News from the OPM

“We are running the economy in such a way that we will care for the most vulnerable and the poor.” -Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poor economic management, a soaring inflation rate that reached 77%, government borrowing at high interest rates crowding out businesses, low growth, and the devastating FINSAC crisis that wiped out the business class in Jamaica; this was the condition of Jamaica under previous administrations. Prime Minister Holness urges that Jamaica must never go down that road again as he commits to a caring economy that looks after the poor and most vulnerable. In assuring Jamaicans that the government is listening and responding to their needs, Prime Minister Holness said only a strong economy, which this administration is building, can deliver for the Jamaican people, and they must protect it. While acknowledging the real concerns raised by Jamaicans, who have been suffering for 50 years, the Prime Minister says the government has started to improve Jamaican lives and will be doing even more to meet their needs. In looking at what more needs to be done so Jamaicans can feel greater improvements in their lives, the Prime Minister highlighted that no other government has been able to create…

The Vale Royal property is over 300 years old. It was renovated in the 1980s and designated as the official residence of the Prime Minister.  In recent times, successive Prime Ministers have not used it for this purpose as the facilities are insufficient.  In 2013, the building was assessed as having significant structural problems that would limit its use. The state of repair of the building is such that routine repair work would not be sufficient, and it would require extensive rehabilitation.   Given its status as a heritage site, options for its repair or rehabilitation must be carefully considered. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) has proposed that the facility be repurposed to include a library and museum that would be a repository of documents and memorabilia of all Prime Ministers of Jamaica. Another proposal involves the development of Vale Royal as a protocol complex, which will host dignitaries that visit Jamaica from time to time, or as was done previously, to host functions. A team from the JNHT recently conducted a site inspection and will be submitting a report for assessment.  The Government is currently in the process of effecting temporary protective works on the building. and evaluating proposals for future use considering its…

“We have found within the budget, even though we are drawing to the end of the budgeting period, a small amount of funds to assist with the cleanup of the beaches in Negril.” ________________________________________________ - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Andrew Holness says has the government has allocated funds to address the aftermath of a severe weather event that occurred two weeks ago in resort towns in the north-western region of the island. In a statement on Tuesday (February 15, 2024) during the Parliamentarians luncheon at Jamaica House, Prime Minister Holness stated: "We have the fiscal buffers. I can stand here and say we have found within the budget, even though we are drawing to the end of the budgeting period, a small amount of funds to assist with the cleanup of the beaches in Negril. We have found funds to reopen roads and we are now doing preliminary assessments as to what it would cost to repair the damage to our sea walls, the wave breaker and the groins in Ocho Rios." Expressing the urgency of the situation, Prime Minister Holness addressed the bureaucratic challenges in responding swiftly to emergencies within existing procurement rules, saying, "What we have…

“We have to change the legislation to create this understanding that gangs, violence and crime are a threat to the existence of the Jamaican State.” _________________________________________________ - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the twin issues of organized violence and crime are threats to the very existence of the Jamaican State. Prime Minister Holness is also stressing the need for greater understanding, a recalibration of perspectives and collaboration to effectively combat the multifaceted challenges faced by the nation. Speaking last week at the Annual Security Council Seminar, Prime Minister Holness highlighted that the problems faced by Jamaica are not unique to the nation and have transcended borders, even impacting countries traditionally considered crime-free. Explaining the complexity of the issue in modern algorithmic terms, the Prime Minister said: "The algorithm's terminology is saying that the present problems we have are as a result of the structure of society, economy, and politics. It is the things that we do that create the problem. We have to study it so that we can figure out what we need to do differently in order to create a new algorithm of peace, productivity, and prosperity." In that regard, the Prime Minister noted:…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has called on all Jamaicans to unite in prayer for the nation as the Lent season begins. The Prime Minister's comments came during the meeting of Cabinet on Monday (February 12, 2024) at the Office of the Prime Minister during a prayer session with the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches, where religious leaders prayed for the country, public servants, leaders, and the government. The Prime Minister said: "In discussions with members of the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches, it was agreed that I should encourage every Jamaican to take time out [to pray] this Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the period of time when we reflect and make personal sacrifice, which marks the start of the period when Jesus himself made the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. I therefore encourage all Jamaicans to pray for our nation." In this regard, the Prime Minister acknowledged that everyone may not have a special prayer, and reminded that the national anthem is a prayer in itself, emphasizing the personal connection with God and the power of supplication. The Prime Minister said “Prayer recognizes the limit of man, and man is humbled by the awesome power of God”. Meanwhile,…

In light of recent discussions and concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technologies on the integrity of Jamaica's democratic process, the Government of Jamaica wishes to reassure the public of its awareness and understanding of these issues. The emergence of AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes, has been recognized as a significant threat that could undermine the democratic process, especially as the country approaches crucial electoral milestones. Senator Dr. Dana Morris, Minister with responsibility for Skills and Digital Transformation in the Office of the Prime Minister, commented: "Central to the Administration is our commitment to preserving democracy and the democratic process. The government understands the critical importance of maintaining trust and transparency in our electoral system." The government is actively taking steps to formulate a comprehensive response to this emerging threat. A National AI task force, comprising experts and stakeholders from private sector, academia, civil society, and the public sector, was established in July 2023 to explore effective strategies for mitigating the risks posed by AI and deepfakes whilst safely unlocking opportunities. This task force is considering the beneficial applications of AI, ensuring that our approach balances innovation with the protection of our democratic values…

“The intention of the government is to be able to provide a housing solution to improve your conditions, making it safe and secure so that you can live a healthy and productive life.” _________________________________________________ -Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Andrew Holness has highlighted the urgency of tackling what he termed "shelter poverty," emphasizing the need to provide safe, secure, and hygienic living conditions for all citizens. In that regard, the Prime Minister noted that the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) is aimed at addressing the dire conditions in which a significant number of Jamaicans are living. "This social housing programme is designed to address the most extreme case of shelter poverty, and when we say shelter poverty, we mean persons who are living in housing conditions that are substandard," stated Prime Minister Holness. Speaking on Friday (February 2) in Eden District, Mocho, Clarendon, the Prime Minister further added that subpar houses are not safe for any citizen and are not conducive to living a productive life. He emphasized that the government's objective is to offer assistance and housing solutions to enhance living conditions, ensuring safety and security for a healthier life. Prime Minister Holness acknowledged that transforming the living…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has highlighted the fair and diverse modalities and protocols through which beneficiaries are selected for the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). Speaking at the New Social Housing Ribbon Cutting ceremony held on Friday, February 2, 2024, in Low Ground District in North Central Clarendon, Prime Minister Holness explained the government's commitment to providing affordable housing for Jamaicans in need. "People from all across Jamaica write to the Ministry of Housing. Sometimes they write into their local government as well through the Indigent Housing Programme, and those letters oftentimes end up on my desk for review after they have gone through some amount of filtering to make sure that the cases are genuine," said Prime Minister Holness. Thereafter, based upon resources, the analysis of needs, and the availability of land, the beneficiaries are selected. Mr. Donald Perkins, the latest recipient of the government's initiative, served as a poignant example of the programme's flexibility and accessibility. Highlighting Mr. Perkins' case, Prime Minister Holness noted, "The New Social Housing Programme is typically MP-driven, but this case is unique, as it originated from Mr. Perkins' initiative through his daughter's appeal directly to the government." Prime Minister Holness emphasized the programme’s…

“We care about our culture and entertainment, and so we are going to invest in them and that investment will yield greater productivity and greater prosperity.” ________________________________________________ - Prime Minister Holness The Government of Jamaica has officially launched the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI). The facility is poised to propel the growth and vitality of the local film and movie industries by establishing a substantial pool of funds dedicated to supporting eligible screen-based projects over the next two fiscal years. Speaking few weeks ago (January 31) at the Office of the Prime Minister Media Centre, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the core objectives of the one-billion-dollar financing initiative are to focus on providing opportunities for new, emerging, and established talent by creating more high-quality Jamaican content capable of competing in the global market. Prime Minister Holness emphasized the careful consideration given to the beneficial impacts of the fund. "We have had to weigh very carefully these decisions about funding by putting in place a system and a structure. We are not just going to fund foreign films that may qualify for expense rebates, but we will develop an ecosystem that will one day produce iconic movies,” said Prime Minister Holness.…