News from the OPM

Prime Minister, The Most Honourable Andrew Holness is proud to announce the appointment of three distinguished individuals to pivotal positions within the Government. These appointments, effective August 1, 2023, come following the recommendations of the Prime Minister and the full approval of the Governor General. The new appointees are Hon. Audrey V. Sewell, OJ, CD, JP, as the Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Rocky Ricardo Meade CD, JP, PhD, as Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, and Arlene Williams as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. The Prime Minister has tasked these individuals to improve service delivery and efficiency in government. This is with a view to ensuring the significant gains made by the administration are feat by Jamaicans from all walks of life. Hon. Audrey V. Sewell, OJ, CD, JP - Cabinet Secretary Hon. Audrey V. Sewell, OJ, CD, JP, brings a wealth of experience and exceptional qualifications to her new role as Cabinet Secretary. She currently serves as the Permanent Secretary in both the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. Throughout her distinguished career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the development of…

“Criminal gangs are the new terrorists. They now threaten democratic states.  The criticality of addressing this issue cannot be overstated.” - Prime Minister Andrew Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in addressing the EU-CELAC summit today (July 18, 2023), highlighted Jamaica’s debt reduction efforts and emphasized that Jamaica’s interest is in investments rather than access to more debt. In this regard, Prime Minister Holness welcomed the EU's new €45 billion Global Gateway Investment Initiative, which seeks to promote and de-risk investments in infrastructure, technology, energy, and climate. The Prime Minister said, "Jamaica is encouraged by the objectives of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA). We look forward to the implementation of this Investment Agenda in Jamaica. We have, however, made significant efforts at debt reduction and are therefore hopeful that focus will be placed on de-risking investment, accessible interest rates, and technology transfers." Prime Minister Holness also used his address to draw attention to the destabilizing impact of gangs, guns, and drugs on states in the Latin American and Caribbean Region, noting, "Criminal gangs are the new terrorists. They now threaten democratic states. The criticality of addressing this issue cannot be overstated. While it cannot be solved here today, I signal the need to elevate cooperation…

“The programme is properly structured. We make sure that there is accountability, and this programme will be continued right throughout, until we touch the six-thousand households in need.” - Prime Minister Andrew Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is committed to addressing the substandard living conditions in Jamaica. During his address at a ribbon cutting ceremony in St. Elizabeth on Friday (July 14, 2023), to hand over another house under the New Social Housing Programme, NSHP, Prime Minister Holness provided insights into the selection process and addressed concerns about the fairness and transparency of the system. The NSHP aims to systematically address the issue of providing housing solutions for individuals living in inadequate housing condition and focus on uplifting Jamaicans living in substandard housing situations. Prime Minister Holness noted that the selection process under the programme is fair and transparent. “The random nature doesn't mean that the selection is arbitrary. There is no arbitrariness in the selection. What it means is that we have put in place a set of criteria, meaning a set of rules and parameters that must be met before a beneficiary is selected,” said the Prime Minister. He emphasized that the selection process is…

"It is crucial that the international community commits to implementing strategic and targeted action that will allow Haitians to go about their daily lives and for the political process to make concrete progress." - Prime Minister Andrew Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness has emphasized the urgent need for collaboration and international support to address the deepening crisis in Haiti. Speaking at the EU-Caribbean Leaders Meeting today (July 17, 2023), Prime Minister Holness stated that the recent earthquake, flooding, and prevailing political and economic turmoil have exacerbated the challenges faced by the Haitian people, particularly women and girls, due to gang violence and widespread insecurity. Prime Minister Holness highlighted the importance of immediate action to alleviate the suffering and create a lasting solution, which should be Haitian-owned and Haitian-led. He stressed, "The insecurity in Haiti is well-known and has impeded access to healthcare, education, and other basic goods and services. It is most certainly undermining efforts for a lasting solution, which the ordinary Haitian people desperately want." During the CARICOM Heads of Government in Trinidad and Tobago, earlier this month, the issue of the security situation in Haiti was discussed. Reflecting on the discussions, Prime Minister Holness said: "We agreed on…

Government is targeting more partnerships to improve and expand communal spaces across the island. In a significant step towards improving the lives of Jamaican citizens, the Government of Jamaica has partnered with CEMEX Jamaica, a global leader in building materials, to enhance communal spaces and drive positive transformation within communities. The move aims to uplift the infrastructure, promote social development, and foster a sense of pride and well-being among residents. Speaking at the CEMEX official opening of Concrete Road on Thursday (July 13, 2023), Prime Minister Andrew Holness highlighted the historical journey of the community of Compound in West Central St. Andrew. The area faced numerous challenges in the past. The Prime Minister mentioned that Compound is now seen as one of resilience and determination, and the residents have taken ambitious steps to improve their living conditions, transforming wooden structures into concrete ones. Recognizing the community's need for better infrastructure, the government has actively supported various initiatives to enhance living standards. The Prime Minister said: "We have taken down the zinc fences. We have paved the roadways in the area and now today we are here to mark another important milestone in the development of your infrastructure.” In that regard,…

The Prime Minister is today (July 10, 2023) announcing that the National Works Agency’s (NWA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), E.G. Hunter, will take direct supervision of the South Coast Highway Improvement Project to ensure timely completion. This decision comes in response to delays caused by broken water mains on a section of the roadway, rendering it nearly impassable for several hours. Acknowledging and apologizing for the inconvenience caused, Mr. Hunter reported to the Prime Minister that the broken water mains have been repaired and the section of the road made drivable once again. Overnight, two breaks occurred on existing water mains which scoured the road surface. The contractors and the National Water Commission (NWC) would not have been on site to immediately repair the break at the time they occurred. As soon as the matter came to our attention the contractor and the NWC were mobilized and repairs effected. To prevent further occurrences of such water main breaks, The NWA will conduct inspections along the roadway to detect signs of leakage. To date, 14.1 km out of the 17.4 km section of the road from Harbour View to Yallahs which was affected by the water main breaks, have been asphalted,…

 Prime Minister says the NHT is redirecting resources to ensure more affordable housing for Jamaicans.    Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the National Housing Trust (NHT) is moving to support all strata of the housing market, particularly low-income earners, to ensure more Jamaicans benefit. In this regard, the Prime Minister said that the government has created the income contingency policy, which focuses on directing NHT benefits and other government subsidies towards Jamaicans earning at the lowest level. This will make more houses available to citizens by way of the adjusted NHT loan policies and the New Social Housing Programme. Speaking on Wednesday (July 12, 2023) at a New Social Housing Programme Handing Over Ceremony in Southwest Clarendon, Prime Minister Holness encouraged citizens to educate themselves on the policies and initiatives of the NHT. This will help them to be in a better position to qualify for housing benefits and become homeowners. The Prime Minister said: “I want to encourage all Jamaicans, regardless of your circumstances, regardless of how you may feel that we may never be able to own a home, I want to encourage you to have faith, I want to encourage you to think positively. If you are…

Calls on International Community to Increase Assistance to Haitians as they Endeavour to Find a Lasting Solution “Our aim has been to widen consensus around a Haitian-determined path to peace, stability and democracy.” - Prime Minister Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness says it is imperative that the international community moves beyond the rhetoric of solidarity with Haiti to implement strategic and targeted action that will allow Haiti to make tangible progress. Speaking on Thursday (July 6, 2023) via video conference to the United Nations Security Council, the Prime Minister underscored that for any solution to be successful, it must not only be comprehensive, focusing on both the security and socioeconomic challenges, but also Haitian-led, -owned and -focused. The Prime Minister said, “While we recognize the international community’s shared concern over the grave situation in Haiti, we emphasize that all efforts oriented towards contributing positively to addressing the situation in Haiti must be undertaken in good faith, must prioritize the needs and circumstances of the Haitian people, and must be free from the influence of geopolitics or political expediency”. In this regard, Prime Minister Holness noted, that the international community must remain steadfast in its support of the people of Haiti.…

STATEMENT ON HAITI BY THE MOST HONOURABLE ANDREW HOLNESS, PRIME MINISTER ON THE OCCASION OF THE EU-CARIBBEAN LEADERS MEETING JULY 17, 2023 | BRUSSELS, BELGIUM ____________________________________________________   Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Afternoon. I am pleased to be part of this meeting, which allows us to exchange views, progress our collaboration on matters of mutual interest, discuss ways in which to address challenges and seize opportunities including on the Caribbean side, for the furthering of our development aspirations. Excellencies, My colleagues have asked me to address the situation in Haiti which deeply concerns us all. On his recent visit to Haiti, Secretary-General Guterres highlighted the depth of the crisis, recalling that a recent earthquake and flooding have only compounded the existing political and economic turmoil and widespread insecurity – especially for women and girls, as a result of gang violence.  Citizens fighting back with vigilante justice and the gang’s further efforts at repression mark a dangerous phase of deterioration which we cannot afford to ignore. The insecurity in Haiti is well-known and has impeded access to healthcare, education, and other basic goods and services. It is most certainly undermining efforts for a lasting solution, which the ordinary Haitian people…