News from the OPM

We give God thanks for sparing our lives to see 2023, and we give thanks for the lives of loved ones and other great Jamaicans who transitioned last year. We embrace the New Year with optimism and positive energy, knowing that our earnest efforts will determine the success we make of the time given to us. We have been earnest in our efforts in the past year in controlling crime, particularly murders, and improving public order. It cannot be disputed that Jamaica has an epidemic of violence, which results in intentional killings. Guns are the main enabling weapons used by violence producers, and ease of access to guns of itself extensifies fatal violence.  Last year, we took a major step in deterring the procurement, possession, trafficking, and use of guns by passing a new Firearms Act which has totally transformed the legislative framework around legal and illegal guns in Jamaica.  It is now a minimum of 15 years to life for a person convicted of an illegal gun offense. Since the coming into force of the new Firearms Act on the 1st of November 2022 last year, over 70 persons, that is a rate of one person per day, mostly…

Gazette - The Emergency Powers (Parishes of St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover) (No. 3) Regulations December 28, 2022

Gazette - Emergency Powers (Parishes of St Ann, Clarendon, St Catherine, Kingston and St Andrew) Regulations, 2022 December 28, 2022

Gazette - Proclamation St. James Hanover and Westmoreland December 28, 2022

Gazette - Proclamation St Ann, Clarendon, St Catherine, KSA Dec 28, 2022

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says at the current rate of road traffic fatalities on our nation’s roads, it is without question that Jamaica is now facing a road traffic crisis. Noting that the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, proclaimed 2021-2030 the “Decade of Action for Road Safety”, under which the aim is to prevent at least 50 percent of road traffic death and injuries by 2030, the Prime Minister said it is clear that if things continue as they are, Jamaica is at risk of missing this target and possibly doubling our current rate of road traffic deaths. The Prime Minister said, “Frankly this is cause for concern and I believe every well-thinking Jamaican would agree it is a national crisis.” Prime Minister Holness noted that in 2021 there were 487 road fatalities, representing the highest number of Jamaicans who have died through crashes in the last decade.  He said road crashes have significant personal and economic impacts on families and the implications, both personal and financial, carry long into the future, with families dealing with the terrible pain and financial losses that come with the sudden and untimely loss of their loved ones, including breadwinners. The Prime Minister noted…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, this morning addressed the National Road Safety Council, where he outlined the transition policy for license holders who have accrued outstanding tickets. Prime Minister Holness expressed his concern that there may be members of the public who are misled to believe that a general amnesty has been granted and that they are not required to address outstanding tickets. He emphasized that the public should carefully note that no general amnesty has been declared and no special provisions have been made to facilitate any particular group. To manage the implementation of the new Road Traffic Act, which was passed in 2018, the Government of Jamaica established a multi-agency task force which has been working to streamline the traffic ticket management system. This work will result in: the automatic and accurate update of the ticket database through the expanded use of electronic tickets; a complete and robust database of tickets issued; the automatic and timely issuing of warrants; the automatic suspension of licenses by the Island Traffic Authority due to accumulation of demerit points; an accessible database of suspended or revoked licenses; and the denial of renewal of licenses where there are outstanding tickets. Ultimately, this will mean…

After wide-ranging deliberations and consultations with various government agencies and departments in relation to the implementation of the New Road Traffic Act in February of 2023, Cabinet yesterday (December 12, 2022) gave definitive instructions as it relates to the RTA’s implementation and the launch of the new Traffic Ticket Management System. Cabinet, being cognizant of the overwhelming public demand for the effective implementation of the Road Traffic Act 2018 and a transparent and accountable Traffic Ticket Management System decided that; Legislative steps will be taken to render all demerit points and tickets accrued up to February 1, 2018, null and as such they will not be transitioned to the RTA 2018 Provided that the tickets accrued after February 1, 2018, are paid before February 1, 2023, demerit points will be expunged upon the implementation of the RTA 2018 Cabinet wishes to advise the public that as of February 1, 2023, with the new RTA and the new Traffic Ticket Management System, there will be greater efficiency with a fully digitised process. Cabinet also noted that over the last several years the government has done significant work to build out a robust infrastructure to ensure the proper implementation of the RTA…

“Emergency Powers have always been an executive tool and will only be used when the circumstances require them.” - Prime Minister Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness says a State of Emergency will continue to be an Executive power that will be available to Government.Acting under the constitution and the advice of the heads of the security forces, the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen declared a State of Emergency in the parishes of  Clarendon, St Catherine, St James, Westmoreland, Hanover, and sections of Kingston and St Andrew and St. Ann. During a media briefing this morning (December 6, 2022) to announce the security measure, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said there will always be need for SOEs. The Prime Minister explained that other countries such as El Salvador and Nicaragua have ongoing States of Public Emergency to assist in crime-fighting efforts. However, he stressed that the reality is, a SOE is an important tool that the Executive arm of Government can utilise for the purpose which it is intended. Prime Minister Holness stated:“Is it something that we want to do forever and ever? Absolutely not. But in the modern world, our constitution needs to be upgraded so that those powers can be easily and effectively used when the circumstances…