News from the OPM

The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, yesterday welcomed Kenya’s commitment to lead a multinational security force in Haiti. In a telephone conversation with His Excellency, William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, Prime Minister Holness reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to support multinational security and humanitarian missions to Haiti. He also commended President Ruto and the people of Kenya for their willingness to lead a multinational security force and for committing to provide 1000 security personnel to this effort. In discussing Jamaica’s early expressed willingness to participate in such a force, Prime Minister Holness advised that Jamaica would commit to providing an initial 200 security personnel. The two leaders recognized that together with the Bahamian commitment to provide 150 personnel, this would bring the CARICOM commitment at this time, to 350. Prime Minister Holness expressed hope that more countries, whether in the region of the Americas, the continent of Africa or elsewhere, would also step forward with personnel commitments, and that the requisite UN Security Council Resolution will be adopted in order to provide the appropriate jurisdictional framework for the security force. Regarding CARICOM, Prime Minister Holness said that the 'Good Offices' efforts currently led by three former…

After decades of distress and water woes, residents of Port Royal in Kingston are to benefit from the installation of a transmission main replacement. The $443 million dollar project will ensure a more reliable water supply in the community. Prime Minister Andrew Holness broke ground for the historic project on Friday (July 28, 2023). Prime Minister Holness said the project represents a crucial step in fulfilling the government's commitment to providing reliable potable water to communities across the nation. He noted the progress of Jamaica's infrastructural development and water resilience efforts. The Prime Minister highlighted that the lack of reliable water supply was deeply concerning the residents. He reassured the residents of Port Royal that the promise of delivering reliable potable water was being fulfilled. Highlighting the historical significance of the groundbreaking, the Prime Minister emphasized the broader implications of this project. “This has become such a regular occurrence that the NWC is replacing or installing new pipes right across Jamaica." He also underlined the government's determination to prioritize infrastructure development, affirming, "I come to this office well seized of the importance of building out infrastructure. If we do not build infrastructure, we won't be able to properly provide the…

Prime Minister, The Most Honourable Andrew Holness is proud to announce the appointment of three distinguished individuals to pivotal positions within the Government. These appointments, effective August 1, 2023, come following the recommendations of the Prime Minister and the full approval of the Governor General. The new appointees are Hon. Audrey V. Sewell, OJ, CD, JP, as the Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Rocky Ricardo Meade CD, JP, PhD, as Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, and Arlene Williams as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. The Prime Minister has tasked these individuals to improve service delivery and efficiency in government. This is with a view to ensuring the significant gains made by the administration are feat by Jamaicans from all walks of life. Hon. Audrey V. Sewell, OJ, CD, JP - Cabinet Secretary Hon. Audrey V. Sewell, OJ, CD, JP, brings a wealth of experience and exceptional qualifications to her new role as Cabinet Secretary. She currently serves as the Permanent Secretary in both the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. Throughout her distinguished career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the development of…

“Criminal gangs are the new terrorists. They now threaten democratic states.  The criticality of addressing this issue cannot be overstated.” - Prime Minister Andrew Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in addressing the EU-CELAC summit today (July 18, 2023), highlighted Jamaica’s debt reduction efforts and emphasized that Jamaica’s interest is in investments rather than access to more debt. In this regard, Prime Minister Holness welcomed the EU's new €45 billion Global Gateway Investment Initiative, which seeks to promote and de-risk investments in infrastructure, technology, energy, and climate. The Prime Minister said, "Jamaica is encouraged by the objectives of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA). We look forward to the implementation of this Investment Agenda in Jamaica. We have, however, made significant efforts at debt reduction and are therefore hopeful that focus will be placed on de-risking investment, accessible interest rates, and technology transfers." Prime Minister Holness also used his address to draw attention to the destabilizing impact of gangs, guns, and drugs on states in the Latin American and Caribbean Region, noting, "Criminal gangs are the new terrorists. They now threaten democratic states. The criticality of addressing this issue cannot be overstated. While it cannot be solved here today, I signal the need to elevate cooperation…

“The programme is properly structured. We make sure that there is accountability, and this programme will be continued right throughout, until we touch the six-thousand households in need.” - Prime Minister Andrew Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is committed to addressing the substandard living conditions in Jamaica. During his address at a ribbon cutting ceremony in St. Elizabeth on Friday (July 14, 2023), to hand over another house under the New Social Housing Programme, NSHP, Prime Minister Holness provided insights into the selection process and addressed concerns about the fairness and transparency of the system. The NSHP aims to systematically address the issue of providing housing solutions for individuals living in inadequate housing condition and focus on uplifting Jamaicans living in substandard housing situations. Prime Minister Holness noted that the selection process under the programme is fair and transparent. “The random nature doesn't mean that the selection is arbitrary. There is no arbitrariness in the selection. What it means is that we have put in place a set of criteria, meaning a set of rules and parameters that must be met before a beneficiary is selected,” said the Prime Minister. He emphasized that the selection process is…

"It is crucial that the international community commits to implementing strategic and targeted action that will allow Haitians to go about their daily lives and for the political process to make concrete progress." - Prime Minister Andrew Holness Prime Minister Andrew Holness has emphasized the urgent need for collaboration and international support to address the deepening crisis in Haiti. Speaking at the EU-Caribbean Leaders Meeting today (July 17, 2023), Prime Minister Holness stated that the recent earthquake, flooding, and prevailing political and economic turmoil have exacerbated the challenges faced by the Haitian people, particularly women and girls, due to gang violence and widespread insecurity. Prime Minister Holness highlighted the importance of immediate action to alleviate the suffering and create a lasting solution, which should be Haitian-owned and Haitian-led. He stressed, "The insecurity in Haiti is well-known and has impeded access to healthcare, education, and other basic goods and services. It is most certainly undermining efforts for a lasting solution, which the ordinary Haitian people desperately want." During the CARICOM Heads of Government in Trinidad and Tobago, earlier this month, the issue of the security situation in Haiti was discussed. Reflecting on the discussions, Prime Minister Holness said: "We agreed on…

Government is targeting more partnerships to improve and expand communal spaces across the island. In a significant step towards improving the lives of Jamaican citizens, the Government of Jamaica has partnered with CEMEX Jamaica, a global leader in building materials, to enhance communal spaces and drive positive transformation within communities. The move aims to uplift the infrastructure, promote social development, and foster a sense of pride and well-being among residents. Speaking at the CEMEX official opening of Concrete Road on Thursday (July 13, 2023), Prime Minister Andrew Holness highlighted the historical journey of the community of Compound in West Central St. Andrew. The area faced numerous challenges in the past. The Prime Minister mentioned that Compound is now seen as one of resilience and determination, and the residents have taken ambitious steps to improve their living conditions, transforming wooden structures into concrete ones. Recognizing the community's need for better infrastructure, the government has actively supported various initiatives to enhance living standards. The Prime Minister said: "We have taken down the zinc fences. We have paved the roadways in the area and now today we are here to mark another important milestone in the development of your infrastructure.” In that regard,…

The Prime Minister is today (July 10, 2023) announcing that the National Works Agency’s (NWA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), E.G. Hunter, will take direct supervision of the South Coast Highway Improvement Project to ensure timely completion. This decision comes in response to delays caused by broken water mains on a section of the roadway, rendering it nearly impassable for several hours. Acknowledging and apologizing for the inconvenience caused, Mr. Hunter reported to the Prime Minister that the broken water mains have been repaired and the section of the road made drivable once again. Overnight, two breaks occurred on existing water mains which scoured the road surface. The contractors and the National Water Commission (NWC) would not have been on site to immediately repair the break at the time they occurred. As soon as the matter came to our attention the contractor and the NWC were mobilized and repairs effected. To prevent further occurrences of such water main breaks, The NWA will conduct inspections along the roadway to detect signs of leakage. To date, 14.1 km out of the 17.4 km section of the road from Harbour View to Yallahs which was affected by the water main breaks, have been asphalted,…

 Prime Minister says the NHT is redirecting resources to ensure more affordable housing for Jamaicans.    Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the National Housing Trust (NHT) is moving to support all strata of the housing market, particularly low-income earners, to ensure more Jamaicans benefit. In this regard, the Prime Minister said that the government has created the income contingency policy, which focuses on directing NHT benefits and other government subsidies towards Jamaicans earning at the lowest level. This will make more houses available to citizens by way of the adjusted NHT loan policies and the New Social Housing Programme. Speaking on Wednesday (July 12, 2023) at a New Social Housing Programme Handing Over Ceremony in Southwest Clarendon, Prime Minister Holness encouraged citizens to educate themselves on the policies and initiatives of the NHT. This will help them to be in a better position to qualify for housing benefits and become homeowners. The Prime Minister said: “I want to encourage all Jamaicans, regardless of your circumstances, regardless of how you may feel that we may never be able to own a home, I want to encourage you to have faith, I want to encourage you to think positively. If you are…