News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, along with the Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, met with senior officials of the United States Justice Department, which hosted a high-level meeting of law enforcement and security agencies to discuss the growing threat of transnational criminal gangs, organized criminal violence and the trafficking of illegal guns into Jamaica. The Prime Minister addressed the working meeting hosted by Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Counselor for International Affairs, Bruce Swatrz. Also in attendance were Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary, Barbara Feinstein and several executives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Organized Crime and Gang Section of the Department of Justice, the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program. The meeting reviewed existing programmes and partnerships, identified gaps to be closed and explored new opportunities to advance collaboration. In addition, there was commitment for greater and more effective information sharing. As part of this information sharing thrust, Jamaican law enforcement has identified to US law enforcement a number of Jamaican criminal actors residing in the United States, who are directing, soliciting, or financing crime in…

“The threat is even more urgent to small developing states, where gangs have greater capacity to capture the state” - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (December 7, 2022) used the Congressional/Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum in Washington D.C, convened by Congressman Robert Pittenger, to draw greater attention to the growing threat of criminal gangs and organized transnational crime networks to national security, human rights, and democracy. During his presentation, the Prime Minister noted that the threat is even more urgent for small developing states, such as Jamaica, where gangs have greater capacity to capture the state. The Prime Minister said: “The threat is not unique to Jamaica, several countries in the region face the same problem to differing degrees, the extreme case being Haiti. It is important that our partners understand the threat, but more importantly, they must understand and respect our right to protect our people and our state.” Prime Minister Holness said as Jamaica moves boldly to overcome criminally organized violence, it is important to inform and engage international partners. The Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum was established to have regular discussions among members of Congress and Parliamentarians and representatives across the globe to facilitate learning, cooperation,…

People who complain about SOEs are not the people who benefit from them - Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that the States of Public Emergency (SOE) have been reimplemented in Clarendon, St Catherine, St James, Westmoreland, Hanover and sections of Kingston and St Andrew.  St Ann has also been put under a SOE. The Prime Minister underscored that the reimposition of the SOE follows the effectiveness of those which were previously implemented which saw significant reduction in the crime and homicide rates in the targeted areas as well as nationally. During the 14-day period of the SOE, homicides declined to 31 islandwide (a 46% decline). In the areas under the SOE, 17 homicides were recorded, (a 64% decrease). The Prime Minister said when SOEs are declared, persons in “violence-plagued communities feel safer, and the impact tends to be immediate.” He said: “The people who complain about the SOEs are not the people who benefit from them. [The ones who benefit are] those who have to hide under their beds, hide their daughters, can’t go to church and who see their sons, their boyfriends and husbands killed. That’s the reality.” Further, Prime Minister Holness noted the vote…

The Andrew Holness-led Administration is committed to changing Jamaica’s healthcare sector by increasing investments in critical infrastructure and encouraging citizens to take personal responsibility for their health Residents of Chapelton, Clarendon and neighbouring communities will no longer have to travel to the May Pen Hospital to receive health care as the Chapelton Community Hospital is now open after it was closed in 2019 to facilitate extensive renovations. The Chapelton Community Hospital, formerly known as the Chapelton Hospital serves Chapelton and several surrounding communities including Summerfield,  Beckford Kraal, Thompson Town, Mocho, Frankfield, Kellits, Crofts Hill, Nine Turns, Effort, Smithville, Blackwoods and other communities. Speaking at the reopening ceremony yesterday (December 6, 2022) the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the completion of the renovations and said the impact on the communities served by the hospital will be particularly significant. In encouraging users to utilize the facility to look after their health, and to practice lifestyle activities that support good health, Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that Jamaicans need a social and cultural transformation in relation to our view of health. He said there are many culturally ingrained practices that have been detrimental to our health, with many associating prosperity with overindulgence in…

The objective of the Government is to convert these great assets that we have into prosperity - Prime Minister Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness says a strong Government and good governance have been the catalysts for improvement and recovery in the economy post-pandemic. Speaking yesterday, (November 29, 2022) at the Invest Jamaica Conference in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Holness stressed that the speed of the country’s recovery can be attributed to making the right decisions for the overall good of the country while balancing lives and livelihood. Prime Minister Holness said; “We managed the pandemic in such a way that we didn’t have to sacrifice businesses, we ensured that businesses could recover quickly. Now we are happy to say that our tourism product has recovered.” The Prime Minister continued, noting that the recovery after the pandemic is phenomenal, especially after several months of complete shutdown of the industry.  Given this fact as evidence of the robustness of the Jamaican economy, the Prime Minister says now, more than ever, the country is equipped and poised for greater investment. Highlighting Jamaica’s peak performance in tourism, and the high employment rate, Prime Minister Holness encouraged greater investment in the country. “If you are…

THE EMERGENCY POWERS (PARISHES OF ST. JAMES, WESTMORELAND AND HANOVER) REGULATIONS, 2022   Gazette - The Emergency Powers (Parishes of St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover) Regulations, 2022 TO BE CIRCULATED

Prime Minister Appeals to Persons illegally in possession of firearms or ammunition to turn them in as the Firearm Amnesty draws to a close at the end of tomorrow, Saturday 19, November 2022. With just over 24 hours until the Gun Amnesty expires, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is appealing to anyone in possession of an illegal or unregistered firearm to turn them into the nearest police station or directly to the Firearm Licensing Authority, FLA. The Prime Minister has indicated that the government will not extend the amnesty. Prime Minister Holness said persons in possession of unregistered weapons, or firearms falling in their possession by the death of the licensed owner, or in possession of ammunition, which is unregistered for whatever reason, should avoid being caught under the stronger penalties of the new Firearm Act, and turn in such weapons and ammunition. Prime Minister Holness noted that already, over 70 weapons have been turned in under the Gun Amnesty. He said he believes there are many more persons who would want to turn over weapons, but they may be fearful or uncertain. He is reassuring those persons that the security forces and the firearm authority have conducted the amnesty in…

THE EMERGENCY POWERS (PARISHES OF CLARENDON AND ST. CATHERINE AND SPECIFIED AREAS IN THE PARISHES OF KINGSTON AND ST. ANDREW) REGULATIONS, 2022   Gazette - Emergency Powers (Parishes of Clarendon and St. Catherine and Specified Areas in the Parishes of KSA) Regulations, 2022 (1)

Gazetted Proclamation State of Public Emergency Parishes of Westmorelnd, Hanover and St James November 15, 2022