News from the OPM

As announced by the Prime Minister in his contribution to the Budget Debate, effective March 18, 2022, the Orders under the Disaster Risk Management Act were revoked and a new Order issued under the Public Health Act with the few measures that have been retained. The new Order, The Public Health Enforcement Measures (Coronavirus COVID19 Order 2022) is published on the Office of the Prime Minister's website. The public is reminded that events are regulated under various laws and administered by various entities such as the Municipal Corporations and the Police from whom permits must be sought and licenses paid. Until further notice, permits granted will include a condition that the number of persons in a venue is to be below 70% of capacity. In addition, certain restrictions applicable to hospitals, nursing homes, infirmaries and correctional facilities will be matters of policy decided at the level of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and the Ministry of National Security, as applicable and the institutions advised accordingly. Other than the restrictions described herein, all other measures have been removed. The public is, however, strongly encouraged to continue to voluntarily observe infection prevention and…

The Public Health Enforcement Measures (COVID19 Order 2022) and any amendment posted here took effect on Friday, March 18, 2022. The Public Health (Enforcement Measures) (Coronavirus (COVID-19) Order, 2022_220319_162742

The National Partnership Council convened its first meeting of 2022 on Wednesday, March 9 and addressed, among other matters, the future of the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) restrictions. “The Disaster Risk Management Act has served us well and has allowed us to effectively manage our response to the crisis. Now we have to move into a new phase of the pandemic where our focus is on personal responsibility and economic recovery,'' the Prime Minister stated. The Partners supported the direction of the Government in evolving from the DRMA and asked that the appropriate steps be taken to continue to manage the pandemic while driving economic growth. The meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, was advised that Minister Floyd Green, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister has been tasked with providing oversight of the Council. Minister Green who addressed the meeting indicated that; “A new structure that will achieve a more active and inclusive dialogue will be implemented this year, along with a new drive to ensure that the work of the Partnership is effectively communicated to the public.” The National Partnership Council, first launched in 2011, is a social dialogue…

The Governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) led by their respective leaders, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Mark Golding, MP, met on Sunday, (February 27, 2022) for discussions under the Vale Royal Talks framework. The three and a half-hour dialogue was hosted by the University of the West Indies around an agenda which included National Security, Constitutional Reform, Health and Jamaica 60 commemorations. Prime Minister Holness and PNP President Mark Golding, MP, both gave opening remarks which set the tone of the meeting. For his part, Prime Minister Holness noted that “It is important particularly in our form of democracy, where two political parties dominate, that there is a means by which both political parties can meet and discuss issues affecting the nation.” The Prime Minister was positive about the prospects of the talks contributing to greater consensus on challenging national issues, “The talks, (in the past) have been successful and have assisted in reaching an understanding, particularly on critical national issues.” In this regard, the Prime Minister committed to ensuring their continuation. This being the first iteration of the Vale Royal Talks since becoming President of the People’s National Party, Mr Golding said, “This is something we've been…

Jamaica Customs Agency to be formally brought into the Get Every Illegal Gun Campaign Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that following a meeting of the National Security Council, the Jamaica Customs Agency will be formally brought into the Get Every Illegal Gun Campaign. The Prime Minister said the inclusion of the Jamaica Customs Agency under this campaign, means there will be an increased focus on ensuring that no illegal gun can penetrate Jamaica’s ports. “It is time that we get tough on the internal collaborators and facilitators who are allowing illegal guns to come into our country,” the Prime Minister said. In continuing, the Prime Minister said these facilitators profit from illegal guns coming in, while other Jamaicans die. It is time, he said, that these persons face serious consequences for their actions. In this regard, the Prime Minister has issued a strong warning to these actors, that without fear or favour, the Government will be looking very seriously and very closely at the operations of the entity. The Prime Minister said in the same way that the Anti-Gang Taskforce has been mobilised and has been reaping successes, the Get Every Illegal Gun Campaign is being expanded to incorporate Customs…

Says Every Avenue is being Pursued to Ensure the Safe Return of Jamaican Students in Ukraine Prime Minister Andrew Holness has condemned the invasion of Ukraine and says every avenue is being pursued to ensure the safe return of Jamaican students in Ukraine. The Prime Minister said his latest update is that there are currently 27 students remaining in Ukraine with 25 in the city of Kharkiv and one in Kyiv.  Another 15 students have left the country. The Prime Minister said he has taken note of the public conversation regarding the government’s efforts to assist students in Ukraine. He noted that in a time of crisis, the government’s sole mission must be to get its citizens to safety.  In this regard, the Prime Minister said Jamaica is using all its efforts, connections, and friendships to ensure the Jamaican students can be safely returned home if they choose.  However, the Prime Minister said the personal choices of the students remain a variable in this situation. The Prime Minister said at this point, the offer to assist students to return home, is not tied to a loan He clarified that the offer of a loan to travel must be placed in context and…

Entity to provide the first provisioning of the “Get Every Illegal Gun” Fund of 25 million dollars. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that the National Security Council (NSC) today had important discussions with a view to making adjustments to the operations of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA). The discussions included: The process of application for firearms The ineligibility criteria (who cannot apply for a firearm) The approval process for firearms The mainstreaming of the intelligence agencies in the approval process The removal of residual discretion of ministers to approve firearm licenses The introduction of new technologies for the marking and tracing of firearms and ammunition A new and more and in-depth system of vetting of persons at both the FLA and the Jamaica Customs Agency The changing of the requirement to serve on the board of the FLA to include a fit and proper criterion The Prime Minister stated that in short order, there will be a fulsome report on the final decisions of the NSC regarding the matters discussed. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced that FLA will provide the first provisioning of the “Get Every Illegal Gun” Fund, of 25 million dollars. The Prime Minister again urged every Jamaican…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that, effective Friday, February 25, 2022, the curfew hours will be from midnight (nightly) to 5:00 am the following morning, until 5:00 am on March 18, 2022. Noting that the country was seeing the end of the 4th wave of infections with the test positivity rate and the rate of hospitalisation declining significantly, the Prime Minister said greater relaxation of the DRMA measures is to be expected. In keeping with this, Prime Minister Holness said: “With all our indicators showing rapid improvement since our peak in January 2022, the science and the data would clearly support a further widening of the guard rails to allow more economic and social activity.” The Prime Minister who was speaking at a Press Briefing yesterday, February 22, 2022,  also announced the following changes: Funerals & Burials The current maximum of 20 persons allowed to physically attend funerals and burials will be increased to 100. This number includes mourners, clergy, and any other support personnel. The Prime Minister reminded the public that burials are permitted only between 9 am and 5 pm, Mondays through Fridays. Public Sector Events, Weddings & Annual General Meetings The maximum number of persons permitted to…

Encourages Them to Be Exemplars of the Behaviours They Want to Promote in the Wider Society Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Parliamentarians to be mindful of their conduct in Parliament and to be exemplars of the behaviours they want to promote in the wider society. Prime Minister Holness underscored that the work of the Parliamentarian is supremely important, especially as it relates to the oversight of the executive, the civil service, and the civil bureaucracy. The Prime Minister said: “Oftentimes there has been a perspective that the work of the Parliamentarian is less than important relative to the work of a Minister. Let me say here that, that should never be the thought in any parliamentarian's mind, in any back bencher's mind, in any mind of the Opposition. The work of the Parliamentarian is supremely important, particularly as it relates to the oversight of the executive and the oversight of the civil service, and the civil bureaucracy. It is through the work of the Parliamentarians that the average man can get his opinions into, sometimes what is a very dense, public bureaucracy that can be insensitive to the opinions and feelings of the masses. Parliamentarians are the conduit of…