News from the OPM

The Holness administration continues to expand its commitment to equitable education access with the introduction of seven new school buses designated for rural communities across the parish of St. Thomas. This programme will provide free, reliable transportation to students in some of the most remote parts of the parish. Speaking on Thursday (May 15) at the historic opening of the Morant Bay Urban Centre, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness announced the expansion of the service, noting that it will directly ease the financial burden on families and improve punctuality and attendance for students in St. Thomas. The Prime Minister said: “You are going to get seven school buses that will be serving some of the remote areas of the parish, and I'm certain that the children of this parish will be very happy to be able to use those buses, and of course, those buses will be free of cost to them in terms of bus fare.” The government recently introduced two Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, routes in the parish. The public bus service in the parish has moved over 100,000 passengers in just under four months. Commuters have praised the system for its efficiency and cost savings. “It is…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has declared that the Government is firmly laying the groundwork for a new economy in the parish of St. Thomas. This will position the parish and eastern Jamaica as a modern hub for commerce, public services, health care, and education. Speaking on Thursday (May 15) at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the historic Morant Bay Urban Centre, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the long-term vision of the transformation. This new era began with over $32 billion in infrastructure projects such as the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project, broadband readiness, and integrated utility development. “We are laying the foundation, my friends, for a new economy in this parish. And I want you to pay attention to that mission. We are not going to create prosperity without creating an economy. And to create the economy, you have to build infrastructure, because it is the infrastructure that creates the platform on which people can do business and generate profit and satisfy demand,” said Prime Minister Holness. Dr. Holness continued: “This lovely facility here, this very convenient facility here, well designed and well laid out, this is going to create the new economy that will generate the new wealth for…

Prime Minister Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has welcomed the upcoming provision of higher education services to the parish of St Thomas, as the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) prepares to operate its new university campus from the newly opened Morant Bay Urban Centre. Prime Minister Holness noted that this marks a significant step toward expanding access to tertiary education for residents of the parish and surrounding communities. “We are very happy that we can bring a university to the parish,” said Prime Minister Holness. Increasing access to education and training is essential to the Government’s broader strategy to transform St Thomas and position it for long-term growth. Once operational, the University will provide new educational options for young people and working adults in the eastern region, allowing them to pursue tertiary studies closer to home." The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government’s plans for the parish are focused on the long term, creating opportunities that will benefit future generations. “We are not just thinking for five years. We are thinking about the next fifty years.” The Government sees this expansion as a key step toward equipping St Thomas with the tools it needs to drive local growth,…

The Government of Jamaica acknowledges the Supreme Court’s ruling on the use of States of Public Emergency (SOEs). In response, the Attorney General’s Chamber is undertaking a thorough review of the legal and constitutional implications of this decision in preparation for its appeal. “As it was satisfied with the conduct of the Parliament, the Government, and the Governor General in declaring these states of emergency, the Government will now give serious consideration to this judgment as we appeal the decision.” — Attorney General of Jamaica, Dr Derrick McKoy. We will continue to support our security forces. The people of Jamaica are experiencing a historic reduction in crime thanks to effective crime-fighting strategies, historic investment in policing infrastructure, increases in the number of police officers, implementation of enhanced intelligence operations and SOEs. Jamaica recorded 132 fewer murders in the first quarter of 2025, representing the third straight quarterly decline since the second quarter of 2024. Additionally, incidents of shootings, rapes, robberies, and break-ins have all declined consistently over the past six quarters, beginning in the third quarter of 2023. The implementation of States of Public Emergency resulted in the reduction of murders and saved lives. The Government and the people of…

In a moment marked by sheer anticipation, excitement, and historic significance, over 3,000 proud residents of St. Thomas gathered on Thursday (May 15) to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Morant Bay Urban Centre, the single most sophisticated and expansive development the parish has ever seen. Traffic stretched for more than a mile, back to the neighbouring community of White Horses as the crowd swelled around the perimeter, mobile phones raised high to capture every moment of what many are calling the rebirth of a parish long overshadowed. Onlookers took in the rich cultural tapestry of St. Thomas through the lively notes of a traditional mento band, the rhythmic energy of kumina dancers, and a dazzling display of the parish’s history, a true celebration of heritage meeting progress. Situated on approximately 436,000 square feet of land, once home to the old Goodyear Factory, the Morant Bay Urban Centre now rises as a bold, transformative milestone in Jamaica’s development journey. This historic project fully led by the Andrew Holness administration introduces a fully integrated commercial hub that merges public and private sector services in one modern location. The opening of the Centre stands as a powerful statement, not just of what has been…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has assured Jamaicans that their long-standing water issues are being decisively addressed, as his administration ramps up investments and accelerates infrastructure upgrades to deliver reliable water supply to communities across the island. Speaking on Wednesday (May 14) at the groundbreaking for the J$592 million Munroe Road to Seaview Avenue Pipeline Project in St. Andrew, Prime Minister Holness made it clear that the work being done is the result of strong governance, sound economic management, and deliberate planning by the current administration. “This is the administration that is changing how things have been. We are spending. We are increasing capital allocation to water in the National Water Commission’s (NWC) budget several times over. So, it means that the pace of bringing water to your community has increased,” the Prime Minister stated. The Prime Minister was direct in addressing public concerns and frustrations over delayed water access in some communities, emphasizing that while not all areas will benefit at once, the government is working tirelessly to accelerate delivery to many residents. “Even if we had a trillion dollars to spend on water, we could not all at once provide every single community with water. Your frustration with…

Prime Minister the Dr. Andrew Holness has issued a directive to the Ministers of Agriculture and Tourism to collaborate closely with stakeholders in the tourism industry to strengthen the integration between Jamaica’s agricultural sector and the growing tourism market. Speaking on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) at the Opening Session of the 8th International Technical Symposium of the Caribbean Poultry Association at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the importance of ensuring that Jamaica’s farmers are positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the tourism industry, which attracts more than four million visitors annually. “We have directed the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Tourism to work with the tourism sector to ensure that there is strong coordination between agriculture and tourism. We must never see the market for our product as just three million Jamaicans. We are having over four million visitors coming to Jamaica every year,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister highlighted that the agricultural sector must be equipped to feed the local population and serve the expanding tourism market with authentic Jamaican produce. This effort is part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable commercial ecosystem where farmers are supported through…

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has announced a bold investment initiative to bolster the agriculture sector. The move will also improve youth workforce development through an expanded apprenticeship programme. The Prime Minister’s initiative will see more than 300 young Jamaicans receiving hands-on training in critical sectors such as agriculture and food processing. Speaking on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) at the Opening Session of the Caribbean Poultry Association 8th International Technical Symposium at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the government’s commitment to both physical infrastructure and human capital. The Prime Minister said: “The government's investment in infrastructure is critical to the efficiency of the poultry industry and ultimately to the moderation, and possibly the reduction in the cost of poultry to the consumer, seeing that poultry is such a large part of the consumer basket. Now, we're not only investing in the physical infrastructure, but during my budget presentation, I announced several measures to address workforce development, because more and more, agriculture is becoming a very technical engagement.” The new apprenticeship programme will engage youth in structured training experiences with industry professionals and provide them with stipends and savings programmes. The initiative is designed not only to build technical…

“Where we are in the society, our laws need to favour the protection of life and the protection of the victim rather than trying to protect the criminals. It is time that the society draws a clear line that we must eliminate the criminals from our society. They mean you no good.” – Prime Minister Holness   Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has committed that the Government will review the legislation on sexual offences, specifically the sex offender registry. Speaking on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11) on Job Lane, Spanish Town, while on a visit to the home of nine-year-old Kelsey Cassidy Ferrigon, who was assaulted and killed. Prime Minister Holness reassured members of the community that everything is being done to bring the perpetrator to justice. The Ministry of National Security has announced a two-million-dollar reward for information leading to the capture of the person responsible. The police have also named a person of interest in the matter. Prime Minister Holness praised residents for playing their part in giving information to the police to assist with the investigation. Dr. Holness said the Government is listening and will review aspects of the sex offender registry. “This incident must be considered…