News from the OPM

“We are targeting to do more in 2024. We are targeting to do at minimum 500 New Social Housing Programme units in the 2024 financial year” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Prime Minister Holness The Government is moving to increase the number of social housing units for vulnerable persons and those in need. Prime Minister Andrew Holness on January 8 officially announced that the government will increase the budget for the New Social Housing Programme to complete 500 units for the poor and indigent in the population. The Prime Minister was speaking at the handing over of the first New Social Housing Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the year in St. James. “We plan to increase the budget for the New Social Housing Programme and the Indigent Housing Programme this year so that we can get to more Jamaicans. We're targeting to do more in 2024, we’re targeting to do at minimum 500 New Social Housing Programme in 2024/2025 financial year,” said Prime Minister Holness. In this regard, the Prime Minister underscored that more advanced building modalities will be used to meet this target. “The Construction methodology used is quite expensive and we have to find newer methodologies, better technology and more cost-effective technology…

“We're going to have to treat this issue of peace in a deliberate and non-political way. We have to join together to treat with peace because our society is in conflict.” – Prime Minister Holness ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the issue of peace will be handled deliberately in a non-political way involving all stakeholders in society including the church. “We're going to have to treat this issue of peace in a deliberate and non-political way. We have to join together to treat with peace because our society is in conflict, we have personal conflicts, we have conflicts at the workplace and conflicts in the community. When we analyze the murder statistics, we find that gang murders have gone down and interpersonal crime resulting in murder is going up. It tells a story that personal conflict is resulting in the violent loss of life. So, we have to, as a government; as peers, JLP and PNP, join together to deal with this issue of violence,” said Prime Minister Holness.Importantly, the Prime Minister noted that though the murder rate in 2023 declined by 7.8% and serious crimes were at the lowest in 22 years, at 4500, compared to being as high as 9000 reported serious crimes;…

"No one will be left behind. We will further expand economic activity and make the necessary investments in human capital and security to support economic expansion. This will give us the ability to do more for you in 2024." - Prime Minister Holness--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Holness has highlighted Jamaica’s impressive economic achievements in the face of global challenges and underscored a vision for 2024 that includes increasing productivity and ensuring prosperity for all citizens. In his 2024 New Year’s message, Prime Minister Holness said the robust economic performance experienced by Jamaica showed the country's resilience in the wake of the global pandemic. "We have been able to undertake these transformational projects and recover strongly from the pandemic because we have been good stewards of the economy. Our economy has recorded ten consecutive quarters of positive economic growth since the pandemic, a record low unemployment rate of 4.5%, and net international reserves at US$4.5 billion as of November 2023,” stated Prime Minister Holness. He also added that the first quarter of 2023 saw a remarkable 55% increase in export earnings and a projected debt-to-GDP ratio of approximately 74% by the end of this fiscal year. Looking ahead to the prospects for 2024, Prime Minister Holness…

Remarks By The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Townhall in Washington DC on December 4, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------  As I survey the in-house audience, and I look at those who have joined us virtually online, first, let me wish you all a happy season.  Well, let me just say Merry Christmas when it comes. Merry Christmas when it comes. These days you try to be as politically correct as possible but look, we've grown up with saying Merry Christmas when it comes. I am particularly looking forward to Christmas this year. I'm hoping to get a few days break. It may not materialize, but well, I am looking forward to Christmas, but I don't take your presence for granted. It is a pretty cold weather here and you have come out in your numbers to be with me directly, personally, and I appreciate that. And it is always fascinating that wherever I go, wherever I travel, there is a community of Jamaicans who feel that it is their duty, their patriotic duty to come out and represent to identify themselves. You know, you'd be in a sea of foreigners, and you must show…

Update on Water By The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At The Sitting of the House of Representatives On October 31, 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr Speaker, these documents are normally circulated in a physical copy so the members can be assured that they will have a physical copy of it. Mr Speaker, I rise to provide an update to this honourable House on some matters related to the issue of water. It is to provide an update to this honourable house on some matters related to the issue of water. In the last 12 months, Jamaica has suffered the effects of significant reductions in its average rainfall. This is a result of both our change in climate and the El Nino rainfall, the El Nino phenomenon rather. Members of this House should recall my statement on the drought which I made in February of this year and the outline response of the government. However, I think it's important, Mr Speaker, to remind members of how severe our drought really was prior to the rains we thankfully received in this month, October 2023. In October 2022 to March 2023, Jamaica received cumulatively the lowest rainfall ever…

Minister with Responsibility for Skills and Digital Transformation, the Hon. Dr. Dana Morris- Dixon, has advised that all Data Controllers will be given a six-month grace period to register with the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC). She noted, however, that they may begin registering with the OIC tomorrow, December 1, 2023, the official implementation date of the Data Protection Act, by visiting the official OIC website at www.oic.gov.jm. Speaking during the eGov Jamaica’s Flagship Digital Government Technology Showcase, yesterday, November 29, 2023, Minister Morris-Dixon said, “Many entities have said we need some more time to be compliant with the Data Protection Act and, as a consequence, the administration is giving them more time. So we do start December 1 with the Data Protection Act coming into effect, but companies will have a grace period within which to register; a six month period.” In keeping with this pronouncement, the OIC is encouraging persons who have been implementing the necessary organisational and technical measures to comply with the Data Protection Act and are ready to register to start the registration process tomorrow. Instructions on how to register will be posted on the OIC’s website. Other persons who are not yet prepared…

“One by one, we will review the services of our TAJ of our RGD, and every other entity and we will digitize them to give every Jamaican easy access anywhere, anytime at their convenience. That is what it means to do IT right. The administration is working assiduously to bring the benefits of the digital agenda to all Jamaicans, including persons with disabilities, no one will be left behind." Senator Dana Morris-Dixon --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The government is taking a proactive approach to global technological advancement and sees it as an opportunity for growth, innovation, and exploration of new frontiers. Senator the Honourable Dr Dana Morris Dixon, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Skills and Digital Transformation says the government is leading Jamaica through the 5th Industrial Revolution towards a stronger, more resilient, innovative, equitable and prosperous nation, while ensuring no Jamaican is left behind. The Minister said, “This administration will leave no Jamaican behind and we will not force anything on our people. We will take the time to explain and provide the tools to enable Jamaicans to participate in a digital society. We will do everything to help you on the digital journey. That…

States of Public Emergency (SOE) have been declared across the entire parishes of Hanover and St. James as well as St. Catherine and Clarendon. This crucial decision, announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, underscores the government's commitment to the safety and security of Jamaicans. The Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen, authorized these SOEs upon the advice of the Commissioner of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff. The SOEs will initially last for 14 days, commencing at 12:01 on November 23, 2023. Major General Antony Anderson, Commissioner of Police, outlined the alarming situation in these divisions: “The Clarendon Police Division recorded the fifth-highest number of murders (99) among all police divisions, marking a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2022. Clarendon and St. Catherine, being adjoining parishes, intensify our concerns, accounting for 24% of the nation's murders since the beginning of the year.” “In the St. James police division, the highest number of murders across all divisions was recorded, totaling one hundred and sixty-nine (169) from January 1 to November 15, 2023. This division also experienced the highest number of shooting incidents, totaling one hundred and one (101) during the same period. The adjacency of St. James…

“We want our Jamaican people to be climate-smart and to incorporate issues of the environment and climate in the decision about how you live and where you choose to live.” Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Andrew Holness is imploring Jamaicans to pay attention to the environment and be careful where they choose to settle as the impact of climate change becomes more and more pronounced. Speaking on Tuesday (November 21, 2023) at the National Land Agency (NLA) Titling Ceremony in Bog Walk, St. Catherine, Prime Minister Holness underscored that in the past governments have supported illegal settlements on land that contributed to houses being built improperly in areas not designated for living. He said in times of natural disasters, this leads to houses being affected by flooding and adverse weather effects. The Prime Minister said: “What has hurt us for many years is that governments have winked at this kind of behaviour [illegal settlement]. In fact, [previous] governments have supported it [illegal settlement]. I will not be that government. I am telling you what the scientists have said, which is that know that the weather and the climate will become even more unpredictable and intense, and will cause greater…