News from the OPM

Gazette - Proclamation St Ann, Clarendon, St Catherine, KSA Dec 28, 2022

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says at the current rate of road traffic fatalities on our nation’s roads, it is without question that Jamaica is now facing a road traffic crisis. Noting that the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, proclaimed 2021-2030 the “Decade of Action for Road Safety”, under which the aim is to prevent at least 50 percent of road traffic death and injuries by 2030, the Prime Minister said it is clear that if things continue as they are, Jamaica is at risk of missing this target and possibly doubling our current rate of road traffic deaths. The Prime Minister said, “Frankly this is cause for concern and I believe every well-thinking Jamaican would agree it is a national crisis.” Prime Minister Holness noted that in 2021 there were 487 road fatalities, representing the highest number of Jamaicans who have died through crashes in the last decade.  He said road crashes have significant personal and economic impacts on families and the implications, both personal and financial, carry long into the future, with families dealing with the terrible pain and financial losses that come with the sudden and untimely loss of their loved ones, including breadwinners. The Prime Minister noted…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, this morning addressed the National Road Safety Council, where he outlined the transition policy for license holders who have accrued outstanding tickets. Prime Minister Holness expressed his concern that there may be members of the public who are misled to believe that a general amnesty has been granted and that they are not required to address outstanding tickets. He emphasized that the public should carefully note that no general amnesty has been declared and no special provisions have been made to facilitate any particular group. To manage the implementation of the new Road Traffic Act, which was passed in 2018, the Government of Jamaica established a multi-agency task force which has been working to streamline the traffic ticket management system. This work will result in: the automatic and accurate update of the ticket database through the expanded use of electronic tickets; a complete and robust database of tickets issued; the automatic and timely issuing of warrants; the automatic suspension of licenses by the Island Traffic Authority due to accumulation of demerit points; an accessible database of suspended or revoked licenses; and the denial of renewal of licenses where there are outstanding tickets. Ultimately, this will mean…

After wide-ranging deliberations and consultations with various government agencies and departments in relation to the implementation of the New Road Traffic Act in February of 2023, Cabinet yesterday (December 12, 2022) gave definitive instructions as it relates to the RTA’s implementation and the launch of the new Traffic Ticket Management System. Cabinet, being cognizant of the overwhelming public demand for the effective implementation of the Road Traffic Act 2018 and a transparent and accountable Traffic Ticket Management System decided that; Legislative steps will be taken to render all demerit points and tickets accrued up to February 1, 2018, null and as such they will not be transitioned to the RTA 2018 Provided that the tickets accrued after February 1, 2018, are paid before February 1, 2023, demerit points will be expunged upon the implementation of the RTA 2018 Cabinet wishes to advise the public that as of February 1, 2023, with the new RTA and the new Traffic Ticket Management System, there will be greater efficiency with a fully digitised process. Cabinet also noted that over the last several years the government has done significant work to build out a robust infrastructure to ensure the proper implementation of the RTA…

“Emergency Powers have always been an executive tool and will only be used when the circumstances require them.” - Prime Minister Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness says a State of Emergency will continue to be an Executive power that will be available to Government.Acting under the constitution and the advice of the heads of the security forces, the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen declared a State of Emergency in the parishes of  Clarendon, St Catherine, St James, Westmoreland, Hanover, and sections of Kingston and St Andrew and St. Ann. During a media briefing this morning (December 6, 2022) to announce the security measure, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said there will always be need for SOEs. The Prime Minister explained that other countries such as El Salvador and Nicaragua have ongoing States of Public Emergency to assist in crime-fighting efforts. However, he stressed that the reality is, a SOE is an important tool that the Executive arm of Government can utilise for the purpose which it is intended. Prime Minister Holness stated:“Is it something that we want to do forever and ever? Absolutely not. But in the modern world, our constitution needs to be upgraded so that those powers can be easily and effectively used when the circumstances…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, along with the Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, met with senior officials of the United States Justice Department, which hosted a high-level meeting of law enforcement and security agencies to discuss the growing threat of transnational criminal gangs, organized criminal violence and the trafficking of illegal guns into Jamaica. The Prime Minister addressed the working meeting hosted by Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Counselor for International Affairs, Bruce Swatrz. Also in attendance were Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary, Barbara Feinstein and several executives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Organized Crime and Gang Section of the Department of Justice, the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program. The meeting reviewed existing programmes and partnerships, identified gaps to be closed and explored new opportunities to advance collaboration. In addition, there was commitment for greater and more effective information sharing. As part of this information sharing thrust, Jamaican law enforcement has identified to US law enforcement a number of Jamaican criminal actors residing in the United States, who are directing, soliciting, or financing crime in…

“The threat is even more urgent to small developing states, where gangs have greater capacity to capture the state” - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (December 7, 2022) used the Congressional/Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum in Washington D.C, convened by Congressman Robert Pittenger, to draw greater attention to the growing threat of criminal gangs and organized transnational crime networks to national security, human rights, and democracy. During his presentation, the Prime Minister noted that the threat is even more urgent for small developing states, such as Jamaica, where gangs have greater capacity to capture the state. The Prime Minister said: “The threat is not unique to Jamaica, several countries in the region face the same problem to differing degrees, the extreme case being Haiti. It is important that our partners understand the threat, but more importantly, they must understand and respect our right to protect our people and our state.” Prime Minister Holness said as Jamaica moves boldly to overcome criminally organized violence, it is important to inform and engage international partners. The Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum was established to have regular discussions among members of Congress and Parliamentarians and representatives across the globe to facilitate learning, cooperation,…

People who complain about SOEs are not the people who benefit from them - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that the States of Public Emergency (SOE) have been reimplemented in Clarendon, St Catherine, St James, Westmoreland, Hanover and sections of Kingston and St Andrew.  St Ann has also been put under a SOE. The Prime Minister underscored that the reimposition of the SOE follows the effectiveness of those which were previously implemented which saw significant reduction in the crime and homicide rates in the targeted areas as well as nationally. During the 14-day period of the SOE, homicides declined to 31 islandwide (a 46% decline). In the areas under the SOE, 17 homicides were recorded, (a 64% decrease). The Prime Minister said when SOEs are declared, persons in “violence-plagued communities feel safer, and the impact tends to be immediate.” He said: “The people who complain about the SOEs are not the people who benefit from them. [The ones who benefit are] those who have to hide under their beds, hide their daughters, can’t go to church and who see their sons, their boyfriends and husbands killed. That’s the reality.” Further, Prime Minister Holness noted the vote…

The Andrew Holness-led Administration is committed to changing Jamaica’s healthcare sector by increasing investments in critical infrastructure and encouraging citizens to take personal responsibility for their health Residents of Chapelton, Clarendon and neighbouring communities will no longer have to travel to the May Pen Hospital to receive health care as the Chapelton Community Hospital is now open after it was closed in 2019 to facilitate extensive renovations. The Chapelton Community Hospital, formerly known as the Chapelton Hospital serves Chapelton and several surrounding communities including Summerfield,  Beckford Kraal, Thompson Town, Mocho, Frankfield, Kellits, Crofts Hill, Nine Turns, Effort, Smithville, Blackwoods and other communities. Speaking at the reopening ceremony yesterday (December 6, 2022) the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the completion of the renovations and said the impact on the communities served by the hospital will be particularly significant. In encouraging users to utilize the facility to look after their health, and to practice lifestyle activities that support good health, Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that Jamaicans need a social and cultural transformation in relation to our view of health. He said there are many culturally ingrained practices that have been detrimental to our health, with many associating prosperity with overindulgence in…