News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has asserted that the Government does not only depend on exceptional powers such as States of Public Emergency to curb crime. He says the Government has also made long term investments in infrastructure and human development. Speaking yesterday, July 14, 2021, at the official opening of the new Mount Salem Police Station in Mount Salem St. James, Prime Minister Holness noted that these investments will yield long-term results in reducing the murder rate. The Prime Minister said: “The objective of the Government remains to bring our homicide rate from 47 murders per 100,000 people to the goal of just below the regional average of 15 murders per 100,000 people. My own belief is that, had we have the State of Public Emergency we would have been moving much faster down the ladder. So, we have to use the tools available to us and we have to be strategic with the resources we have.” Importantly, Prime Minister Holness said integral to our crime-fighting strategies is the focus on criminal gangs and the cultural entrenchment of using violence to resolve conflicts. Prime Minister Holness said: “It is possible to decrease the murder rate by strengthening our security forces, making the investment in the security infrastructure and at the same time changing the culture and mentality of our people to work in peace and respect of each other.” In the meantime, the Prime Minister is confident that the investments in national security as well as the strategies the Government has put in place, will transform Jamaica from a place of 47 per 100,000 homicides, to below the regional average. “I believe we are doing as best as we can, to try and ensure that the security…

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has been appointed a member of the Privy Council. His Excellency the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen issued a statement announcing the appointment today. “Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve that the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica, be appointed a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.” The accepted form of address of the Prime Minister as of today, will be: “The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, Prime Minister.” The appointment became effective on May 26, 2021. Prime Minister Holness is to attend a meeting of the Privy Council, at the first convenient opportunity, in order to take the oath or affirm in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the estimates for flood damage as a result of the passage of Tropical Storm Elsa over the weekend has amounted to $803 million. Speaking in Parliament yesterday (Tuesday, July 6, 2021), Prime Minister Holness said the report tendered by the National Works Agency (NWA) is preliminary as the Agency continues damage assessment to determine the cost for permanent repairs. He pointed out that the assessment to date is divided into two categories; cost to clean and clear roadways and drains of silt and debris and secondly, cost to make roads accessible. Over the course of two weeks, the Ministry of Local Government and the relevant agencies will undertake cleaning and clearing of roadways and drainage systems. In that regard the Prime Minister stated, that assessments are being done to determine the damage to major road networks across the country. So far, over 25 road networks between the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas and St. Catherine have been greatly affected. Therefore, Prime Minister Holness urged all members of parliament to move quickly in assisting the NWA in completing the first phase of the disaster mitigation programme which the Government has allocated $100…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared that no local Government election will be held this year. The Prime Minister said there has been much speculation about whether the recrafting of the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) measures was strategically done to facilitate the holding of local polls. However, the Prime Minister has said, this is simply not so. He emphasized that the election will not be held until the Government is satisfied the country’s vaccination efforts are sufficiently on track. The Prime Minister also noted that with the structured reopening of the entertainment and events sector, other sectors should take note that the Government is actively strategizing on the ways in which relief can be brought to each. Prime Minister Holness further stated that the Government has been focused on meeting the needs of each and every sector of society, by carefully analyzing and crafting measures that will not negatively affect livelihoods. He noted that when livelihoods are affected, people are more willing to break the rules. In the meantime, the Prime Minister indicated that he knows many Jamaicans have suffered as a result of the restrictions under the DRMA. He said as more and more persons become vaccinated, the country should see a return to some…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness today announced a structured re-opening of the entertainment industry bringing much relief to the sector which has been severely impacted by the measures imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19. The Government has contemplated two categories of events: large and small. Effective July 1, 2021, small events may resume with a maximum of 100 attendees including organizers and support personnel. These small events are categorized as either indoor our outdoor; each having gathering limits. Outdoor concerts, parties, round robins, festivals, community events, corporate mixers, handing-over or groundbreaking ceremonies, and other events of this nature. The Prime Minister says for indoor events, a cap on the number of persons who can attend a small event is determined as 60 percent of useable square footage. For public sector events, such as handing over, or groundbreaking, a maximum of 50 persons must be maintained. On the other hand, large events will go through an approval process.  Organizers of the large events must first send an application to the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. The Ministry will review the application to see that it meets the requirements and once satisfied, it will forward the application to the ODPEM…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced modified measures under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) to take effect June 24 and July 1, 2021. The Prime Minister made the announcements yesterday, (June 22, 2021) in Parliament. The recrafted measures which are to take effect tomorrow, June 24, 2021, are as follows: Places of Worship:  the maximum number of persons physically present will be determined as 70% of the capacity which is calculated based on one person for every 40 sq ft of the designated worship area. Indoor theatres and cinemas will be allowed to open with the same size-based capacity limitation - One person for every 40 square feet or 70% of seated capacity, whichever is lower. Drive-in cinemas: the maximum number of persons in any vehicle should not exceed the number permitted to be in the vehicle under the registration. For vehicles that are registered to carry more than 7 persons, the maximum allowed will be 8 persons.  A vehicle designed to accommodate no more than 15 persons shall be the largest permitted. The broader measures to take effect on July 1, 2021, are: Curfew Hours: The curfew hours for weekdays and Saturday will be 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says it is important for us to develop and mold our talents in the performing arts from early. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the St. Catherine High School Performance Arts Centre recently, the Prime Minister says entertainment is a major part of our culture and as such we should give every child the opportunity to develop and hone their talent in the performance arts while in school. The Prime Minister underscored that performance arts must be treated with prominence and should not be regarded merely as an extra-curricular activity. He pointed out that Jamaica has much to offer the world in the form of art and music and the early development of talent in the performing arts will ensure that “we create the talent pool that generates the content that the world will pay for”. In that regard, the Prime Minister says future entertainers must be encouraged to deliver pro-social and pro-growth content that will help to create a better society. He notes that our current entertainers should use their talents to deliver more positive messages using language that enables not just local, but international consumption. The Prime Minister says our music has been influencing…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is focused on ensuring ‘purpose-built schools’ across the island. The declaration comes following a previous announcement by the Prime Minister, that the Government will be constructing six new schools. Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony for the St. Catherine High School Performance Arts Centre on Friday, (June 18, 2021), Prime Minister Holness said there is need for more ‘purpose-built' institutions with high-tech digital laboratories, green spaces and play areas as well as performance arts centres. The Prime Minister explained that modern additions such as laboratories to the learning environment, will positively impact the way in which students learn and improve their skills. The Prime Minister stressed that with the direction in which the world is headed, great emphasis must be placed on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This he notes, will assist the country to advance quickly and continue to move towards becoming a truly modern, multidimensional, and prosperous nation. Meanwhile the Prime Minister says he has listened to the ongoing debate on whether the new schools to be built should focus exclusively on STEM areas. He says, he believes the study of the Arts is crucial, and that a focus on STEM does not come at…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is appealing to fathers to show love to their children and to not use anger in their interactions with them. The Prime Minister says it must no longer be seen as being soft for men to express genuine love to their children, this includes physical displays of affection such as sharing a hug. Prime Minister Holness also says the notion that children must be seen and not heard is gravely impacting the society. Speaking in an interview on the subject of fatherhood, Prime Minister Holness says every child must be given the freedom to share their thoughts. The Prime Minister says while encouraging and facilitating healthy dialogue between parents and children, parents must also strive to instill in their children, discipline and respect. He notes that being patient and giving children the opportunity to speak, is paramount in the household and is much more effective than harsh punishment. Prime Minister Holness said; “Since the birth of my children, I’ve made it my point of duty to never consider corporal punishment. I instead listen to the sound reasoning of my children because I think, the ability to listen to your children brings about the ability within them to elaborate on…