News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that he will be taking a keen interest in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs and their alignment with Vision 2030. He says that SDGs are aligned with key development concerns and priorities of the region. “We are paying close attention to the implementation of the accelerators as recommended in the SDGs Road Map for Jamaica,” stated the prime minister. Mr Holness was delivering the keynote address at the Caribbean Action 2030 Regional Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals yesterday (June 28), at the UWI, Regional Headquarters, Kingston. He suggested that attention must be given to Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth and Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong institutions in advancing development in the Caribbean. “By 2030, there should be a Caribbean in which all have access to world - class education and training, healthcare and equal opportunities in safe and just societies that are underpinned by trust, love, respect and tolerance,” explained Mr Holness. The prime minister added that the Goals are considered a game changer for global development and for advancing the sustainable prosperity of our islands and coastal states. “I also envision a Caribbean with healthy natural…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says in order to secure Jamaica as the place of choice to invest and do business, inclusive and economic growth must be fast-tracked.   “We are cognisant that the public sector must be more efficient and aligned with the economic growth agenda, and that their job is to provide a streamlined regulatory environment that supports the private sector. Once this economic policy is settled and working then Jamaica would not have space to accommodate and welcome the number of investors that would want to make Jamaica their first choice for investment,” Prime Minister Holness asserted.   He was speaking yesterday (June 21), at the official re-opening of ALPART alumina plant, in Nain St Elizabeth under the new ownership of Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO).   The prime minister also posited that government’s focus on the development of human capital will encourage businesses to invest in Jamaica.   Currently there are 575 Jamaicans employed at JISCO ALPART, and it’s projected to increase in the future. However, Mr Holness noted that there is a need to increase trained human resource to take up those jobs.   “It is the intention of the government to ensure that all…

The Government says the proposed National Identification System (NIDS) is poised to secure the future growth of Jamaica. The NIDS is to provide every Jamaican citizen with a single source of trusted identification and begin the country’s push toward e-Governance. It is expected to replace all forms of identification with a single identification card and number, allowing the Jamaican citizen guaranteed freedom of access to Government and private sector services. “Let me be clear, NIDS will not collect DNA. It will create a new, clean database to collect two forms of biometrics only – fingerprint and facial recognition. The NIDS will not collect secondary biometrics such as eye retina scans, footprints, palm prints and other similar biometrics unless the candidate does not have fingers to print or a clear fingerprint,” explained Jacqueline Lynch-Stewart, acting chief technical director at the Office of the Prime Minister where the project is housed. Personal financial information is not required under NIDS, “NIDS is really the great equaliser in our democracy, by ensuring that every single citizen is connected to the Government. Importantly the NIDS will provide the platform for greater efficiency so that the Government can offer essential social services efficiently and support the economy…

Approximately fifteen hundred young persons this morning (June 20) attended the orientation and registration for the first phase of the HOPE programme.   The HOPE programme is the Government’s flagship training and apprenticeship programme, which targets unattached youth, aged 18 -24, who are not in school or currently employed.   HOPE means Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment.   The orientation was held at the Jamaica College auditorium.   National Coordinator of HOPE, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Rickman says he is encouraged by the overwhelming response.   “We plan to continue this process of registering young persons, so this is only the first step. We put out the advertisement aiming to get the first five hundred because we have spaces for five hundred to be placed,” explained Lieutenant Rickman.   He added that the programme provide opportunities for persons to be placed in positions where they can become good, responsible and productive members of society.   “The aim is for between 10,000 to 15,000 young persons for this financial year, to get involved and prepared through this programme for the workforce,” he added.   Prime Minister Andrew Holness introduced the programme during his contribution to the Budget Debate on March 21.

As the government moves to implement a National Identification System (NIDS), Prime Minister Andrew Holness has emphasized that this initiative will have a positive transformative effect on Jamaica. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the NIDS will translate to improved international standings and credibility for the country and will be the gateway to become a digital economy. It will also support the ease of doing business. He was making his contribution to the debate on the National Identification and Registration Bill, in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, June 13. The Bill was tabled in Parliament on June 6, 2017. The prime minister underscored the need for a national identification system that can uniquely and reliably verify the identity of Jamaican citizens. “Perhaps never before has it been so important for an individual to establish his identity. We live in a technological world where ‘fakes’ abound.  Not least of which is the ability of criminals who are ‘tech savvy’ to create fake identities and to use those fake identities to commit crimes and in some cases create duplications in the private and public sector,” he explained. Mr Holness noted that the establishment of a National Identification System will also allow for…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government must be focused, targeted and driven by intelligence in tackling crime. Speaking at the multilateral crime summit this morning (June 15) at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Prime Minister Holness said the police force is undergoing a transition. “The men and women of the JCF will relieve themselves of the overreliance on hard policing, and will transition into an intelligence driven organization that relies on information gathering, on big data analysis, and on strategic planning to give them a more targeted approach to separate criminals from law abiding citizens,” he explained. The prime minister noted that traditionally the police force relied on strong enforcement strategies that have not always been respectful of human rights. However, Mr. Holness says it is now changing and at a phase where human rights and the protection of citizens are paramount. He noted that a balance must be struck to ensure police personnel feel motivated and they are willing to carry out their duties without worry that after trying to do the right thing, they end up on the wrong side. To this end, Prime Minister Holness said INDECOM and the new piece of legislation need to be reviewed…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government will tackle crime decisively to secure a better future for Jamaica. “The only obstacle in the way of our growth potential is crime,” stated the prime minister. He was speaking today (June 14) at the groundbreaking ceremony of The Hampshire Housing Development by Guardian Life, Musgrave Avenue in Kingston. “We know that crime is a significant drag on the economy, a significant drag on people who are working hard and making their investment. But do not be deterred, the government will stand with you and provide you with the necessary security so that this investment can become a reality on time,” he declared. The prime minister added that with the new developments taking place in the New Kingston area the government and investors must seize the opportunity to partner and develop a security plan for the area. “Now is the time to plan out not just traffic flow, not just water and sewage infrastructure but let us have a plan for the security of the New Kingston area because with the regeneration of the area we can now build with security in mind” emphasised Prime Minister Holness. The Hampshire housing development will feature…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says it is the intention of the government for Jamaica to move very quickly in becoming a digital society as this will aid in productivity. He was speaking at the IDB Policy Statement Press Conference held today (June 9) in the Executive Lobby at the Office of the Prime Minister. “We’re not emphasising the digital society because it sounds good. We are emphasising the creation of the digital society because it will bring economic growth and job creation to the Jamaican economy and society,” stated the prime minister. The prime minister noted that the first step toward achieving a digitised society is through the implementation of the National Identification System, NIDS. He said NIDS will make the delivery of public services far more efficient and will contribute to greater inclusion, economic growth and job creation. “The government is taking steps to increase the efficiency of the public bureaucracy by integrating technology. And the first strategy is to identify every single Jamaican uniquely,” stated Mr Holness. The NIDS is being funded by the GoJ in partnership with the Inter- American Development Bank, IDB. The IDB is to provide approximately US$68 Million toward the programme. Mr Holness says the…

The Government is reassuring the credit union movement in Jamaica that moves to ensure primary legislation is in place to reform and regulate the sector will not change the nature and role of credit unions. The reforms would give the Bank of Jamaica, BOJ, direct supervision of credit unions. Prime Minister Andrew Holness gave the reassurance yesterday (June 7) at the Launch of Gateway Co-operative Credit Union in Montego Bay. “The government is very sensitive to the importance, to the need, to the real service that credit unions give and would never allow the new thrust towards regulation to in any way change the nature of the cooperative movement because it has served us well and I am hoping it will continue to serve us well in the decades to come,” he said Mr Holness argued that there is a need to protect the financial system because people use it to commit crimes, facilitate terrorism and hide corruption. As a result, “regulation of the financial system will become universal and everyone who operates in this space will have to have some form of oversight and regulation,” stated Prime Minister Holness. The prime minister affirmed the government’s commitment to financial inclusion and noted…