News from the OPM

In a moment marked by sheer anticipation, excitement, and historic significance, over 3,000 proud residents of St. Thomas gathered on Thursday (May 15) to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Morant Bay Urban Centre, the single most sophisticated and expansive development the parish has ever seen. Traffic stretched for more than a mile, back to the neighbouring community of White Horses as the crowd swelled around the perimeter, mobile phones raised high to capture every moment of what many are calling the rebirth of a parish long overshadowed. Onlookers took in the rich cultural tapestry of St. Thomas through the lively notes of a traditional mento band, the rhythmic energy of kumina dancers, and a dazzling display of the parish’s history, a true celebration of heritage meeting progress. Situated on approximately 436,000 square feet of land, once home to the old Goodyear Factory, the Morant Bay Urban Centre now rises as a bold, transformative milestone in Jamaica’s development journey. This historic project fully led by the Andrew Holness administration introduces a fully integrated commercial hub that merges public and private sector services in one modern location. The opening of the Centre stands as a powerful statement, not just of what has been…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has assured Jamaicans that their long-standing water issues are being decisively addressed, as his administration ramps up investments and accelerates infrastructure upgrades to deliver reliable water supply to communities across the island. Speaking on Wednesday (May 14) at the groundbreaking for the J$592 million Munroe Road to Seaview Avenue Pipeline Project in St. Andrew, Prime Minister Holness made it clear that the work being done is the result of strong governance, sound economic management, and deliberate planning by the current administration. “This is the administration that is changing how things have been. We are spending. We are increasing capital allocation to water in the National Water Commission’s (NWC) budget several times over. So, it means that the pace of bringing water to your community has increased,” the Prime Minister stated. The Prime Minister was direct in addressing public concerns and frustrations over delayed water access in some communities, emphasizing that while not all areas will benefit at once, the government is working tirelessly to accelerate delivery to many residents. “Even if we had a trillion dollars to spend on water, we could not all at once provide every single community with water. Your frustration with…

Prime Minister the Dr. Andrew Holness has issued a directive to the Ministers of Agriculture and Tourism to collaborate closely with stakeholders in the tourism industry to strengthen the integration between Jamaica’s agricultural sector and the growing tourism market. Speaking on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) at the Opening Session of the 8th International Technical Symposium of the Caribbean Poultry Association at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the importance of ensuring that Jamaica’s farmers are positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the tourism industry, which attracts more than four million visitors annually. “We have directed the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Tourism to work with the tourism sector to ensure that there is strong coordination between agriculture and tourism. We must never see the market for our product as just three million Jamaicans. We are having over four million visitors coming to Jamaica every year,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister highlighted that the agricultural sector must be equipped to feed the local population and serve the expanding tourism market with authentic Jamaican produce. This effort is part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable commercial ecosystem where farmers are supported through…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has announced a bold investment initiative to bolster the agriculture sector. The move will also improve youth workforce development through an expanded apprenticeship programme. The Prime Minister’s initiative will see more than 300 young Jamaicans receiving hands-on training in critical sectors such as agriculture and food processing. Speaking on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) at the Opening Session of the Caribbean Poultry Association 8th International Technical Symposium at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the government’s commitment to both physical infrastructure and human capital. The Prime Minister said: “The government's investment in infrastructure is critical to the efficiency of the poultry industry and ultimately to the moderation, and possibly the reduction in the cost of poultry to the consumer, seeing that poultry is such a large part of the consumer basket. Now, we're not only investing in the physical infrastructure, but during my budget presentation, I announced several measures to address workforce development, because more and more, agriculture is becoming a very technical engagement.” The new apprenticeship programme will engage youth in structured training experiences with industry professionals and provide them with stipends and savings programmes. The initiative is designed not only to build technical…

“Where we are in the society, our laws need to favour the protection of life and the protection of the victim rather than trying to protect the criminals. It is time that the society draws a clear line that we must eliminate the criminals from our society. They mean you no good.” – Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has committed that the Government will review the legislation on sexual offences, specifically the sex offender registry. Speaking on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11) on Job Lane, Spanish Town, while on a visit to the home of nine-year-old Kelsey Cassidy Ferrigon, who was assaulted and killed. Prime Minister Holness reassured members of the community that everything is being done to bring the perpetrator to justice. The Ministry of National Security has announced a two-million-dollar reward for information leading to the capture of the person responsible. The police have also named a person of interest in the matter. Prime Minister Holness praised residents for playing their part in giving information to the police to assist with the investigation. Dr. Holness said the Government is listening and will review aspects of the sex offender registry. “This incident must be considered…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to addressing Jamaica’s housing challenges by accelerating the pace of housing developments, especially for the middle to low-income households. Prime Minister Holness emphasized that the government is taking active and strategic steps through a mix of private-public partnerships, expanded construction, and targeted social interventions to meet its target of 70,000 housing solutions. Dr. Holness highlighted that the Government is supporting low-income families through the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), which targets the most vulnerable Jamaicans. An estimated 6,000 Jamaicans are currently living in some of the most deplorable housing conditions across the island. “So far, we have either constructed and delivered or have currently under construction, approximately 330 units. So, we are moving steadily towards reducing that number and we will be scaling up very rapidly,” Dr. Holness said. In addition to social housing, the Prime Minister highlighted the broader momentum in the housing sector. “The truth is that the housing market is doing quite well particularly for private houses and private developments, but where we do have a challenge is in providing affordable housing and low-income housing solutions,” the Prime Minister noted. To tackle this, the Government is…

Prime Minister Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness says teachers play an indispensable role in building a modern, competitive Jamaica and building the country's human capital. As the nation’s economic landscape evolves, the Prime Minister made it clear that the greatest challenge to growth is no longer financial; it is human capacity. Speaking on Wednesday (May 7, 2025), Teacher’s Day, to the Students and Teachers at the Mico University College, the Prime Minister declared: “This is now the primary constraint on our growth. Not capital, less so infrastructure, but people. The capacity, productivity, and readiness of our workforce”.   Big things are happening in Jamaica With Jamaica boasting record-low unemployment of 3.7% and strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals, the demand for highly skilled labour such as engineers, healthcare workers, IT professionals, and, critically, qualified teachers, has surged. Addressing this labour shortage, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that education must lead the charge in building national resilience and opportunity. “This is why human capital development is a central pillar in our national growth strategy. Under the ASPIRE framework, our comprehensive plan for economic transformation, the ‘P’ stands for people and human capital development. We are putting people at the heart of our growth model…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has underscored the pivotal role of education in shaping Jamaica’s labour force and propelling the country’s development agenda. Speaking on Wednesday (May 7) at Mico University College on Teachers’ Day, Prime Minister Holness stated that Jamaica’s economy has transitioned from traditional industries to a predominantly service-based economy, now comprising over 70 percent of national output. “The next step for growth requires a transformation in our education system. To improve our service economy, we must improve our people, and that begins with education,” the Prime Minister declared. Prime Minister Holness underscored the urgency of building a well-trained, well-equipped labour force that can meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy. The Prime Minister stressed that the country must go beyond educating for the past and instead focus on future readiness. “We simply cannot educate our young people for the past. We must equip them for the future. That means redesigning our curriculum, rethinking how we use technology in the classroom, integrating STEM and digital literacy at all levels, and investing in soft skills of communication, empathy, and critical thinking.” The Prime Minister outlined several strategic investments being made to support this vision, including upgrading teacher-training…

“What we are doing now is not radical. It is overdue. This is a process based on partnership, not punishment. It is about building trust and creating systems that empower educators to do their best work, and to be recognized and rewarded for it.” - Prime Minister Holness The Government has committed to further dialogue on the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill. This as Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness reiterated the government's dedication to elevating the teaching profession. Speaking today, Teachers’ Day (May 7) at Mico University College, Prime Minister Holness emphasized that the legislation seeks to establish a robust institutional framework for accountability and standards within the teaching profession. “We cannot continue to treat teaching as less than a profession. It is absolutely important that we professionalize and bring the institutional framework to create the profession of teaching in Jamaica,” stated Prime Minister Holness. Acknowledging concerns raised by educators and stakeholders, Prime Minister Holness assured that the government is open to dialogue. “Let me assure everyone that the government I lead is a listening government, and to the extent that there are concerns about aspects of the bill, we are willing to listen and engage in meaningful dialogue to…