News from the OPM

The Government has ordered the closure of all schools for 14 days effective tomorrow (March 13) in light of COVID-19 cases in Jamaica. The institutions affected are all early childhood institutions, primary and prep schools, secondary schools, community and teacher’s colleges. The announcement was made today (March 12) by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during a press briefing. “As of tomorrow, schools will be officially closed for 14 days. We will review this decision after ten days, but I believe we have given notice, tomorrow will have been a low turnout day anyway, as was today. Parents would now have Saturday and Sunday to make further preparations for their children and that would give us time as well to complete our preparations to ensure that those schools who would not have internet connectivity would receive materials to distribute to students so that they can continue their education at home,” said Prime Minister Holness. The matter will be reviewed in ten days. After this period, the Government will update the country. Importantly, Prime Minister Holness noted that the suspension of schools is a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Jamaica. Where possible subjects will be taught online. Meanwhile, the…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reassured Jamaicans that the Government is prepared to deal with the novel coronavirus (COVID19). Today (March 10), the Ministry of Health and Wellness announced the first confirmed case of the virus in Jamaica. In a statement to the media today, from his office, Prime Minister Holness urged Jamaicans to remain calm as the Government provides the leadership and coordination to manage the situation as it evolves. “While concern and fear are natural human reactions, there is no need for panic, hysteria, fearmongering or spreading of misinformation. This will only detract from the efforts of the government and redirect time and precious resources to correcting false information and resolving unnecessary disputes. I give you my assurance that the government will provide leadership and coordination and ensure that accurate and verified information is provided in a timely manner, on all pertinent matters relating to COVID19,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister’s statement follows the mobilization of the National Disaster Risk Management Council, last Thursday (March 5). According to Prime Minister Holness, the Ministry of Health has outlined various risk-scenarios and the plans to mitigate. The Ministry of Finance has already made budgetary allocations to support mitigation…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Jamaicans to remain calm and not to engage in panic buying in wake of a case of COVID-19 in Jamaica. Prime Minister Holness says local retailers should ensure that supplies are adequate and that prices are stable. The Prime Minister’s comments came last night (March 9) while speaking at the ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Progressive Grocers Limited Jamaica at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. “In the current situation where there is a global threat, that is a possible disruption of supply chains by the COVID-19, retailers and suppliers in the distributive network will play a critical role in ensuring general stability in the economy. I want to take this opportunity to say to our Jamaican consumers that there should be no need for panic buying and the local retailers will ensure that there are adequate supplies on our shelves and that prices will remain stable,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness noted that disruptions in the global system are inevitable, as such, the country must have certain production capacities, locally, in agriculture. “Disruption in the global system is inevitable, and disruptions will become more frequent. As a part…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that countries should embrace change to build resilient societies and address the developmental challenges of broad-based sustained growth, environmental sustainability, and climate adaptation. Speaking yesterday (February 27) at the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, Prime Minister Holness stated that a transformation is needed at the local, national, regional, and global levels to achieve sustainability and climate adaptation. “Building resilience requires a mindset change of mainstreaming the acceptance and the indeed embrace of change and disruption, that is the only certain thing and if we are agile, if we accept that there will be disruption and we put in place the policies and the measures to adapt to mitigate then we can turn the uncertainty of change, the risks of disruption into opportunities of the future,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, the Prime Minister said the Government of Jamaica will put in place integrated strategies and plans for sustainable development. “It requires that we understand disaster loss and the dynamic risk landscape, and implement appropriate policies to establish the necessary linkages within the built environment, taking advantage of technology, scientific evidence, and traditional knowledge – all of…

Due to pressing national matters and to ensure the constitutional composition of the Cabinet of Jamaica, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has cancelled his scheduled trip to the 31st Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, (CARICOM) underway in Barbados. Prime Minister Holness presided over the meeting of the Cabinet yesterday ahead of the appointment of a new Minister. The decision to forego the CARICOM Inter-sessional also comes as the Government focuses on preparations for the upcoming Budget Debates and other national and political matters. The Prime Minister was slated to attend talks yesterday and today at the CARICOM Inter-sessional and return to Jamaica tomorrow. In the meantime, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith is leading Jamaica’s delegation and will offer apologies on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has hailed track and field star athlete Asafa Powell CD, for his outstanding performance in the 100-meter sprint over the years. Powell, who has broken the 10-second barrier 97 times, more than any other athlete, has been dubbed the Sub-10 King. While speaking at the ceremony recently to unveil a statue of the sprinter, at the Statue Park, National Stadium, Prime Minister Holness said that, Asafa has been widely regarded as the Jamaican sprinter who started the modern era of sprint dominance by Jamaican male athletes. “Asafa Powell stands tall among our elite athletes, powered by the drive to compete. Asafa has been a trailblazer and an avid sportsman determined to write his name in the historical records of global athletics. Today we elevate him into the global pantheon of our greatest athletes,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, Prime Minister Holness underscored that the public recording and immortalizing of great athletes will serve as an inspiration to young upcoming athletes to replicate similar or greater results on the world stage. “Additionally, there is a greater chance of replicating the success of those who went before who are memorialized publicly, as we are doing now,”…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness left the island this morning for an international lecture series for Black History Month beginning at the Missouri University (MU) in Colombia, United States. Prime Minister Holness will lead a discussion on the Economic Development in Jamaica as well as a lecture on the Democracy in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Ahead of the lecture series, Prime Minister Holness will meet with the University President, Mun Choi, the Chancellor and key members of the MU faculty and administration. The Prime Minister will wrap up his four-day visit with a Post Lecture reception and participate in a dinner hosted by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science. Prime Minister Holness will return to the island on Friday, February 7. During his absence, Dr Horace Chang, Minister of National Security will be in charge of Government.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that a new governance framework has been developed to guide the operations of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) under its new 21 member board. The Prime Minister said discussions were had with the executive leadership of CMU and to date, there are a number of developments to be approved by the new board. In that regard, the Prime Minister listed the following pending approvals; Board Charter, Declaration of Interest, Investment Policy, Donations Policy, and Procurement Internal Procedures. Additionally, the Prime Minister stated that all the documents for approval have been finalized and are being reviewed by the Council. He pointed out that the annual report for all outstanding years will be submitted to the external auditors by the end of May 2020. “This would have been completed earlier, however the external auditors thought it prudent to await the completion of the Auditor General’s Report and therefore the CMU will be current going forward,” said Prime Minister Holness. In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness used the opportunity in Parliament to announce the new board of directors. In addition, the Prime Minister underscored that the new board will need to move quickly to put in place…

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced a State of Emergency (SOE) for the Kingston Eastern Police Division. The Prime Minister said that acting on a recommendation of the leadership of the security forces he has petitioned the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen, to declare the State of Public Emergency in the police division. In that regard, the SOE will impact areas in some five constituencies to include hot spots such as Mountain View Avenue, Rockfort, Bull Bay and other communities in the police division. The announcement was made this morning (Sunday, January 26) during at Press Briefing at Jamaica House. According to Prime Minister Holness, the declaration comes against the background of the high levels of crime including gang warfare taking over the police division making it a crime hot spot. In the meantime, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of the national security budget and the details with regard to the expenses. He said that his Administration is spending more than four times the amount spent by the previous administration on the capital budget of the Ministry of National Security. “A primary reason is that we as a country did not see it as appropriate to allocate the necessary…