News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced a further two weeks extension of the current COVID-19 containment measures. The Prime Minister made the announcement while speaking in Parliament today, (Tuesday, January 11, 2022). The extended measures will expire on January 27, 2022. Prime Minister Holness said: “As a result of the fourth wave the existing measures will remain in place until we have more information on the number of positive cases that results in hospitalization and in particular, require high flow nasal oxygen.” The nightly curfews will therefore remain 10:00 pm to 5:00 am January 28, 2022. In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness reiterated that the country cannot afford more lockdowns. He, therefore, urges all Jamaicans to get immunised and for persons to get booster shots as soon as possible. The Prime Minister said: “The Government will continue to work in providing public education on vaccines and will ensure the continued secure government operations and services. The country must move on, with our lives and getting the economy back on track. We cannot allow ourselves to be defeated by the pandemic.” Further to his announcements, Prime Minister Holness stated that he is pleased with the resumption of face-to-face schools. Notwithstanding, the Prime Minister encourages parents and guardians to closely monitor their children.

Prime Minister is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Derrick McKoy as the Attorney General. Dr. McKoy has significant knowledge and experience in law. Derrick McKoy is a former Contractor General of Jamaica and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. He holds a doctorate in law from the University of Leicester, a doctorate in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, the LLM in International and Comparative Law from University College London, the MBA from Barry University, and the LLB from the University of the West Indies. In 2016, Dr. McKoy was awarded the Order of Distinction, in the rank of Command (CD), for Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession and for Public Service in Jamaica.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has advised the Governor General of the following changes to the Executive.  The newly appointed Ministers will be sworn in at a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. The changes take into account the need for greater focus and attention on constitutional and legal reform as well as improving the pace of development and passage of legislation through the Parliament. These changes are also designed to facilitate greater coordination and synergy of resources on further increasing the number of housing solutions at affordable prices as well as the development and pursuit of new economic opportunities, such as the Blue and the Green Economy as we recover from the pandemic. As the Government moves towards fulfilling its mandate, increasing the pace of implementation of projects, and transitioning its management of the pandemic, there is also a greater need for coordination in the dissemination of timely and accurate information to the public.

The New Covid-19 Measures announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness will begin today, November 18, 2021.Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (November 16, 2021), the Prime Minister said:“The changes to the measures I am announcing [today] represent the start of a cautious, gradual and controlled approach towards getting the economy back to full productive capacity.  COVID-19 has evolved from a pandemic to being endemic.  The highly transmissible nature of the Delta variant and ongoing vaccine hesitancy have made the goal of 'zero COVID-19' virtually unachievable. The SARS-COV2 virus is here to stay, in its current form or some variant thereof. Most societies including Jamaica, will therefore need to learn to live with COVID-19, at least over the medium term.”The changes will last for a three-week period ending December 9, 2021. Curfew Hours The curfew hours will be from 9 pm nightly to 5 am the following morning.  This will remain in effect until 5 am on December 10, 2021. Gathering Limits The general public gathering limit remains at 10 persons. The limit on the number of persons in attendance at places of worship has increased from the current limit of 50 to 100 persons; providing physical distance requirement is met. However,…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness this morning (November 14, 2021) announced States of Public Emergency in three western parishes and sections of the Corporate Area spanning 7 police divisions. The SOE became effective at midnight November 14, 2021. Speaking during a virtual press conference to announce the SOEs, the Prime Minister said given the increase in murders, the security heads of the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, recommended the SOEs be implemented. They will cover the western parishes of St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover and police divisions in the Corporate Area; St. Andrew South, Kingston Western, Kingston Central and Kingston Eastern. With the country’s current murder rates per hundred thousand in excess of the regional average which is 15%, Prime Minister Holness said: “These increases we consider to be of an extensive scale such that they threaten public safety both in the communities in which we have declared SOEs and nationally, but more than that we have declared them (States of Public Emergency) because of the nature and frequency of the violence.” The Prime Minister also said; “Every Jamaican would have recognised that the nature and frequency of the violence have evolved to a level of barbarity and…

The Government of Jamaica is to receive a US$1 million grant from the Government of India to boost its resilience building efforts. Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement today (November 2) during the High-Level Event, launch of infrastructure for resilient island states. The Prime Minister thanked his counterpart in India Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support to Jamaica. In that regard, the Prime Minister welcomed the launch of the Infrastructure for resilient island states which he says is important as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are at the frontline of the climate crisis. “As we all know, a single disaster can derail the entire budget of a small island and set its economy back by years, reducing fiscal space to finance climate adaptation and resilience efforts. We, therefore, welcome this much needed initiative that reflects our own thinking around the pivotal role played by infrastructure in building resilience,” said Prime Minister Holness. In the meantime, the Prime Minister announced Jamaica will become the first country in the world to develop a predictive climate risk assessment planning tool for major infrastructure investments. He says this is part of the country’s national strategy which includes development partners and the private…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has asserted that the issue of climate change remains a pre-eminent priority for global action.He told world leaders now attending the COP26 Summit in Glasgow Scotland, that all countries must act responsibly to preserve world climate for current and future generations.“While climate change affects all countries, the impact on Small Island Developing States is disproportionately greater. Climate Change threatens our very survival. Meeting the 1.5°C targets is a matter of life and death for us. We are at a pivotal moment in history. All countries must increase their NDC ambition to get us back on track,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister’s comments came yesterday (November 1, 2021) as he delivered the National Statement at the World Leaders Summit of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.Prime Minister Holness emphasized that Jamaica continues to do its part to preserve the planet by engaging in climate-smart agriculture projects, mangrove restoration, increasing fish sanctuaries, and reef restoration, among other projects.The Prime Minister also said: “There are creative funding solutions; for example, with grant support from development partners, Jamaica became the first small island…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaicans are to prepare for significant developments to address informal, irregular, and dangerous settlements. This, as he officially reopened the section of the Gordon Town main road which was severely damaged by rainfall in 2020.Speaking on Friday, (October 29, 2021) at the opening ceremony in East Rural St. Andrew, the Prime Minister noted that these major infrastructure developments will see the Government building sustainable settlements, redeveloping infrastructure to make them adaptable and resilient where possible, and assist people to relocate.“I want the Jamaican people to understand that in the coming decade, we will have to be spending far more time in treating with informal settlements, irregular settlements, settlements that are in dangerous and unsustainable areas. That will require persons who are in such settlements to move, but the Government is going to put in place a programme to ensure that you have a better place to move to and that the condition in which you are currently, is better when you move,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister further stated that stronger rules must be in place for settlement as the country cannot continue to spend resources to rescue people, rehabilitate homes and fix roads in…

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of General Colin Powell; a true trailblazer, statesman, diplomat, distinguished servant and gentleman, former US Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Born to Jamaican parents in New York, General Powell never forgot his roots and family lineage in Jamaica. His service in the US military was one of distinction and led to him being named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He served the United States of America at the highest levels in the security apparatus and was a pioneer in leading the way as a man of colour and the son of immigrants. General Powell rose through the ranks and was national security advisor to former President Ronald Regan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the President George H Bush administration and Secretary of State to President George W Bush. His exemplary and distinguished career has served as an inspiration to millions in the US, Jamaica, and the rest of the world. In 2018, I had the distinguished pleasure of meeting General Powell, and it was like talking with a longtime friend; his passion for Jamaica was evident and we had very interesting discussions about developments taking place…