News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness this morning (February 17) broke ground for a new US$1.03M Sewerage facility in his Saint Andrew West Central constituency. Speaking at the ceremony Prime Minister Holness said the project will improve the quality of life for the people of Olympic Court, Bay Farm Villa and Compound. “We must crank the engine of economic growth through the development of our water systems, provision of housing and employment” he added. Under the Bay Farm Sewerage project the National Water Commission, NWC will replace the deteriorated and malfunctioning wastewater treatment plants and transfer the existing flows from the Bay Farm Villas Waste Water Treatment Plant to the NWC’s Nanse Pen Pumping Station located off Spanish Town Road. The Prime Minister said that there are at least two other communities in which decommissioning and replacement of old sewerage plants will be done to include Hughenden and Arcadia. The Government says it is committed to improving the water infrastructure across the island. –30– Contact: Communications Unit-OPM Tel: 926-0244, 927-4101 Email: [email protected] [email protected] FB: www.facebook.com/jamaicahouse TW: www.twitter.com/opmjamaica Web: www.opm.gov.jm 

The Government is on track to create 200,000 jobs within the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (February 16) broke ground for another major investment in the sector at the Portmore Informatics Park in St. Catherine valued at US$31 million dollars or J$4 billion. The facility to be operated by the Port Authority of Jamaica will see the construction of a 157, 000 square foot facility. The US based Alorica will occupy the space and create some 4,500 BPO jobs. Prime Minister Holness said Jamaica is poised for more investments of this nature. “It is time for action. My job is to cut through the dense bureaucracy and get to this point, to get things done. We must put every able bodied Jamaican to work. This is the fastest way to get our Jamaicans employed. So let’s get going,” said the Prime Minister. He said that government must move with speed, alacrity and determination to provide employment. “The aspiration and ambition to get Jamaicans employed is a serious one for me. Employment is the greatest tool in fighting crime. Employment is the greatest tool in bringing prosperity to our people. Employment is independence in our hands,”…

Approximately 150 National Water Commission (NWC) personnel will undergo training and capacity building to improve water supply within the Kingston and St. Andrew area. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this week (February 14) among the NWC, HEART Trust/NTA and Miya Jamaica for the Kingston and St. Andrew Non- Revenue Water Co- Management Project. Speaking at the signing, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr. Horace Chang said “this is a good example of joined up government that will significantly boost productivity, efficiency and reliability in the water sector.” Minister Chang said the training will result in a dedicated team to tackle the issue of Non-Revenue Water (NRW), as certification programmes are implemented for the NWC staff. The project is part of the Kingston Metropolitan Area Water Supply Improvement Programme, financed by the Inter-American Development Bank. It focuses on the rehabilitation of key water production facilities and reduction of NRW within the Kingston and St. Andrew Area. The government is forecasting a steady reduction in NRW, from 53% to 20% at the end of the five year project. –30– Contact: Communications Unit-OPM Tel: 926-0244, 927-4101 Email: [email protected] [email protected] FB: www.facebook.com/jamaicahouse TW: www.twitter.com/opmjamaica…

Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew and wife of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Mrs Juliet Holness, says Jamaicans must unite to protect our women and children. Mrs Holness says she is shocked by the brazen and gruesome nature of the recent incidents of violence against women and children. “As a wife and mother I am shocked at what is happening in my country and I want it to stop. This fight will never be won on an individual basis, it calls for collective action. This calls for a commitment of all - Jamaicans, teachers, pastors, members of the security forces, the business community, everybody to report these instances of violence,” she stated. Mrs Holness said she is happy that the Joint Select Committee of Parliament to review laws to protect women and children has recommenced. She urged all Jamaicans to speak out against violence against women and children. “A mind set change is needed in the society. Many of our men do not respect women and too many of our children are being abused. Our contribution as women is invaluable as we continue to hold the family structure together and provide a safe haven for our children to…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the maritime sector, which boasts remarkable infrastructure, is important to the Jamaican economy. Against this background Jamaica has launched its candidature to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2018-2019 biennium. In a video message delivered at the launch on Thursday (February 2) at Jamaica House, the prime minister emphasized the critical role of the maritime sector in Jamaica. He noted that the country boasts the only Maritime University in the English speaking Caribbean, and is one of the top ranked container transhipment facilities handling cargo in the region. The prime minister said that Jamaica has much to contribute as a Council member of the IMO. “As the Specialised Agency of the United Nations for shipping, the IMO is mandated to pilot measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping, and to take steps to prevent marine pollution from ships. This mandate strongly resonates with Jamaica, given our heavy reliance on shipping for trade and other areas of national development, and also the importance that we attach to the protection of the environment,” he said. Prime Minister Holness stated that the country recognizes it must be involved in international institutions, such as IMO,…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has revealed that in the coming months the government will be rolling out strategic policies to address the country’s homicide rate and put in place a plan to secure Jamaica.   Speaking at a brunch with Destination Experience at Devon House on Saturday, January 28, Prime Minister Holness said, “We are making the investments in national security assets to put us in a position to cut the flow of illegal weapons into the island, to limit the movement and activities of gangs, to be able to intercept criminals in the act and to create a real deterrent.”   The prime minister pointed out that all of this is being done in addition to putting in place a new national security architecture that will better integrate all the crime fighting resources which are not all in the Ministry of National Security. “We have appointed a national security advisor whose job it is to bring together all the national security assets to fight crime. So I am confident that we will be able to bring the homicide rate down significantly,” he declared.   According to Mr Holness, in making Jamaica the centre of the Caribbean, the government must…

Members of the Cabinet were engaged in intensive planning and review of the programmes for the 2017/2018 financial year on the final day of their two-day retreat.   A number of strategic priorities were identified for the next financial year with focus on economic growth and job creation.   Equally, the Ministers and the technical experts from the Ministry of Finance and various other agencies examined each programme proposal to ensure that they would be meaningfully beneficial and equitable to the poor and vulnerable in the society.   The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness also examined the government’s performance in the current financial year and how to build on the gains.   The retreat which was held at Jamaica House comes ahead of the tabling of the estimates of expenditure for the 2017/2018 financial year.   It will be tabled on February 9.  The budget debate will begin on March 9 and close on March 22.   ---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  

The Government of Jamaica expresses deep sadness at the passing this morning (January 26) of sporting great and broadcaster Lloyd Lindbergh “Lindy’ Delapenha.   Mr. Delapenha died peacefully at his home.   Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Mr. Delapenha will be best remembered for his sterling contribution in the fields of sports and broadcasting.   “I join with the rest of Jamaica in mourning the passing of Lindy Delapenda. Jamaica has lost a treasure,” said the Prime Minister.   Mr. Delapenha broke barriers by becoming the first Jamaican to play professional football in England in 1948.   Following his illustrious sporting career he later headed the Sport department at the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, JBC.   “Lindy’s talent was not limited to football. He was a track athlete, a cricketer, a golfer and simply loved life. He was versatile. Many people in my generation remember Lindy Delapenha’s riveting sport presentation and commentary on television. He was one of the greats,” said Prime Minister Holness.   In 1987 Mr. Delapenha was bestowed a national honour, the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer, for services to broadcasting.   Mr. Delapenha is survived by his two daughters.   He was…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness today (Thursday January 26) led Cabinet into a two day retreat.   The Cabinet retreat is examining the government’s fiscal targets as well as plans for the 2017/2018 financial year.   The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure will be tabled in Parliament on February 9, while the Budget Debate will begin on March 9.   The retreat will continue tomorrow as the government continues to examine the budget and its plans and targets for the new fiscal year.   ---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