipeline in Rhyne Park, St. James. “Water is a human necessity and delivering that necessity is the responsibility of the government, and [this] government takes it very seriously. Over the last five years, we have invested unprecedented sums in water infrastructure. As of this fiscal year, more than 150,000 Jamaicans now have improved water supply because of our deliberate and sustained interventions. This level of investment has not been seen since the 1980s,” said Prime Minister Holness. With $22 billion in public investment and $14.2 billion in private partnership funding, the government has prioritized building a modern, resilient water network. The Rhyne Park project, part of this broader push, is valued at $54.58 million and has directly improved supply to over 10,400 residents across 2,600 households in communities such as Barrett Town, Palmyra, Rosevale, and Mount Zion. Infrastructure upgrades include five new pumps, enhanced power…

“Jamaica is ready. There has never been a better time to invest in Jamaica. We are ready to deliver excellence in global services. We are ready to host your investments.” - Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says the Government of Jamaica is ready for more investment and greater expansion of the global services industry as the nation accelerates its transition to a digital society. Over 52,000 Jamaicans are now employed in the Global Services Sector, with key industries including finance, healthcare, telecommunications, logistics, and retail. Speaking at the Outsource2Jamaica Conference 2025, Prime Minister Holness emphasized that Jamaica has moved beyond its traditional Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) roots, making significant strides into Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), IT-enabled services (ITeS), fintech, cybersecurity, software engineering, and data analytics. Dr. Holness reiterated the Government’s commitment to taking deliberate steps to ensure the enabling environment continues to support growth in the global services sector. This includes support for infrastructure development and workspace buildout, strengthening the education-to-employment pipeline to align skills with industry needs and a commitment to cybersecurity, data protection, and ethical AI deployment. Prime Minister Holness declared that Jamaica is moving to the next level. “Jamaica is ready. There has…

(More than 300 young people targeted for paid training) The Government is strengthening its commitment to youth empowerment and workforce development with major expansions to the HEART/NSTA Trust. Making his contribution to the 2025/26 budget debate on March 20, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness highlighted that these initiatives will provide thousands of young Jamaicans with hands-on training, paid apprenticeships, and industry-recognized certifications to enhance their career prospects and drive economic growth. “HEART touches lives every day. Akon Pitt, a standout CSEC performer, leveraged the LIFT (Learning and Investment for Transformation) programme to gain employment at CARIMED and is now working at the Jamaica Cooperative Insurance Agency (JCIA). Meanwhile, Gary Smith, a 20-year-old Business Administration trainee under the CARE (Community Action for Rewarding Engagement) Programme, is on track to becoming a Certified Engineering Contractor and starting his own air conditioning repair business,” the Prime Minister declared, highlighting the real-life impact of the programme. “These are both young men that the Government has empowered through the HEART/NSTA Trust. There are hundreds of thousands of Akons and Garys that we have empowered through skills training since 2020 — 552,534 to be exact,” Dr. Prime Minister stated. Since the removal of training fees, Prime…

The Office of the Prime Minister is pleased to announce the establishment of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Authority, effective April 2, 2025. This new entity is a consolidation of the operations of eGov Jamaica Limited and the Office of the Chief Information Officer, to provide a single authoritative voice and framework to improve ICT service delivery across the public sector. Established by the ICT Authority Act (2019), the ICT Authority is a statutory body with a broadened mandate to include: developing and implementing a national ICT strategy that aligns with Jamaica's overall development goals. establishing and enforcing ICT policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure effective and efficient use of ICT resources across government. providing shared ICT services to government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, aimed at improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing service delivery. driving digital transformation across the government and by extension the wider society, through initiatives such as e-government services, ICT consultancy and coordination. The establishment of the ICT Authority demonstrates the Government of Jamaica’s commitment to change the culture of ICT service delivery in the public sector as among other things it will streamline ICT spend, drive efficiency and innovation, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication and…

The government is making human capital development a key priority by investing in Jamaica’s greatest asset – its people. In his 2025/26 Budget Presentation on Thursday (March 20), Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness outlined a series of initiatives designed to equip Jamaicans with the skills needed for a rapidly evolving job market, particularly in high-demand fields like technology, construction, and hospitality. “Jamaica’s greatest asset is our people. That is why this Government continues to invest in education, training, and job opportunities, ensuring that every Jamaican, regardless of background, has the chance to learn, earn, and thrive,” declared Prime Minister Holness. Among the key initiatives is the continued expansion of the LIFT (Learning and Investment for Transformation) and CARE (Community Action for Rewarding Engagement) programmes, which provide education, mentorship, and employment support for young people. Dr. Holness noted that the second cohort of LIFT is now underway, while over 1,250 unattached youth across all 63 constituencies are currently receiving training under CARE, with stipends and transportation support to remove financial barriers. Prime Minister Holness emphasized the impact of these programmes, noting that since the elimination of fees, over 150,000 individuals have enrolled in HEART/NSTA Trust training programmes. "These programmes transform lives.…

"This extension provides employers in the micro, small, and medium enterprise business sector and charitable organizations with a valuable window to regularize their accounts and benefit from the waiver of penalties, interests, and interests on arrears." - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has announced that more time will be given to employers who owe National Housing Trust (NHT). The employer arrears amnesty programme will now run from April 1 to May 31, 2025. This extension provides valuable relief to employers in the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, as well as charitable organizations, by offering a window to regularize their NHT accounts and benefit from a waiver of penalties, interests, and arrears. Under the extension, qualifying employers will receive a 100% waiver on interest for arrears up to March 31, 2025. "This extension provides employers in the micro, small, and medium enterprise business sector and charitable organizations with a valuable window to regularize their accounts and benefit from the waiver of penalties, interests, and interests on arrears. Under the extension, qualifying employers are offered a 100% waiver on interest," Prime Minister Holness stated. This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen Jamaica’s…

"We are actively engaging with the United States Trade Representative and other relevant authorities to seek urgent clarification." - Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, says government of Jamaica is actively engaging with the United States to seek clarification on the recently announced 10% baseline tariff on imports, set to take effect on April 5, 2025. The move by the United States could potentially significantly impact Jamaica’s trade with its largest trading partner as nearly 90% of Jamaica’s exports enter the U.S. market under preferential terms through the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). Speaking last night (April 4, 2025) at the opening ceremony of Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) Expo 2025, Prime Minister Holness emphasized that the government is actively working to safeguard Jamaica’s interests and mitigate any potential negative effects on the economy. “While the government of Jamaica has not yet received formal notification on the precise implementation procedures, including whether these new tariffs will override existing CBI provisions, we are actively engaging with the United States Trade Representative and other relevant authorities to seek urgent clarification. We are also conducting a detailed technical assessment, in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, to fully understand the…