News from the OPM

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

Cabinet notes protest action taken by some transport operators today in sections of the island and empathizes deeply with each and every Jamaican, including school children whose lives have been disrupted by this action. The Cabinet expresses appreciation to employers, school administrators, and other stakeholders in nation-building, who have shown understanding for their staff and students who experienced difficulties today. The Government will not support lawlessness and disorder and commends the public’s rejection of today’s protest actions and unreasonable demands which fly in the face of the laws of our country and have caused distress for well-thinking Jamaicans who are concerned that these actions display abject disregard for their needs as paying commuters going about their lawful businesses. In the context of high road fatalities and severe injuries resulting from reckless driving on our nation’s roads, we must protect the commuting public and encourage discipline among the motoring public including taxi owners and drivers. The Government is undertaking the internal processes to effectively implement and enforce the new regime under the Road Traffic Act 2018 and its 2022 Regulations, in order to secure greater accountability and discipline on our roads. We call on those who are engaging in the disruption…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says by virtue of its history, Jamaica has longstanding issues with land distribution, an issue with which successive governments since independence have grappled. Noting that while the government regularizes lands for its citizens, there is the practice of irregular settlements which precedes government structured planning. The Prime Minister says this practice limits the prospects of the community with regard to appropriate and effective infrastructure including roads, water supply, sewage systems and garbage collection. The Prime Minister says, all across the country Jamaicans are settling lands irregularly because they are not waiting on the government to provide formal access. This he noted creates chaos in society leading to the creation of communities that are difficult to police, and whose potential for growth and development are limited. To address this major challenge, the Prime Minister says the Government is trying to get ahead of the incredible demand for land and housing by taking strategic actions to help Jamaicans access land and housing assets irrespective of their economic status. One of these strategies is the creation of an effective regulatory environment to enable Jamaicans who are employed, and who have access to resources and income, to access mortgages to…

The Government of Jamaica continues to make homeownership possible for low-income earners breaking ground for the construction of 248 studio apartments at Howard Avenue, St. Andrew on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Andrew Holness underscored that with housing demand on the rise, the National Housing Trust (NHT) continues to create more innovative ideas, projects, and programmes to build more housing solutions for less. The Prime Minister said: “We are redirecting the policies of the NHT to refocus on houses in the price range of persons at the median income in Jamaica, that is the affordable income segment. This means they are for people who are low to middle-income earners.” Continuing, the Prime Minister said, “The project that we are breaking ground for today fits neatly into that category of low to middle-income earners, so those earning minimum wage or just above minimum wage, should be able to access financing through the NHT or the private banking system or from their own resources where applicable, to afford one of these 248 units that will be built here.” The Prime Minister noted that the National Housing Trust has 1505 houses planned for the corporate area which…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness handed over a total of six (6) new homes to deserving Jamaicans between the parishes of Clarendon and St. Catherine yesterday, (November 10, 2022). This brings to 110 the number of houses which have so far been built and delivered under the Government’s New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). Speaking in Kellits, Clarendon, Prime Minister Holness said the programme is being accelerated to meet the needs of vulnerable Jamaicans. He said the Government is placing significant emphasis on the housing needs of vulnerable Jamaicans and wants to make sure that notwithstanding their inability to purchase homes, Jamaicans who meet the criteria, can live in dignity. Prime Minister Holness said; “The Government is allocating resources in our budget to improve the living conditions of our most vulnerable across the country and creating equity in our housing market so that even the poorest of the poor can benefit.” The Prime Minister said it is important to note that the New Social Housing Programme follows a very rigorous investigative process to establish need. Speaking to the larger issue of housing, the Prime Minister said he is only too aware of the need for houses across society and across income brackets.…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says as the Government continues work on improving its processes, public sector workers are encouraged to comply with internal systems while simultaneously executing. Noting that the compliance systems in place are there to safeguard public resources, the Prime Minister says they should not be roadblocks to efficiency. He said, “We need an infusion of technocrats who are consummate in complying with the rules, but who also deliver quickly.” The Prime Minister says it is for this reason that the Jamaica House Fellows, JHF, Programme, which selects some of Jamaica’s brightest minds to be deployed across numerous ministries, departments, and agencies, is so important. The programme, the Prime Minister says, presents an opportunity for the Government to benefit from their talent, ingenuity, and problem-solving skills. The Prime Minister, who was addressing a farewell reception for the second cohort of JHF on Wednesday (November 2) at Jamaica House, said the Government wants to welcome into the ranks of the public sector, persons who will exercise initiative and a willingness to get things done.  In this regard, the Prime Minister says the Jamaica House Fellows programme would have exposed young Jamaicans to the complexities and the paradoxes of Government…