News from the OPM

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says he is committed to sustainable national development and community upliftment through the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). Speaking at an NSHP handing over ceremony on Friday, June 6, 2025, in Warsop-Troy, Trelawny, the Prime Minister emphasized that the handing over of new homes is not a one-off event. Dr. Holness said the NSHP is a sustained effort to reach the most vulnerable across the island. “Every week we make it a point of duty to turn over houses that have been constructed, for beneficiaries who need them, under the new social housing programme,” Dr. Holness stated. Prime Minister Holness added that this effort is aligned with the government’s broader strategy to address critical issues such as infrastructure, healthcare, and community development. The Prime Minister stressed the connection between strong economic management and the ability to invest in social programmes that improve lives. “Your government runs the economy well. We have managed your money well, so that we have the revenues and the resources to constantly deliver these houses.” Highlighting the programme’s progress, the Prime Minister shared that approximately 300 homes have been built so far under the NSHP. The Prime Minister noted that an…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is delivering critical infrastructure projects, pointing to the newly completed Myton Gully Drainage Improvement Project in St. Catherine as clear evidence that the government is getting things done. Speaking on Tuesday (June 10) at the handing-over ceremony, Prime Minister Holness said significant work is being done across the country, but much of it is overlooked or unacknowledged. “What you hear about are the roads that aren't fixed. But you don't hear about the roads that we have fixed. What you hear about are the communities that don't have water. What you don't hear about are the communities that have gotten water,” Dr. Holness stated. The $326 million Myton Gully project addresses a long-standing flooding issue that has threatened thousands of residents in Old Harbour for decades. The government expanded the drainage system by installing four large culverts and paving over 200 meters of the gully’s invert, benefiting approximately 38,000 residents and countless motorists. The Prime Minister emphasized that projects such as this reflect a shift in government performance, from talk to action. “You are living in a different Jamaica created by a different government. This is a government that understands, a government that…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued a strong message to criminals: "Abandon your illegal activities and take advantage of a changing Jamaica, one where crime is falling and peace is rising." Jamaica is currently recording a 35-year record low murder rate. Prime Minister Holness revealed that murders in Jamaica are down by 44.1% when compared to the same period last year. This remarkable decline, Dr. Holness says, reflects the success of the Government’s deliberate and sustained investment in national security. “Ten years ago, Jamaicans would have been of the view that murders would never come down in Jamaica and that we will always be a violent country. But look at us now. We have put in place a plan to secure Jamaica; we invested in our security forces, we improved their technology, we changed leadership and doctrine, we increased the number of officers and their mobility, and now we have a police force of which we can be proud,” Prime Minister Holness stated. As at June 8, 2025, a total of 713 prohibited weapons have been seized across the island, a significant increase from the 377 seized during the same period last year. The Prime Minister credited the enhanced capabilities of…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared that his administration is committed to tackling domestic violence and the culture of aggression that has taken root in Jamaican communities. Dr. Holness says addressing these issues is crucial to building a peaceful and safe society. Prime Minister Holness has emphasized that violence is not only a public safety issue but also a deeply rooted social problem that continues to undermine the nation’s quality of life. “In many communities across Jamaica, particularly in the inner city, many of our women and children are suffering serious abuse. Some of our men are also experiencing serious domestic abuse. Believe it or not, 20% of the cases reported are of men being abused,” the Prime Minister stated. Importantly, the Prime Minister expressed concern about the culture that discourages men from speaking out about abuse, noting that this long-standing mindset has contributed to a wider societal problem. “We have a society where we tend to want to say, ‘You’re not tough. You have to tough it out.’ But what that has done for the last 40 years is to embed in us a certain aggression that has deteriorated the quality of life that we experience,” said Dr. Holness.…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaicans can trust his administration, which has delivered a strong track record of performance. Dr. Holness says he is committed to continuing to deliver real results for Jamaicans. This is as six additional families in the parish of Trelawny received the keys to brand-new homes under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). Speaking on Friday (June 6) as he handed over a unit to Ms. Ivylin Thompson, Prime Minister Holness said his administration will continue to improve and positively impact the lives of the people. “It's one government that has changed Jamaica in tangible ways that nobody can question, and it is this government. Every single day we change the life of a Jamaican. Whether it is a change through housing, a change through water, a change through road infrastructure, a change through social pension, and so on. We are the government that is changing Jamaica,” Dr. Holness said. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government’s ability to consistently meet the needs of the people, whether through housing, water, or roads, is rooted in strong economic management and disciplined fiscal planning, which are crucial to funding these critical infrastructure projects. Dr. Holness noted that previous administrations…

The Holness administration has moved decisively to protect the environment while advancing national infrastructure. Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness officially commissioned a $76 million investment in specialized tree-relocator equipment. The investment underscores the Government's commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Monday (June 9) held at Jamaica House, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. The new machinery, now housed at the Forestry Department, will support roadworks under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Programme, including the expansion of Arthur Wint Drive, Lady Musgrave Road, and Hellshire Road. The acquisition aligns with the government’s broader “Greening Jamaica” initiative, which resulted in the planting of more than three million trees in five years. The project is now in its next phase. “You can’t see development as a trade-off between the built environment and the natural environment. So, we have to figure out ways in which each reinforces development. The built environment reinforces the natural environment. And we use the natural environment to reinforce and support the built environment,” said Prime Minister Holness. The equipment allows for a 90% success rate when transplanting trees, marking a major advancement in the country’s ability…

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is urging citizens to take personal responsibility for maintaining peace in their communities. Prime Minister Holness made the call Wednesday (June 4) as he broke ground for a multifamily housing complex under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in Central Kingston. New housing units will be built on the site which was a tenement yard destroyed by arson in 2021. Thirteen residents, including children and the elderly, lost everything in the blaze. “This project is more than just concrete and steel,” said Prime Minister Holness. “We are going to transform a yard that was destroyed by arson. We are going to transform lives that were destroyed in that fire. We are going to be transforming a community that, by this act of violence, had been depressed.” The Prime Minister stressed that the progress seen in Central Kingston is only possible because of a shift in the community atmosphere, specifically a reduction in crime and violence. “I urge the community members, everyone, to be wardens of the peace. You protect the peace. Don’t let this peace that we have slip out of your hands again,” said Prime Minister Holness. “Everybody prospers when there is peace, even…

Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, has made a direct appeal to entertainment promoters and community members, assuring them that the Government is not against parties or events being held. Rather, he emphasized that the Government is calling for greater understanding and collaboration between promoters and the police to ensure entertainment spaces in communities across Jamaica are made genuinely safe. During an Area 3 police update, covering Clarendon, Manchester, and St. Elizabeth, Prime Minister Dr Holness addressed concerns from residents about restrictions placed on parties due to police curfews and other enforcement measures. These concerns have been especially prominent as the country enters the summer entertainment season. “As I've been moving around, one of the issues that keep coming up is the security forces allowing parties to go on… And I keep saying to the promoters that there is no institutional bias against keeping the events.” He explained that the real challenge lies in the fact that some of the most serious crimes are occurring in entertainment settings. “The challenge that we are facing is that much of the crime and many of the murders are being committed or taking place within the entertainment space, whether it…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says his government remains committed to building a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous Jamaica through bold investments in young people. Speaking Saturday evening (May 31) at the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence, Prime Minister Holness outlined how Jamaica’s growing economy is now delivering real results for youth in every parish across the country. “Your government is building a new Jamaica, a Jamaica that begins with education and training. We firmly believe that your development is the cornerstone of personal and national development,” Prime Minister Holness stated. From eliminating tuition fees for HEART/NSTA Trust training up to level 4, to removing guarantor requirements for student loans, the Prime Minister emphasized that young Jamaicans now have unprecedented access to skills training, education financing, and employment pathways. Since waiving fees at HEART, over 100,000 Jamaicans, primarily youth, have enrolled and are gaining certifications in high-demand areas. Dr. Holness added that the administration’s Community Action for Rewarding Engagement (CARE) and Learning and Investment for Transformation (LIFT) programmes are already benefiting more than 1,250 unattached youth, equipping them with tools to transition from school to work. In addition, strategic partnerships like the Amber HEART Academy have introduced cutting-edge digital and AI training, including Jamaica’s first Prompt Engineering course to…