News from the OPM

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has strongly condemned the attack and murder of police Corporal Kamal Mayne. Corporal Mayne was killed this morning (May 17) by hoodlums at his home in Old Harbour St. Catherine. Prime Minister Holness said: "This is a heartbreaking blow to his [Corporal Mayne's] family, his colleagues in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and our entire country.  As a member of the JCF, Corporal Mayne served the people of Jamaica by ensuring our safety." Prime Minister Holness continued: "Every day, our policemen and women put themselves in harm’s way to build a more peaceful, more secure Jamaica. The progress we are now seeing, with crime at its lowest levels in decades, has come at great cost. It is a result of strategy, investment, and the tireless work of those who wear the uniform with integrity. We must never take their service for granted, nor ignore the sacrifices they and their families make on behalf of all of us. We must never lose sight of the fact that our officers are human beings, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, who risk their lives for a safer Jamaica. Corporal Mayne’s life mattered. His service mattered. And his death will not be in vain."…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has issued a firm warning to criminals, while praising the strengthening of Jamaica’s cyber defense capabilities. Prime Minister Holness stressed that the environment for crime has drastically changed, thanks to continued investment in national security and technology. The Prime Minister stated: “Before you commit a crime, think very carefully that the environment that you used to operate in, it is not the same environment as before. What we have done is to change the risk reward function for crime. Before, you could commit a crime, and the probability is that you will not get caught. We have changed that. If you commit a crime today, the probability is that you will get caught.” The country's national security improvements have also been complimented with private sector investment in safety and security. This as the Guardsman Group on Wednesday (May 14) launched the first of its kind Guardsman Cyber Intelligence Security Operations Centre (SOC). The first of its kind in the Caribbean and represents a leap forward in Jamaica’s commitment to digital security and crime deterrence. The SOC allows for real-time threat monitoring and advanced intelligence capabilities. It is another symbol of Jamaica’s push toward a smarter,…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has declared that government spending must improve the welfare of citizens. The Prime Minister says this principle in public expenditure is a core principle of governance, which is spending responsibly for the collective good and welfare of the people. “Every dollar that government spends should be directed in such a way that it increases welfare. The person who received that dollar, their welfare should improve. And the people who didn’t receive the dollar, who are probably giving the dollar, their welfare should not be decreased, but their welfare should be increased, and that’s the role of government.” Dr. Holness cautioned against policies that create imbalance or diminish the welfare of others, noting, “Too often we have government policies that are focused on saying, yes, I want to increase your welfare, but they end up reducing the welfare of others.” Dr. Holness made the comments while speaking on Thursday (May 15) at the handover ceremony for a housing unit under the New Social Housing Programme in Morant Bay, St. Thomas. Prime Minister Holness also emphasized that even as major progress is being made, the government is also focused on helping those in urgent need like beneficiary,…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has urged students and faculty at Morant Bay High School to seize present opportunities and prepare for the bright future ahead, especially as development surges across the parish of St. Thomas. In an inspiring speech while on a stop at Morant Bay High on Thursday (May 15), following the historic opening of the state-of-the-art Morant Bay Urban Centre, Prime Minister Holness reminded students that they are part of a transformative generation poised to benefit from unprecedented investments in infrastructure, education, and public services. The Prime Minister said: “You are the generation that will have the opportunity and be the beneficiary of all the development that will change the future of St. Thomas for the better. You will benefit from roads, infrastructure, free school bus service. You won’t have to be turned away or preyed on. You will have your own school bus system. You are the generation that will have the Morant Bay Urban Centre.” Prime Minister Holness also emphasized that this generation has a higher chance of being employed in Jamaica than any before it, with St. Thomas playing a central role in the country’s development goals. “You are the first generation that has over…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to building resilient and responsive public infrastructure. This as the government delivered 30 additional new service vehicles, including trucks and pickups, to the National Water Commission (NWC). These vehicles are expected to significantly enhance the NWC’s ability to respond swiftly to service demands across the island. Speaking at the handover ceremony on Tuesday (May 13), Prime Minister Holness said the initiative reflects a broader commitment to sustained investment in public utilities. “This that we are here marking in ceremony today, the provision of 30 new trucks and pickup vehicles, will help in the service response of the NWC and will improve the service.” The Government is currently investing $28 billion in multiple water infrastructure projects across the island. Among the most ambitious is the Content Water Public-Private Partnership, valued at US$92 million, which will deliver 15 million gallons of water per day to key urban areas including Spanish Town, Portmore, Greater St. Catherine, and Kingston. “The most important thing that this administration has done is that we have increased the pace of reinvestment in our infrastructure. So we're not just building infrastructure and saying, alright, we build it,…

The Holness administration continues to expand its commitment to equitable education access with the introduction of seven new school buses designated for rural communities across the parish of St. Thomas. This programme will provide free, reliable transportation to students in some of the most remote parts of the parish. Speaking on Thursday (May 15) at the historic opening of the Morant Bay Urban Centre, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness announced the expansion of the service, noting that it will directly ease the financial burden on families and improve punctuality and attendance for students in St. Thomas. The Prime Minister said: “You are going to get seven school buses that will be serving some of the remote areas of the parish, and I'm certain that the children of this parish will be very happy to be able to use those buses, and of course, those buses will be free of cost to them in terms of bus fare.” The government recently introduced two Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, routes in the parish. The public bus service in the parish has moved over 100,000 passengers in just under four months. Commuters have praised the system for its efficiency and cost savings. “It is…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has declared that the Government is firmly laying the groundwork for a new economy in the parish of St. Thomas. This will position the parish and eastern Jamaica as a modern hub for commerce, public services, health care, and education. Speaking on Thursday (May 15) at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the historic Morant Bay Urban Centre, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the long-term vision of the transformation. This new era began with over $32 billion in infrastructure projects such as the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project, broadband readiness, and integrated utility development. “We are laying the foundation, my friends, for a new economy in this parish. And I want you to pay attention to that mission. We are not going to create prosperity without creating an economy. And to create the economy, you have to build infrastructure, because it is the infrastructure that creates the platform on which people can do business and generate profit and satisfy demand,” said Prime Minister Holness. Dr. Holness continued: “This lovely facility here, this very convenient facility here, well designed and well laid out, this is going to create the new economy that will generate the new wealth for…

Prime Minister Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has welcomed the upcoming provision of higher education services to the parish of St Thomas, as the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) prepares to operate its new university campus from the newly opened Morant Bay Urban Centre. Prime Minister Holness noted that this marks a significant step toward expanding access to tertiary education for residents of the parish and surrounding communities. “We are very happy that we can bring a university to the parish,” said Prime Minister Holness. Increasing access to education and training is essential to the Government’s broader strategy to transform St Thomas and position it for long-term growth. Once operational, the University will provide new educational options for young people and working adults in the eastern region, allowing them to pursue tertiary studies closer to home." The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government’s plans for the parish are focused on the long term, creating opportunities that will benefit future generations. “We are not just thinking for five years. We are thinking about the next fifty years.” The Government sees this expansion as a key step toward equipping St Thomas with the tools it needs to drive local growth,…

The Government of Jamaica acknowledges the Supreme Court’s ruling on the use of States of Public Emergency (SOEs). In response, the Attorney General’s Chamber is undertaking a thorough review of the legal and constitutional implications of this decision in preparation for its appeal. “As it was satisfied with the conduct of the Parliament, the Government, and the Governor General in declaring these states of emergency, the Government will now give serious consideration to this judgment as we appeal the decision.” — Attorney General of Jamaica, Dr Derrick McKoy. We will continue to support our security forces. The people of Jamaica are experiencing a historic reduction in crime thanks to effective crime-fighting strategies, historic investment in policing infrastructure, increases in the number of police officers, implementation of enhanced intelligence operations and SOEs. Jamaica recorded 132 fewer murders in the first quarter of 2025, representing the third straight quarterly decline since the second quarter of 2024. Additionally, incidents of shootings, rapes, robberies, and break-ins have all declined consistently over the past six quarters, beginning in the third quarter of 2023. The implementation of States of Public Emergency resulted in the reduction of murders and saved lives. The Government and the people of…