News from the OPM

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness today (March 15) urged members of his Cabinet to always be driven by the public’s interest and to consistently have Jamaica’s most vulnerable in mind when taking national decisions.   He also encouraged them to act with equity and fairness. Mr. Holness was addressing his first official meeting of Cabinet since taking office. Cabinet which is responsible for decisions on national policies, plans and programme is the highest decision-making body of the Government. “All our decisions must bear in mind the interest of the Jamaican people.... Unlike Parliament the deliberations in which we (Cabinet) engage that lead to decisions are not public; the public would not be aware of the considerations that make up our decisions, which makes it even more critical that the persons who sit around this table, from a moral standpoint always bear the public’s interest at the forefront of their mind; that there are no other interests that guide their deliberations other than the public’s interest,” the Prime Minister emphasised. Also stating that Cabinet must be the gold standard for efficiency in the public sector, Mr. Holness declared, “We must take decisions quickly while examining all the perspectives of the…

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness says Government has already begun to tackle the issue of tax reform and is fast tracking investment projects. Prime Minister Holness was delivering his maiden address in Parliament on Thursday, March 10 after assuming leadership of the country last week.  Parliamentarians were also sworn in. “We have started work with the support of the IMF on our proposed reforms to the tax system to ensure that when they are implemented they mutually reinforce the twin targets of growth and fiscal balance,” Mr. Holness said. Mr. Holness also informed the House of Representatives that the Government had begun to take charge of the challenges faced in the health sector and the potential threats of epidemic diseases. The Government’s focus is on inclusive economic growth; job creation; sustainable debt reduction and improving the general well-being of Jamaicans, Mr. Holness reminded. The Prime Minister has established a Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation in the Office of the Prime Minister as a strategic step to accelerate the move to economic development and prosperity.    

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness yesterday reminded his fellow Parliamentarians that they are servants of the people, and must remain accessible to them. “We are here to serve them, and not the other way around. We are their servants, not their bosses. We must not let them down,” Mr. Holness said, urging each Member of Parliament to recommit to upholding the highest standards of conduct in the House. “We can be forceful without being offensive, we can be incisive, without being insulting,” he noted. Mr. Holness was delivering his maiden address to Parliament on Thursday, March 10 after being sworn in as Prime Minister last Thursday following his party’s victory in the February 25 General Elections. He noted that “good representation makes for better communities. Better communities make for better constituencies, and better constituencies make for a better Jamaica.” The Prime Minister added that the sitting of Parliament and the presence of the various parliamentarians is “a signal of the confidence they (the people) repose in us and the awesome responsibilities they have entrusted to us.” Acknowledging that the narrow parliamentary majority comes with tremendous opportunities and challenges, Mr. Holness noted, “This is a moment that requires cooperation.…

  1              The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, ON, MP Prime Minister Minister of Defence Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation 2              Hon. Horace Chang, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister 3              Hon. Derrick Smith, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister 4              Hon. Daryl Vaz, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister   5              Senator Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs   6              Hon. Audley Shaw, MP Minister of Finance and Public Service Hon. Fayval Williams, MP Minister of State in Ministry of Finance and Public Service Hon. Rudyard Spencer, MP Minister of State in Ministry of Finance and Public Service   7              Hon. Karl Samuda, MP Minister of Industry, Commerce & Agriculture 8              Hon. JC Hutchinson, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Agriculture   9              Hon. Robert Montague, MP Minister of National Security Senator Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security   10           Hon. Delroy Chuck, MP Minister of Justice   11           Senator, Hon. Ruel Reid Minister of Education, Youth and Information Hon. Floyd Green, MP…

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, members of the incoming administration and public sector officials met with a visiting IMF delegation today (March 4) at Jamaica House. The IMF delegation, led by Mr. Nigel Chalk, Deputy Director of the Western Hemisphere Department, affirmed the Fund’s readiness to continue its support of Jamaica.  The delegation noted the progress already made in reducing the debt burden through fiscal consolidation and the need for continued effort to bring Jamaica’s debt ratios to a level that all stakeholders believed to be sustainable.  The Fund team also noted that achieving this objective would become much easier with elevated levels of economic growth. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of a productive partnership with the IMF in achieving the goals of the new administration and acknowledged the role that fiscal consolidation had played in stabilising Jamaica’s economy. He emphasised the necessity of stability and signaled the intention of the new administration to use available policy tools to build on stability and to accelerate inclusive economic growth, while maintaining fiscal prudence.  Prime Minister Holness also informed the delegation of his intention to continue with the principle of stakeholder oversight of Jamaica’s economic programme and performance. Both…

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Michael Holness today underscored his commitment to easing the tax burden on Jamaican families, as a key part of building a Government based on partnership for prosperity. Delivering his inaugural address at his Swearing-in Ceremony at King’s House today (March 3), Mr. Holness cited partnership with families, the Opposition, the private sector and the international community, while coordinating and holding his Government to account, as key elements of the plan. Explaining how the partnership with families will work the Prime Minister stated that, “By increasing the income tax threshold we will restore the economic power of households to participate in not only growing the GDP but more importantly growing the general wellbeing of the society.” He added, “ Our Government commits to creating the environment in which families can flourish and form communities of social mobility from which every ghetto youth can be a star. However, every family member must play his or her part by being personally, socially and economically responsible.” He implored families to invest the funds from the tax relief wisely.  “You must spend the additional money to acquire a house for your family or improve the house you already have,…

Prime Minister-Designate Mr. Andrew Holness will be sworn in as Prime Minister of Jamaica in a ceremony at King’s House on Thursday, March 3. The Swearing-in Ceremony will commence at 4pm and invited guests are asked to be seated by 3:15pm. In accordance with the Constitution of Jamaica, Mr. Holness will take the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office of Prime Minister of Jamaica after which he will receive The Instrument of Appointment to the Office of Prime Minister from the Governor-General His Excellency The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen. Mr. Holness will then make his inaugural address. This is the second time that Mr. Holness will be sworn-in as Prime Minister having served as Prime Minister from October 23, 2011 to January 5, 2012. A host broadcast of the ceremony by the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC) and the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), will be available to all television and radio stations. The event will also be streamed live on the websites of the JIS (www.jis.gov.jm) and the Office of the Prime Minister (www.opm.gov.jm). For access to the ceremony, guests designated as VVIPs will use the King’s House main entrance at the intersection of Hope Road,…