News from the OPM

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has outlined a national vision to expand access to high-quality public spaces across Jamaica, directing the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to establish a park in every parish. Speaking at the UDC Board Retreat on April 30, the Prime Minister emphasised that development must translate into tangible improvements in the daily lives of Jamaicans, particularly through accessible, well-designed recreational spaces. “The UDC must establish a park in every parish, and this is a mandate it is together carrying out with the NHT.” The initiative reflects a broader effort to ensure that citizens across the island can benefit from safe, attractive, and well-managed environments for recreation, community engagement, and wellness. The Prime Minister highlighted the transformative impact of developments like Harmony Beach Park, emphasising the role such spaces play in reshaping communities and enhancing the quality of life. Dr. Holness also instructed the UDC to identify and present lands suitable for development, underscoring the importance of efficient use of state assets. “The UDC must now come back to me with lands available for possible parks in each parish.” He reinforced the importance of timely execution and disciplined project management. In addition to parks, the…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has called on the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to embrace a transformative vision for Jamaica’s development, urging the agency to deliver projects that inspire national pride and reflect the country’s ambition in our post-independence era. Addressing the UDC Board Retreat in New Kingston today, April 30, the Prime Minister made it clear that Jamaica has entered a new phase of development that requires scale, confidence, and forward-thinking execution. “Be iconic. Build big things, great things, symbolic things that are indicative of our ambitions and the future we want to create." Dr. Holness emphasised that in addition to function, development in this era must create spaces and structures that shape identity, elevate standards, and signal Jamaica’s capacity to compete on a global stage. “We must not be afraid to build things. We must not be afraid of big successes.” The Prime Minister noted that Jamaica has already made significant progress in strengthening its fiscal position and institutional framework but stressed that the next phase must focus on delivery. “Jamaica is progressing in phases. We have achieved progress in fiscal management and institutional strengthening. The next phase must be to fix how institutions work…

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, has called for urgent and decisive parental intervention to address the growing incidence of violence and anti-social behaviour among students, warning that Jamaica is confronting a broader erosion of core social values. The Prime Minister made the call while delivering remarks at the Sabbath Worship Convention under the Proclamations of Hope Youth Empowerment Series on Saturday, April 25, 2026, where he addressed parents, youth, and church leaders on the shifting social realities facing the nation. Emphasising the critical role of the family in shaping behaviour and values, Dr. Holness underscored the need for stronger parental involvement in guiding young people. “Parents must assume a more active and deliberate role in the upbringing of their children. The pace at which our society is changing, driven by rapid access to information and shifting global influences, is outstripping the reinforcement of values that traditionally guide behaviour,” the Prime Minister stated. He further stated that “Without that foundation, we risk raising a generation that is exposed to knowledge but lacks the context, discipline, and moral grounding to apply it responsibly.” Dr. Holness pointed to troubling behaviours emerging within schools, including gambling, vaping, bullying, and instances of…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness says the Government of Jamaica does not build houses, emphasising that housing delivery is undertaken by contractors engaged through structured and legally defined arrangements. The Prime Minister was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Galina Housing Development in St. Mary, where he underscored the central role of contractors in national development, particularly as the Government scales up its housing and development programme. Prime Minister Holness indicates that contractors are essential partners in the achievement of Jamaica’s housing targets and must expand their capacity in line with the country’s growing demand for housing solutions. He notes that as the Government increases its investment in housing development, the contracting sector must also evolve to meet the scale and pace required. He is urging the development of a stronger local contracting class that operates at an enterprise level, with the systems, structure, and capacity to deliver large-scale projects efficiently. The Prime Minister highlights the importance of professionalism and the integration of technology to support the increasing volume of capital works being brought to market. While noting that the Government continues and will continue to make preferential arrangements for local contractors, Prime Minister Holness emphasises…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness says accelerating the pace of housing delivery is critical to addressing rising housing costs, as Jamaica continues to address a significant housing deficit. Prime Minister Holness was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Galina Housing Development in St. Mary, where he highlighted the scale of the country’s housing need and the implications for affordability. Dr. Holness noted that Jamaica’s housing requirement is estimated at approximately 150,000 units, representing thousands of households in need of structured, planned housing solutions. While housing units are being added to the market on an ongoing basis, he indicated that the current rate of delivery remains insufficient to meet demand. Prime Minister Holness explained that this imbalance between supply and demand continues to drive increases in housing prices, pointing out that in a deficit environment, costs will rise and often outpace inflation. The Prime Minister warned that if the housing gap is not addressed in a sustained and meaningful way, prices will continue to move beyond the reach of many Jamaicans. Against this background, the Prime Minister continues to urge a significant expansion in housing output, with a focus on building more units at a faster pace…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness says addressing Jamaica’s housing challenges is critical to reducing the growth of informal settlements and safeguarding the country’s long-term development. The Prime Minister was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Galina Housing Development in St. Mary, where he highlighted the risks associated with the expansion of unplanned communities. He notes that the culture of informality in housing poses significant challenges for national development. He warns that this approach limits the future of the country, as many individuals are constructing homes in areas that are unsafe or unsuitable for residential use. Prime Minister Holness explains that these settlements are often established in locations that are not properly serviced, making it costly and complex for the Government to later provide essential infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and waste management systems. He further indicates that in some instances, these developments encroach on lands designated for critical public use, including school zones. The Prime Minister emphasizes that expanding access to structured, planned housing solutions is therefore essential to guiding orderly development and reducing the risks associated with informal settlement. He notes that delivering housing at the scale required remains a significant undertaking, pointing out…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness on Friday broke ground for a $1.99 billion National Housing Trust (NHT) housing development in Dirlton, St. Mary, which will deliver 360 housing solutions across 72 acres, advancing the Government’s national housing agenda and expanding access to affordable home ownership. The development, located near Galina, Port Maria, and Oracabessa, is designed to bring formal housing within reach of Jamaican families while strengthening economic activity and community stability across the parish. Prime Minister Holness emphasized that the project forms part of a deliberate and coordinated national strategy to address Jamaica’s housing deficit, expand access to land ownership, and ensure that economic growth is inclusive. Central to achieving this objective is the NHT’s Developers Programme, under which a minimum of 60 percent of affordable housing solutions are reserved for the lowest-income contributors to the NHT. “This ensures the benefits of development are not captured by a few but distributed broadly across the society,” Dr. Holness said. The Prime Minister highlighted that the Galina housing solutions are designed with both quality and affordability at the forefront. The units will feature modern fixtures, durable construction, and essential infrastructure, including paved roads, drainage systems, potable water, sewage…

  “I want to be clear that when it comes to development, development has no colour. Every Jamaican has an equal claim to the country's tax revenues.” - Prime Minister Andrew Holness Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has reinforced the Government’s commitment to fair, inclusive, and people-centred development, ensuring that every Jamaican benefits equally from national progress as transformation continues in communities across the island. The Prime Minister has made it clear that development under his Administration is guided by equity and national unity, not political affiliation. Speaking today (April 24, 2026) at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in the Hills of Spicy Grove, St. Mary, the Prime Minister emphasized that taxpayer resources belong to all Jamaicans and must be used to improve lives across every community. “I want to be clear that when it comes to development, development has no colour. Every Jamaican has an equal claim to the country's tax revenues. We are making improvements, we are making steps, community by community, we are improving. And every Jamaican can feel confident that it does not matter what their political persuasion is. Taxpayer money equal to Labourite and PNP,” said Dr. Holness. The Prime Minister highlighted Spicy Grove…

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness is encouraging the newly elected executive of Generation 2000 (G2K) to contribute meaningfully to national discourse by bringing fresh, forward-looking perspectives to the issues shaping Jamaica’s future. The call was made by Dr. Holness during a meeting with the new executive on April 22, 2026, where he reflected on the origins and evolution of the organisation as a platform for engaging young professionals in national development. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of preserving the organisation’s founding purpose, even as it continues to evolve over time. “G2K was conceived as a movement of young people who wanted to contribute to Jamaica’s development through new ideas and perspectives,” Dr. Holness said. “It is important to pay attention to organization, but not at the expense of the mandate to contribute meaningfully to national development.” Dr. Holness noted that G2K has, over the years, played an important role in leadership development and in broadening participation in national discussions. He encouraged the new executive to build on that foundation by remaining responsive to emerging issues and continuing to engage young professionals across the country. “Each generation must bring its own perspective to the challenges of its…