News from the OPM

 “My administration remains committed to building on our successes, creating an environment where businesses can thrive, investments can flourish, and all Jamaicans can benefit from economic progress.” - Prime Minister Holness -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced a series of transformative economic measures designed to transition Jamaica to greater sustainable growth. These strategies, focused on tax reform, investment stimulation, and cost-reduction initiatives, underscore the Government’s commitment to fostering prosperity for all Jamaicans. Speaking at the 20th Regional Investments & Capital Markets Conference hosted by the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday (January 21, 2025), the Prime Minister stated: “My administration remains committed to building on our successes, creating an environment where businesses can thrive, investments can flourish, and all Jamaicans can benefit from economic progress. Together, we will achieve peace, productivity, and prosperity.” The Prime Minister further noted: “Despite facing the worst global health and economic crisis in a century, my administration has delivered nine consecutive budgets with no new taxes, alongside significant tax reductions and givebacks, a remarkable achievement for a developing country.” He also emphasized that these measures aim to simplify processes, enhance efficiency, and drive competitiveness across all sectors of the economy. Key initiatives announced include: Tax Reform:…

“We are committed to addressing these [road] challenges with urgency and determination through both immediate actions and comprehensive long-term planning.” -Prime Minister Holness  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says the Government of Jamaica remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the nation’s road infrastructure challenges. Recognizing the significant impact of prolonged rainfall in 2024, comprehensive and strategic approaches have been adopted to provide immediate relief while laying the groundwork for sustainable and resilient road networks. Speaking in the Parliament on Tuesday (January 21, 2025), Prime Minister Holness outlined the Government’s strategy. “The Government is doing both the patching and full rehabilitation of the roads. We are patching the roads, we are making the road surface drivable, and that is a $6.5 billion allocation in the budget. We have another programme called the SPARK programme, which is designed to rehabilitate and upgrade the entirety of the road. It sometimes includes putting in water pipes and some amount of intersection improvement, road furniture where necessary, support infrastructure, retaining walls, and more.” In response to the urgent needs created by adverse weather conditions, the Government allocated $6.5 billion toward a comprehensive restoration strategy. This includes $5 billion for road surface repairs…

-Prime Minister outlines bold vision to establish Jamaica as a global training hub for healthcare professionals "We have to create a system where we can leverage the talent that has been exported to come back to Jamaica and support our local healthcare system.” - Prime Minister Holness ----------------------------------------------------------------------------   Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Andrew Holness says the Government remains committed to strengthening Jamaica’s health sector through targeted investments in human capital and training capabilities. The Prime Minister also noted that the Government will also address the pressing challenge of migration, particularly in the health sector. Dr. Holness emphasized that improving healthcare delivery requires more than just infrastructure upgrades. "We recognize that in the health system, we can improve the infrastructure, and we can improve the facilities. But to get the cure in health, we have to build the human capacity, and that is what today is about in the transformation exercise," the Prime Minister stated. As part of its strategy to bolster the health sector, the Government has introduced initiatives such as the Barry Witt Scholarships to train the next generation of healthcare professionals. The first ever, Career and Employment Expo where 600 vacant posts throughout the Ministry…

-Prime Minister urges greater care in the sector Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has called for greater empathy and compassion in Jamaica’s health sector, emphasizing that delivering quality care goes beyond improving facilities. Speaking at the inaugural Health & Wellness Career Expo & Employment Fair yesterday (January 22) Prime Minister Holness underscored the importance of emotional connection and understanding in addressing public concerns about healthcare. “Clearly, if you have a brand-new hospital that has more bed space, the care will improve. Your waiting time would reduce, especially if you improve facilities. But the real care that I hear people are complaining about as a pain point in this transformation process is that somehow, they feel that the health professionals don't care emotionally, empathetically about their patients,” Prime Minister Holness stated. While acknowledging the challenges faced by patients, Dr. Holness urged Jamaicans to recognize the dedication of healthcare professionals who serve under demanding circumstances. “We must be careful that we don't allow these exceptional cases to unfairly colour, devalue, and demotivate the hard work and sacrifice of our healthcare professionals. At the same time, I implore our healthcare professionals to appreciate and understand that many of our patients have their challenges…

Today, the Government and people of Jamaica proudly welcome the historic decision of the Government of the United States of America to grant posthumous clemency to our nation’s first National Hero, The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887–1940). This is a momentous step toward righting a grave historical wrong committed against one of the most significant civil rights leaders and Pan-Africanists in history. Garvey, a son of the soil, was unjustly convicted of mail fraud in 1923 and sentenced to five years of imprisonment—a conviction that tarnished the legacy of a visionary leader whose life was dedicated to the empowerment of people of African descent. While his sentence was commuted by President Calvin Coolidge in 1927, successive Jamaican governments have worked tirelessly to have his name fully cleared. This decision represents not just a victory for Jamaica but for justice, truth, and humanity. As Prime Minister, I consider this clemency a first step toward the total exoneration and expungement of this historical injustice. In 2018, our Administration passed The National Heroes and Other Freedom Fighters (Absolution from Criminal Liability in Respect of Specified Acts) Act, clearing the records of Jamaica’s National Heroes and freedom fighters who were wrongfully accused and…

Prime Minister Stresses Collaborative Environment to Ease Inflation on Consumers "You can have confidence that this government will make the best decisions for the people of Jamaica, for the consumers of Jamaica, and for those whose duty and job it is to create investments in Jamaica." - Prime Minister Holness ------------------------------------------------------------------ Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fostering an economic environment conducive to investment, describing it as the best in decades. Speaking on Wednesday (January 15) at the opening of Caribbean Broilers (CB) Group’s state-of-the-art Air Chill Poultry Processing Plant, The Nest, Dr. Holness highlighted the importance of maintaining investor confidence while ensuring economic equity. “I am happy to hear that you [CB Group] are going to make further investments in the country. The reason for that confidence in Jamaica is that you know that the government in place, will never do anything to destroy the economic environment that creates the confidence to invest. And for all who are planning to invest in the future, you can have confidence that this government will make the best decisions for the people of Jamaica, for the consumers of Jamaica, and for those whose duty and…

- Rejects Auditor General’s Findings on New Social Housing Programme Prime Minister Andrew Holness has unequivocally rejected the findings of the Auditor General’s report on the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), defending the programme as a well-structured and transparent initiative that has operated without any misappropriation, duplication, or corruption. Prime Minister Holness explained that while the government has multiple avenues for providing housing support, the NSHP has a unique mandate and operates with robust systems to ensure transparency and efficiency. “The New Social Housing Programme is carefully designed. First of all, we build on lands that are provided by the beneficiary. That’s a clear distinction. The programme addresses critical needs for those below the poverty line, those whose homes were destroyed by disasters, and those living in tenement yards, with no overlap in mandate with other programmes.” The Prime Minister has also dismissed claims of inefficiency or duplication, highlighting the programme’s rigorous beneficiary identification system, which ensures that resources are directed only to those who qualify. “We have established a very robust beneficiary identification system. Oftentimes, we send a social investigator to look at the circumstances of the individual. This system works very well in the PATH programme, the NSHP,…

At today’s Post Cabinet Press Briefing, the Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce (MIIC), Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill issued a call to Jamaica’s private sector to deepen its engagement with the Ministry in shaping policies that drive economic growth and national development. Speaking at the briefing, the Business Minister emphasized the critical role of public-private partnerships in addressing economic challenges and seizing emerging opportunities for Jamaicans. “To achieve sustainable growth in accordance with the ASPIRE strategy, we must ensure that the voices of our private sector stakeholders are at the heart of our policy-making process. Collaborating closely with the MIIC will allow the Government to craft policies that are both innovative and practical, enabling businesses to thrive while meeting the nation’s development goals. My door is open. The Ministry’s door is open. We are ready to work all stakeholders to build a better Jamaica” – Minister Aubyn Hill The Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce will continue creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment for our business community and Jamaica.

At a January 15, 2025, Post Cabinet Press Briefing, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill encouraged micro, small and medium side enterprises to participate in the upcoming MSME Business Roadshow. In partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce (MIIC), will have its first stop on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the Twickenham Park Church of the Open Bible, starting at 9:00 a.m. This initiative aims to empower MSMEs with strategic networking opportunities, access to financing, and digital solutions to enhance productivity and growth. Over 15 booths will provide resources from MIIC agencies, including JBDC, JAMPRO, Trade Board, and JIPO, offering support on business development, export preparation, and intellectual property rights. Furthermore, the 2025 Roadshow will make stops in key locations to ensure broad access for MSME owners. Locations are as follows: St. Catherine - January 16 Clarendon - February 20 St. Elizabeth - March 6 In addition to networking opportunities and access to resources and solutions, this year’s staging will feature Micro- and Small-Business Pitch Competitions. Participants will compete for cash grants of $400,000 for small businesses and $200,000 for micro businesses, providing critical funding to improve operations…