News from the OPM

The Government has increased the capacity of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to monitor and safeguard the borders of the country with the addition of a new offshore patrol vessel, officially named Her Majesty's Jamaican Ship (HMJS) Nanny of the Maroons. Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (July 29, 2020), commissioned the new vessel into operation at the JDF Coast Guard base in Port Royal. Prime Minister Holness underscored that the acquisition of the vessel is evidence of the commitment of the Government to ensure the safety and security of the island as part of Plan Secure Jamaica. “This Government has been very systematic in providing not just the plans on paper but to deliver the tools to ensure that the plan can be put in place. Protecting Jamaica’s maritime borders is imperative for national security and sustainable development including, protecting critical infrastructure and more importantly lives,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, the Prime Minister said the new vessel will increase our capacity to respond to natural disasters. He added that this response is not only needed for Jamaica, but also the entire region. Moreover, Prime Minister Holness highlighted that the investment will also assist in decreasing crime on…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says his primary focus is rebuilding the economy to ensure Jamaica recovers from the effects of Covid-19. Jamaica like other economies in the world is experiencing an economic recession as a result of the global pandemic. Speaking on Friday (July 17), at the handing over of a house under the HOPE National Social Housing Programme, in Bogue District St. Elizabeth, Prime Minister Holness reassured the people of Jamaica, that his Administration remains focused on the needs of the people. The Prime Minister said while others are focused on elections, “there are real people, with real issues and a real economy” that require his attention and for now, his objective is to respond to the real needs of the people. “While others are running up and down the country trying to bring on an election and trying to create all kinds of mischief, misinformation and mayhem sometimes. In the minds of the people, there are some economic realities which your Prime Minister can’t take his eyes off. I have already started to put plans in place because we don’t allow things to happen upon us. We are sitting down, properly analyzing the situation and looking at what needs…

Residents of Port Antonio now have greater access to several areas in the town following the opening of the East Palm Bridge. Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Friday (July 24), officially opened the newly renovated bridge. The Prime Minister said that the Government remains committed to upgrading, restoring, and maintaining secondary and tertiary infrastructure and road bridges. The Prime Minister also noted that the infrastructure will be upgraded to acceptable conditions, and those that have reached their service life will be replaced. “The Government of Jamaica remains committed to improving infrastructure islandwide to strategically increase connectivity around the island, reduce travel time and wear and tear on our vehicles and to ensure the connectivity and productivity of our urban centres, so that we can move across Jamaica seamlessly,” said Prime Minister Holness. In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness said the Government listens to the concern of the people. He said the evidence of this can be seen in the work that has been completed by the Administration. “We demonstrate visibly and tangibly that we care. We care that your community was separated. We care that you were inconvenienced when crossing the bridge. We care that your children were in peril,…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Friday (July 24), toured sections of the South Coast Highway Improvement Project from Port Antonio in Portland to St. Andrew. During the tour, Prime Minister Holness examined the construction of culverts, realignment of the road infrastructure, and the relocation of infrastructures to include utilities, water, sewage electricity, and communication services. Prime Minister Holness also highlighted the purpose of the road work. “The work is done to get a larger thoroughfare to preserve the road, as you can see the road is very near to the fall off on the other side, so we are bringing the roads more in the land. We are doing that along the roads and straightening some of the deep curves so the road will be a much easier road to traverse when it is finished,” stated Prime Minister Holness. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister added that the South Coast Highway Improvement Project has been in the pipeline for several years. However, he said his Administration has taken the work out of the pipeline and is now fully implementing it. According to Prime Minister Holness, the project forms part of the Government’s strategic development plan for unlocking growth prospects in the eastern…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, on Friday July 24, officially opened the new Port Antonio Police station and Portland Divisional Headquarters in Portland. The Prime Minister, in his keynote address, asserted that the Government is committed to creating a better working environment for the police. “The Government values the tremendous contribution of our security forces. We recognize the immense challenges they face, and we are committed to creating a safer, healthier, and secure working environment for our police force as it pursues its mission to serve, to protect, and to reassure,” said Prime Minister Holness. As part of the Government's focus on law enforcement, public safety and security and crime reduction, several initiatives to enhance and bolster the effectiveness and efficiency of the Jamaica Constabulary Force have been undertaken. According to Prime Minister Holness, the Port Antonio Police Station is one of many projects completed. A record 103 of 186 police stations have been improved, upgraded, refurbished, or reconstructed over the last four years. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness noted that the Port Antonio Police Station is one in which residents will take great pride in. “This building that you are looking at here is an edifice of authority. It is…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness this morning (July 23), commissioned into service 20 brand new garbage trucks acquired by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). This brings the NSWMA’s total fleet to 150. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Prime Minister Holness underscored that the Government is 100 percent focused on transforming the NSWMA. The Prime Minister stated, “It is important to bring across to the public that the Government is serious about increasing the fleet and therefore increasing the service. But it is also important to note that in the last four years this Government has added 63 trucks to the NSWMA’s fleet of trucks.” In that regard, the Prime Minister further stated that the trucks will be distributed across the island to ensure there is better access to waste management services. At the same time, he asserted that Jamaicans must adopt a culture of cleanliness. Prime Minister Holness also highlighted that his Administration is focused on the transformation of all sectors. “We are focused on the transformation of the minds of our people. We are focused on the health of our people, and you can tell by how we have dedicated resources, time, energy on managing the pandemic, and…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness last evening (July 21), extended the States and Public Emergency in five (5) parishes and sections of Kingston and St. Andrew. Prime Minister Holness asserted that national security is paramount; therefore, he must ensure that it’s not forfeited for political expediency. The Prime Minister said, “The States of Public Emergency are due to expire on the 25th (of July); there are some who would be thinking that there will be no request for an extension. I wish to signal today, that we will be asking for an extension of the SOEs.” The Prime Minister was speaking yesterday, ahead of Parliament, at the Opening of the Jamaica Defence Force New Cannon Ball Gate and the commencing of the South Camp Road Improvement Project. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness added that the SOEs have been effective and useful in assisting the government's crime-fighting strategy. He stated, “That framework (SOE) has assisted in ensuring that we can, as Lieutenant General Meade has said, flatten the crime curve effectively, and that is what we have been doing. We would want the support of the Opposition to continue to do that. We must not have any break in the commitment against…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, on Wednesday, July 21, launched the High-Level Commission of Education Transformation. The Commission aims to build a world-class education system that is accessible to all Jamaicans. The members of the Commission will comprehensively review and assess the education system, including its structure and operation processes, to recommend actions for change. He added that his charge to the Commission is to do two critical things: “The first is to advise us as to what we need to do, as a Government, to create a world-class educational system geared towards enabling our people to fulfill their potential and develop the skills base and human capital required for Jamaica to compete, successfully, in the 21st-century global economy. The second is to ensure inclusivity. The system we build must ensure that all our children and learners have access to this world-class education system that we build,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, the Prime Minister reinforced that the Government must take decisive steps to improve the quality of the education system for all. “We owe it to the current and future generations of Jamaican children to give them the same opportunity, and better, to uplift themselves. Under our current…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday (July 17) handed over another housing unit under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in Bogue District, Braes River in North East St. Elizabeth. The Social Housing Initiative, which was announced by Prime Minister Holness in November 2018, was developed to improve the housing condition of the country’s poor and indigent population. The NSHP falls under the Housing Production and Employment Programme (HOPE) in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. Prime Minister Holness says the NSHP is part of the government's mandate to reform and expand the housing agencies to afford housing to Jamaicans of all economic backgrounds. “My presence here today in handing over this home in a rural district in St. Elizabeth in the sugar belt, is to bring the rest of Jamaica to the understanding that regardless of what you see on the surface and circulating, there is a real Jamaica, with a real economy, with real people facing real challenges with a very effective Government that is very caring and is attending to the real needs of the people,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister stated that his Administration remains focused on the needs of the people. “Your…