News from the OPM

“An important part of us tackling the illicit drug trade, is reciprocity. The war on drugs must be reciprocated, complimented, and fought in parallel with the war on guns.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -Prime Minister Holness  Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that to make a real impact on the war against illegal drugs and to save lives, significant effort must be placed into tackling the accessibility, availability, and use of illegal weapons.In this regard, Prime Minister Holness asserted that law enforcement must outsmart and outmuscle criminal networks.Speaking at the 37th International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) at the Montego Bay Convention Centre yesterday (September 19, 2023), Prime Minister Holness also noted that reciprocity in the fight against illegal guns and drugs is important.The Prime Minister said: “On the supply side, Jamaica’s real interest lies in the control of illegal guns that support the drug trade. An important part of tackling the illicit drug trade is reciprocity. The war on drugs must be reciprocated, complimented, and fought in parallel with the war on guns. The two are flip sides on the same coin.”Furthermore, the Prime Minister underscored that law enforcers should consider the use of illegal firearms as a drug.“I would like to introduce a…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness will expand the New Social Housing Programme to give more Jamaicans homes. In addition to a greater budgetary allocation to expand the reach of the programme, the Prime Minister says there will be greater emphasis on the pace at which the homes are completed so Jamaicans who have been identified as beneficiaries can get their homes much more quickly. The Prime Minister, who was speaking on Friday (September 8, 2023) during a home handover in West Portland, said an incubator training programme tailored for local contractors would be established to increase the delivery of homes. The programme would see the provision of training and resources to emerging local contractors, who would become further empowered and form part of Jamaica’s crucial infrastructure development talent pool. The Prime Minister explained that expanding the pool of contractors is a pivotal step toward achieving the housing goals of the government.In the meantime, the Prime Minister said, "We are about converting the benefits of the improved economic performance into real benefits for the people of Jamaica." He says his government is committed to transforming Jamaican lives through housing opportunities and will continue to implement plans and programmes to improve Jamaica.

The Government of Jamaica is condemning the latest in a series of inflammatory statements made by the Opposition which threatens the erosion of press freedom. The Government notes that the highly divisive statement emanating on a political platform on the weekend has caused unease, consternation and significant fear among members of the media. These statements have no place in a modern democratic Jamaica. In pointing out the persistent attacks on the media, the Government has observed several incidents including the recent verbal assault on members of the media for wearing a particular colour, the careless and crass statement on rape and attacks on persons who have left media to give of themselves to serve in the public service. The facts will show that qualified persons from across several media entities have joined the public service to help modernise and transform services to the people of Jamaica. The succession of incidents and verbal assaults displayed by the Opposition have shown that it constantly feeds a rhetoric aimed at destabilising Jamaica’s media landscape and threatens the safety of individuals. Minister with responsibility for Information Hon. Robert Morgan has chided the Opposition stating, “Jamaica has enjoyed high rankings in the Global Press Freedom Index. In fact, Jamaica…

 “We are planning to do 4,500 new housing solutions for the parish of Westmoreland.” - Prime Minister Holness -------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government plans to complete 4,500 new housing solutions for the parish of Westmoreland. These 4,500 units are in addition to the 3,000 units already completed. Speaking at the National Housing Trust's (NHT) groundbreaking ceremony for the Sheffield Palms development in Westmoreland, Prime Minister Holness underscored that there are several projects slated for Westmoreland. The Prime Minister said, “We are planning to do 4,500 new housing solutions for the parish of Westmoreland. These will include Shrewsbury Phase 1- 41 housing solutions, which are under construction, Shrewsbury Phase 2- 27 housing solutions which start next year, and Orolands- 520 housing solutions, which will start next year. We have Paradise- 2,453 housing solutions that are projected to start next year. We have Negril Spot, 140 housing starts, that is under development and is projecting a 2025 start. We have Fontabell- 325 units, and we are projecting a 2025 start as well.” Other developments completed in Westmoreland include Shrewsbury Phases 1, 2 and 4, which have 615 housing solutions, Frome, which has 665 housing solutions, Mailers Field, with 230 housing solutions and Whitehall,…

“What we can’t do in this new phase of our development is to become disunited, we must continue to think of one Jamaica. We must continue to think of Jamaica as the place of choice where we can all live, work and raise our families and do business.” - Prime Minister Holness ---------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Andrew Holness is upbeat as the country continues to secure more economic gains. In this regard, the Prime Minister has encouraged Jamaicans to be patient and stay united as there are attempts to divide the country along political and social lines. With eight consecutive quarters of steady economic growth, the unemployment rate at its lowest in the recorded history of the statistics, and the country’s net international reserves at 4.14 billion USD, Prime Minister Holness emphasized there is steady growth in the economy. He noted the effects of this will soon be replicated even more within the society. The Prime Minister said: “What we can’t do in this new phase of our development is to become disunited, we must continue to think of one Jamaica. We must continue to think of Jamaica as the place of choice where we can all live, work and raise our families and…

In response to the tragic shooting and arson attack that shook the Gregory Park community in St. Catherine, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced a comprehensive set of compassionate initiatives to support the victims to return to normalcy; this includes back-to-school assistance and assistance with rebuilding their homes.The Prime Minister's address highlighted a robust commitment to not only healing the emotional scars left by the attack but also empowering the affected families to rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.Prime Minister Holness began by expressing his profound empathy for the victims, stating, "I'm obviously moved by what I've seen here and the recount of the incident by those who were victims. I don't think that anyone could truly appreciate the terror that the people who live in this community would have felt and experienced."With an unwavering focus on solutions, the Prime Minister emphasized the government's dedication to addressing the immediate needs of the affected families. "I give the commitment that the government will provide fully for the families who have been displaced so that they are able to return to school," he declared, echoing the importance of ensuring a seamless return to education for the community's children.Prime Minister Holness also…

“We are taking the dividends of the economic performance…to lift the most vulnerable out of poverty.”- Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the good economic performance of the country has provided the government with the ability to better address the needs of the people.In this regard, the Prime Minister said: “We are taking the dividends of the economic performance, some of which we have put into the compensation review to increase the public sector salaries, some of it is going into programmes like the Lift Programme, Heart NSTA Trust, and social welfare programmes to lift the most vulnerable out of poverty.Speaking on Friday (August 11) at the National Housing Trust (NHT) groundbreaking ceremony for Sheffield Palms in Westmoreland, the Prime Minister noted that there are many Jamaicans who are not earning optimum because they have no skills or are not certified.In response to this problem of unskilled Jamaicans, the government has put programmes in place to reach out to those Jamaicans who are not in the labour force or are about to come into the labour force.The Prime Minister said, “We have recently launched a new programme called the Lift Programme, which is in its pilot phase…

His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, is pleased to announce that Mr. Paul Barnaby P.B Scott, renowned businessman, trailblazer, CEO, Chairman, and Principal Shareholder of the Musson Group, will be awarded the country’s second highest civilian honour, the esteemed Order of Jamaica. Mr. Scott is being awarded in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Jamaica's economic development and his outstanding leadership in the business sector. Mr. P.B. Scott's visionary leadership has been instrumental in transforming the Musson Group into a diversified conglomerate operating in 30 countries. Under his guidance, the company has expanded its presence in various industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, food, pharmaceutical distribution, telecommunications and information technology, and insurance. At the age of 47, Mr. Scott becomes one of the youngest to receive this esteemed national honour. Since assuming the role of CEO and Chairman in 2004 and previously serving as Executive Deputy Chairman since 2000, Mr. Scott's unwavering dedication and entrepreneurial acumen have been central to the Musson Group's astounding growth. The company now boasts an annual turnover exceeding US$1.3 billion and employs over 7,000 individuals, contributing significantly to Jamaica's economic prosperity. Under his leadership, The Musson Group has emerged as a powerful force for positive…

“We have decided that we are going to do a massive overall of the PATH programme in significant ways to ensure that the beneficiary identification system is far more targeted than it is now.” - Prime Minister Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced a targeted restructuring of the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education, PATH, to improve the systems in place to assist the most vulnerable. Speaking yesterday (August 3, 2023) at his Quarterly press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, he noted that while the government has done well to manage its economic stability in the face of global inflation, more needs to be done to alleviate the struggles of the less fortunate in the population. In this regard, the Prime Minister said the government intends to support this section of the population by targeting key areas like the PATH programme and lending more support to the education system to assist those in need. “We have decided that we are going to do a massive overall of the PATH programme in significant ways to ensure that the beneficiary identification system is far more targeted than it is now. Too often when I go into constituencies…