News from the OPM

Greater Focus on Ensuring No Delays to the Start of Parliament Prime Minister Holness says the Government will break ground for the new Parliament building this year. He says this will increase the capability and the capacity of the Parliament to properly administer, oversee and interrogate public affairs. The Prime Minister noted that the work of Parliamentarians has been hindered due to the constraints of the current Parliament. In this regard, he said this new Parliament is not a demonstration of frivolity but rather a response to critical needs. The Prime Minister also noted that it is symbolic that in Jamaica’s 60th year, it will be breaking ground for this important structure. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister noted that greater focus is being placed on ensuring that the business of the country proceeds without delay. He said since the start of the year, all Parliamentary sessions started on time and that this is a trend he intends to continue.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that effective Friday, February 11, 2022, the curfew hours will be from 11:00 pm nightly to 5:00 am the following morning, until  5:00 am on February 25, 2022. Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement while speaking in Parliament today, (Thursday, February 10, 2022). The Prime Minister said all indicators are showing rapid improvement in our COVID-19 indicators since the recorded peak at the start of the year. Therefore the Prime Minister said: “In line with the management strategy that I had outlined in this Honourable House in November 2021, the science and the data would clearly support a widening of the guard rails to allow more economic activity.” In the meantime, the current maximum of 100 persons allowed to physically attend worship services will be replaced with a capacity limit determined based on the size of the place of worship divided by 36 square feet. Further, the Prime Minister stated that all other measures will remain unchanged. Prime Minister Holness said: “Our management of the pandemic has always been evidence-based data-driven, proportionate and situationally appropriate. The changes to the measures I have announced represent a continuation of the gradual and controlled process of…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reported that in the 2021/2022 parliamentary year, the Government passed more legislation and held more committee meetings than the previous year, thus significantly increasing overall productivity. Speaking this afternoon (February 10, 2022) at the Parliamentarians Luncheon at Jamaica House, the Prime Minister said; “I am pleased to report that despite the challenges we can still report progress. In the 2020-2021 parliamentary year, Parliament held 36 Joint Select Committee meetings and 81 Sessional Committee meetings, totalling 117 meetings. In the 2021-2022 parliamentary year just ended, Parliament conducted 133 Joint Select Committee meetings and 71 Sessional Committee meetings, totalling 174 meetings. If meetings are an index for work and effort, then it is clear that Parliament is doing more work and making more effort.”   With the passage of 26 pieces of legislation in the last parliamentary year, the Prime Minister further stated, “If the legislation passed is that sign of actual outcome and achievement, then we can report that in the parliamentary year ended we passed 26 pieces of legislation. In the previous year, we did 19.” Importantly, the Prime Minister noted that the decrease in Sessional Committee meetings was because the Government shifted its focus to…

Talks to be hosted by various institutions including the Universities and the Church Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the two-party dialogue between the Government and Opposition, the Vale Royal talks, will resume before the end of this month, (February 2022). The Vale Royal Talks are a mechanism for members of the two major political parties to have bipartisan discussions on critical issues of national importance. Prime Minister Holness reiterated the Government’s commitment to a bipartisan approach to finding solutions to Jamaica’s common social problems. Noting that the Vale Royal property on Montrose Road, St. Andrew, in its current condition, is not presently able to accommodate the discussions, Prime Minister Holness reasoned that various institutions including the Universities and the Church could facilitate these important meetings. The Prime Minister said: “The Vale Royal Talks, in name, will be held at venues across Jamaica where we will resume the process, Opposition and Government, of reviewing our social and political institutions that are in need of a rethink.” Prime Minister Holness was speaking today (February 10, 2022) at the Prime Minister’s Lunch for Parliamentarians on the lawns of Jamaica House following the ceremonial opening of the Houses of Parliament.

Prime Minister Appeals to Loved Ones of Those Who Have Guns, to Give Them Up Prime Minister Andrew Holness is today warning young men who may be in possession of illegal guns, as well as those connected to gunmen, to cease and desist, or face grim consequences. In a statement today, the Prime Minister said: “My message today is directed to the many young men who have illegal weapons in their possession; who hide these weapons or as they say, “lock them”; who sell them or rent them; who carry them or courier them; who use them; the shottas; those who hang around the gunmen; and the girlfriends; baby mothers; sisters and mothers, who give them cover and protection. Take careful note of the actions to recover guns so far, including the arrest or dispatch of gunmen. If you have a gun, we will find it and the consequences if you are connected, will be grim. The Prime Minister is also appealing to the mothers and family members of young men who have illegal guns, to talk to their sons, to warn them and to discourage them from criminal behaviour. The Prime Minister said, “Help them to give up the…

Multimillion-Dollar Reward Fund Being Setup for Information on Illegal Guns Prime Minister Andrew Holness is appealing to persons who are in possession of illegal weapons to give them up and to use the information channels available to provide information on where illegal guns can be recovered and gunmen arrested. The Prime Minister’s appeal comes as the Government rolled out “Operation Get Every Illegal Gun”. Noting that there are several key elements to the “Get Every Illegal Gun” campaign, the Prime Minister said some are highly confidential and have already considerably increased the capacity of Jamaica’s security forces to detect guns, as has been demonstrated over the last month, through the “surgical” finding of more and more guns and gunmen. Describing other elements of the plan as public facing, the Prime Minister said as the operation takes effect, the public should be given enough advance notice and warning, so that they cannot claim ignorance and unfairness. This, as very soon the penalty for possessing an illegal weapon will be significantly increased. The Prime Minister said, “In a few days, we will take a new Illegal Firearms Bill to Parliament, which will create several new offenses, in addition to possession, which when taken together…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says it is essential that all stakeholders exercise patience as countries begin to recover from the pandemic. Speaking this afternoon (January 27, 2022) at the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Re-Opening of the New, Re-Imagined Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort, and Offshore Island in the Bahamas, Prime Minister Holness says it is important to note that while the recovery has started, we have not yet recovered. In this regard, he said; “the economy can only exist and grow in a society that is stable, that is looking out for the vulnerable, and people who have been affected, and their lives disrupted, by an event not of their making.” In continuing, the Prime Minister said it cannot be fair for some people to recover while others are still struggling. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness said, as difficult as the last two years have been, he is very optimistic of a stronger recovery; “I believe we are going to recover stronger and better than before the pandemic.” Noting that a recent survey by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO,) suggests that international tourist arrivals could grow by 30% to 78% in 2022 compared to 2021, Prime Minister Holness said the…

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has appointed Professor Alvin Wint the new Chairman of HEART NSTA Trust and has expanded its Board of Directors. Professor Wint is a noted researcher and academic; he is a professor of  International Business, and is a former Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies. Professor Wint has a track record of performance and national service, having led the Energy Sector Enterprise Team (ESET) which was tasked with assisting the Government in diversifying the country’s energy supply. He also led other national Commissions. The new Chairman comes to the role at a time when the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission report, which was released last week, made several recommendations for a review of the operations of the HEART/NSTA Trust. The Board is tasked with driving efficiency and strategic changes to meet the training needs of Jamaica. The Board is also expected to ensure that policy directives are followed by management. Prime Minister Holness announced that six (6) new members have been added to the Board which will drive the thrust to improve outcomes at HEART/NSTA Trust. The full membership of the expanded HEART NSTA Trust Board is as follows: Appointed January 17, 2022…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica is poised to become the financial hub of the Caribbean. He noted that the country is increasing its technology in the financial sector with several e-commerce innovations, the National Identification System (NIDS), and the digital currency. Speaking at the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s 17th Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference yesterday (January 25, 2022), the Prime Minister said Jamaica has a well-run stock market, and government policy is supportive of the development of the capital markets by providing a stream of assets and economic opportunities in which capital can invest. “All of this is possible because the Government’s management of the economy has created confidence, certainty and importantly has lowered transaction and political risks to business,” said Prime Minister Holness.However, the Prime Minister said for Jamaica to grow, there needs to be more than just a liquid capital market that is willing to invest; a greater emphasis on innovation is necessary. “We need innovators, people who are able to envision things that don’t exist and create them,” said Prime Minister Holness.In this regard, he pointed out that the government is investing in the education system to create these innovators. This includes the planned investment for the…