News from the OPM

Task Force directed to produce Cabinet-ready policy recommendation within two weeks as Government moves to protect national data and build responsible AI competence across the public service Dr. the Honourable Andrew Wheatley, MP, JP, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, has formally directed the National Artificial Intelligence Task Force to provide an urgent policy recommendation for Cabinet on the immediate advancement of AI Literacy across the Government of Jamaica. The Task Force has been given two weeks to respond. A Matter of National Urgency The directive follows the Minister’s assessment that AI adoption across Ministries, Departments and Agencies is already underway, and in some instances ahead of the safeguards needed to govern it responsibly. Minister Wheatley stated that “It has become increasingly clear that a number of government entities have already begun to use, experiment with, or otherwise engage artificial intelligence technologies in the execution of their functions,” adding that this “raises serious concerns, particularly where such use may be taking place in advance of the necessary policy, governance, risk management, accountability, and operational guardrails required for the responsible use of AI in the public sector.” A Structured AI…

The Government of Jamaica will accord an Official Funeral to former State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and former Member of Parliament, Mr. Leslie Roy Campbell, in recognition of his distinguished service to the nation and his enduring contribution to public life. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Fellowship Tabernacle, 2 Fairfield Avenue, Kingston 20. Mr. Campbell, who passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the age of 67 following a period of illness, dedicated his professional and political life to national development and the advancement of the Jamaican people. A respected attorney-at-law and public servant, he served in several important capacities, including Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Member of Parliament for North East St. Catherine, Senator, Chairman of the Sports Development Foundation, and Deputy Treasurer of the Jamaica Labour Party. Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness said Mr. Campbell’s contribution to Jamaica reflected a deep commitment to service and country. “Leslie Campbell served Jamaica with humility, professionalism, and dedication throughout his years in public…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness says the Government is entering a new phase of national development focused on accelerating economic growth through the strategic utilization of Jamaica’s assets, particularly land, supported by modernized land administration systems and expanded land titling. Speaking yesterday during the Inception Ceremony for the Land Administration Capacity Enhancement Project (LACEP), Prime Minister Holness said Jamaica’s years of fiscal discipline must now translate into stronger economic productivity, investment expansion, and more efficient use of national resources. “We are entering into a new phase of our development. We have, over the last decade and a half, greatly sacrificed to achieve fiscal stability. The next phase must now be robust, sustained economic growth,” the Prime Minister stated. The Prime Minister identified proper land administration as one of the key pillars required to unlock that growth, noting that Jamaica cannot fully utilize its land resources without comprehensive land registration, modern cadastre systems, and clear ownership records. “We want to ensure that people who want to use the land for productive purposes can get access. We want to ensure that land, which is a natural asset, can also become a financial asset by acting as collateral for financing,”…

“There are Jamaicans alive today who have worked the same piece of land for forty years. They have built a home on it, farmed it, and raised a family on it and still cannot prove, on paper, that it belongs to them. That gap between possession and title is not a bureaucratic inconvenience. It is a barrier to finance, to security, to inheritance, and to the formal economy. The Land Administration Capacity Enhancement Project will change that.” - Prime Minister Holness Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness says the newly launched Land Administration Capacity Enhancement Project (LACEP) will modernize Jamaica’s land administration system, expand economic opportunity, and help thousands of Jamaicans convert informal land occupancy into legally recognized assets that can support wealth creation and national development. Speaking yesterday at the project’s Inception Ceremony, Prime Minister Holness said the initiative directly addresses one of the country’s longstanding development barriers, which is the inability of many Jamaicans to formally prove ownership of land they have occupied and developed for decades. “There are Jamaicans alive today who have worked the same piece of land for forty years. They have built a home on it, farmed it, and raised a family on it…

Prime Minister Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to expanding access to affordable housing with the groundbreaking of a major residential development in Rozelle Estate, St. Thomas. Speaking today (May 8, 2026) at the National Housing Trust Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Rozelle Estate Development in St. Thomas, Prime Minister Holness said the Government remains focused on increasing the pace of housing delivery while ensuring that housing solutions are affordable, accessible, and resilient for Jamaican families. Prime Minister Holness said the administration’s housing policy is designed to ensure that hardworking Jamaicans who obey the law, work consistently, and save responsibly can access suitable homes within a reasonable timeframe. “We're going to bring more housing solutions to the market at a faster pace, more affordable and more accessible, so that the person who is leaving school, who has done all that society has said that they should do, and who comes on the housing market, ready to purchase, finds a housing solution.  We want anyone who enters the housing market for a home to be able to find an affordable solution in a decent period of time. That is the objective of the housing policy,” said Prime Minister…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness today reinforced the Government’s focus on early literacy as he participated in Read Across Jamaica Day 2026 at Jamaica House. The engagement brought together students from across the corporate area for an interactive reading session on the Jamaica House lawns. The Prime Minister read with the children and joined them in song, creating a lively environment that encouraged learning and expression. Prime Minister Holness underscored that literacy remains a cornerstone of national development, noting that strong reading skills are essential to improving educational outcomes and expanding opportunity for young Jamaicans. The initiative was supported by UNICEF, a key partner in advancing child-focused development programmes in Jamaica. Read Across Jamaica Day forms part of ongoing national efforts to strengthen foundational learning and foster a culture of reading among the country’s youth.

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has emphasised the importance of clarity in understanding the distinction between the work of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA). Speaking at the UDC Board Retreat on April 30, the Prime Minister noted that both entities have distinct mandates. “The UDC has its mandate, and NARRA has its mandate, and they must not come into conflict or in competition with each other.” NaRRA cannot and was never intended to take over the functions of the UDC; it cannot displace the regular operations of the economy, including current and future projects of the UDC. He described NaRRA as an executing mechanism designed to deliver projects with speed, efficiency, and accountability. “NARRA has to be agile, and it has to meet international accountability standards and pace.” Dr. Holness also addressed the broader environment in which new systems are introduced, cautioning against narratives that may undermine progress. “There is nothing wrong with being constructively critical, but there is everything wrong with being deceptively critical.” He emphasised that the Government’s focus remains on outcomes and delivery. “People want results, and I am focused on results.” Meanwhile, the Prime Minister…

Prime Minister Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness has called for a comprehensive and sustained effort to transform Jamaica’s urban centres, positioning urban renewal as a critical driver of productivity, public order, and national development. Addressing the UDC Board Retreat on April 30, the Prime Minister highlighted the need to address long-standing issues affecting town centres and built environments. “We must look at responding to urban decay and create a system for urban renewal, especially to give a new lease on life to our town centres, which are chaotic, untidy, and do not lend themselves to productivity and efficiency in the conduct of business.” Dr. Holness emphasised that the design and condition of communities directly influence economic activity and public safety, noting that poorly structured environments can limit law enforcement effectiveness. “We have realised great progress in crime fighting; however, there is a limit to what police can do, particularly as it relates to how our communities are built. The way many of our communities are structured lends to them becoming a refuge for criminals.” He underscored the need to create communities that are orderly, functional, and “policeable,” while acknowledging the complexity of issues such as informal settlements. “Squatting is…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has reaffirmed the national importance of preserving Jamaica’s heritage assets while ensuring that they deliver meaningful economic benefits to the people. Speaking at the UDC Board Retreat on April 30, Prime Minister Holness was emphatic in his position on the status of Dunn’s River. “Dunn’s River is a heritage site. It is for the people of Jamaica, and it must never be held privately.” At the same time, he stressed that heritage assets must be managed in a way that unlocks their full value for national development. “The people must get the benefit of it in terms of unlocking its economic capacity,” the Prime Minister said. Dr. Holness also highlighted opportunities for inclusive development, referencing Belmont Cove, also known as Little Dunn’s River, and the importance of integrating existing operators into formal systems. “It is not the objective of the government to displace those people because they are being enterprising, but we need to bring it under effective management.” He outlined an approach that combines structure, training, and inclusion. “Bring them in, train them, put them in the right uniform, and allow them to operate within the space so that they can…