News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has hailed the strong bonds of cooperation and friendship between the Governments of Jamaica and Japan as the nations celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Holness on Wednesday (July 31) hosted Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and His Excellency Yasuhiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, during a courtesy call at the Office of the Prime Minister. Reflecting on the enduring partnership between both nations, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the profound impact the JICA has had on Jamaica’s development since its inception. The JICA Jamaica Office was established following an agreement signed in 1987, with its cooperation programme commencing in 1989. Prime Minister Holness expressed gratitude for Japan's unwavering support and acknowledged the substantial contributions JICA has made advancing cooperation in various sectors, including education, the environment, and business development. Prime Minister Holness also highlighted the improvement of the emergency communication system at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM which was acquired through the relationship with Japan. The system was pivotal in the disaster preparedness response during and after Hurricane Beryl, significantly assisting communication and emergency response efforts. In the meantime,…

The Government is now seeing the effects of the decisive steps made to invest in Jamaica’s security apparatus to transform the sector. In that regard, Prime Minister Andrew Holness says there has been significant transformation of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) over the past eight (8) years. “Recognizing the importance of robust defence capabilities, we have significantly increased our investment and support of the JDF over the last nine years. I have had the distinct honour of commissioning five vessels since 2016, with the HMJS Marcus Garvey being the sixth,” he stated. "These investments in Jamaica’s defence and security also include the procurement of aircraft, patrol vessels, armoured vehicles, radar systems, cyber forensic labs, and enhanced digital surveillance capabilities, along with an expanded fleet of officers,” said Prime Minister Holness. Speaking at the Commissioning ceremony for the MHJS Marcus Garvey, the sixth vessel since 2016 for the Jamaica Defence Force, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of investing in Jamaica’s maritime capabilities in a changing world with frequent, multiple, and overlapping challenges. “Jamaica has stewardship over a marine space estimated to be at least 24 times its land area. This extensive marine territory and strategic geographic location place Jamaica on key…

“When I took over as Prime Minister in 2016, my entire focus was on how we can accelerate this process of giving more Jamaicans the opportunity—the orderly and fair opportunity to own land. And we looked at the entirety of this sugar plantation, and we created a development area—the formal development of communities that people can, through the market or through social housing, get formal and fair access to land.”  - Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Andrew Holness has demonstrated a firm commitment to empowering Jamaican citizens through legal land ownership by awarding 300 land titles to the residents of Clifton in St. Catherine. This landmark move is a significant step towards the government's broader strategy to accelerate land ownership regularization and promote legal settlements across the nation. It also brings to an end the decades-old matter of land tenure for residents in Clifton. Reflecting on the deep historical roots of the Clifton community, which is located on former sugar lands, Prime Minister Holness highlighted the enduring legacy of the plantation era and the systemic injustices faced by enslaved persons and their descendants. “It is a happy day that the children of enslaved persons, whose forebears struggled cutting cane…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday (July 30) welcomed the handover of Hurricane Beryl relief supplies, valued at nearly JMD $400 million (USD $2.5 million), from the United States to Jamaica. This event underscored the deep-rooted ties and mutual support that have characterized the bilateral relationship between the two nations for over six decades. Prime Minister Holness expressed gratitude for the continuous support from the United States, particularly in times of natural disasters. "Because of our familiar relationship with our friends in the United States, there is always that kind of support that is available to Jamaica. We do not take that support for granted, and we are very appreciative of it," he stated. The Prime Minister emphasized that this support has been a constant through many challenges, including the aftermath of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, when "the United States was the first on the scene assisting Jamaica in its recovery efforts, providing air support to then Prime Minister the Most Honourable Edward Seaga to assess the damage to the island, offering immediate relief to those affected, and sending linemen to restore electricity." Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Holness described the relationship between Jamaica and the United States as very…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness will deliver on a significant commitment to the Clifton community in St. Catherine, Southern, through the  award of 300 Certificates of Titles to residents. This landmark event will take place on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the Clifton Playfield, commencing at 10:00 AM. The distribution of these titles marks a pivotal moment for the community, fulfilling a decade-long aspiration for many families. In October 2022, Prime Minister Holness informed the House of Representatives that registered titles for over 350 residents were being prepared for distribution. This initiative underscores the Government's dedication to formalizing informal settlements and making homeownership a reality for Jamaicans. SCJ Holdings Limited (SCJH), through its Community Regularization Programme, has played a crucial role in this project, enabling families of former sugar workers who are now settling on sugar estate lands owned by SCJH to become legitimate property owners. Joseph Shoucair, Managing Director of SCJ Holdings Limited, highlighted the government's efforts, saying, "We have been working with the community for many years to improve the quality of life of the residents. This handing-over ceremony is the latest in a number of Government-led efforts including skills training from HEART Trust and the rehabilitation and expansion of…

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) was summoned to a meeting of the Cabinet to address growing concerns about the slow pace of electricity restoration following recent disruptions caused by Hurricane Beryl. Head of the Cabinet, Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness expressed clear dissatisfaction with the current pace of electricity restoration efforts emphasizing the urgent need for swift and effective action to resume this critical public utility. Several communities across the southern belt of Jamaica have been severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl and are still without electricity. This prolonged outage has caused significant hardship for residents and businesses, prompting an urgent need for accurate, comprehensive updates and reassurances from the responsible entities. During the meeting, Cabinet members voiced their concerns with the OUR's lack of advocacy as an independent regulator during this critical period. As the empowered authority, the OUR is mandated to hold the JPS accountable and to communicate effectively with the public. Prime Minister Holness emphasized the importance of timely and transparent communication from the OUR and the regulated entities, highlighting that it is crucial for maintaining public trust and confidence in the existing regulatory framework that prescribes an independent regulator. As a consequence, representatives from…

"The New Social Housing Programme has turned out to be a blessing not just for persons who need homes but also for those who have been affected by a natural disaster such as Beryl.” -Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------------   The Government of Jamaica is taking decisive action to assist persons impacted by Hurricane Beryl through the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the government's plan to leverage the programme to support the rebuilding efforts. "The government, through the New Social Housing Programme, will assist those most in need. Hurricane Beryl has left a trail of destruction across Jamaica, with estimates suggesting that approximately 500 homes were destroyed and several thousand others suffered severe or minor damage,” stated Prime Minister Holness. In addressing the immediate needs of the most vulnerable, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the importance of targeted assistance. "There is a certain percentage of individuals who would not be able to rebuild on their own. These include the elderly, indigent persons, families with many young children where the parents have no means of restoring those homes, and those with disabilities who are unable to restore their homes independently. For these cases, we will be utilizing the New Social…

“This is a warning to all the criminals that the JCF of today is not the JCF of 10 years ago. The JCF of today is more strategic, it has an enduring force, it is using intelligence, information, cyber all kinds of intelligence and it is putting all together.” – Prime Minister Holness -------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Prime Minister Andrew Holness has commended the improved operations of the Jamaica Constabulary Force as the police move to strategically deal with crime in the country. The Prime Minister noted that this is the result of a deliberate policy decision to invest in the equipment, intelligence, training and leadership of the JCF. Prime Minister Holness says operation in Negril Westmoreland today (July 26), where police confronted alleged robbers, is the result of improved intelligence work by the police. “We could say that this is a warning to all the criminals that the JCF of today is not the JCF of ten years ago. The JCF of today is more strategic, it has an enduring force it is a using intelligence, information cyber and all kinds of intelligence and I is putting it all together in an operational plan which is not just targeted at gangs…

"We must think globally, but act locally." "Every Jamaican citizen must now pay attention to this thing called climate change. Pay attention to the frequency of major weather events happening in your country. Pay attention to the hotter times that you are experiencing on a daily basis." -Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a direct link between climate change and many of the local challenges we are experiencing. That is the message from Prime Minister Andrew Holness. He is encouraging Jamaicans to pay closer attention  to the far-reaching effects of climate change and act responsibly at the local level to lessen the impact of the issues we face. Speaking on the importance of responding to climate change, Prime Minister Holness implored Jamaicans to adopt a more global perspective in their daily lives. "Many Jamaicans exist from day-to-day, and they have no clue about the global changes that are taking place around them. They only have to deal with the problems that they face daily. You cannot just be a local citizen. You are a citizen of the entire world, and there are some issues that affect the entire world that impact your local circumstances," Prime Minister Holness stated. The Prime Minister also…