News from the OPM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that the Government has already reviewed the closing hours for businesses in areas where there is a State of Public Emergency. Prime Minister Holness made the disclosure in Parliament last night (September 17) as he spoke on the motion he brought to extend the State of Emergency in the parishes of St. Catherine and Clarendon. According to Prime Minister Holness, adjustments have been made to the business hours which is a direct result of the dialogue between citizens and Government. “As Prime Minister, I am not aloof or separate or way above what is happening. In today’s world, citizens can communicate directly with their prime minister. I get hundreds of messages about what is happening in the SOEs. I am here to reassure Members of Parliament that this Government, my administration, my leadership we are doing everything to ensure that these extraordinary powers are not abused. So, I have gotten the calls from the business people, in Portmore, in May Pen all over where we have the States of Public Emergency. We’ve got the calls and the complaints. We hear and we understand,” said Prime Minister Holness in Parliament last night. The Prime Minister…

A contingent of 120 men and women of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) are now in the Bahamas assisting with recovery, search and rescue efforts following the passage of Hurricane Dorian. The soldiers are working in Abaco, which is one of the hardest hit areas. Prime Minister Andrew Holness who spoke to the soldiers at the Norman Manley International Airport on Saturday (September 7) ahead of their departure said they are performing critical duties and encouraged them to look out for Jamaicans impacted. The Prime Minister asserted that he is expecting the DART to be good ambassadors of Jamaica while executing their duties. “I want to speak directly to the men and women of the DART team, you’re going as ambassadors to Jamaica, you’re going to reassure, to serve and to assist in recovery bare-in-mind that first and foremost you would want to avoid unnecessary risks yourselves, you would also want to ensure that whatever you do, whatever service you give, you give it to the best of ability and bear in mind that you wear the uniform and the flag of Jamaica. There are Jamaicans in the Bahamas, look out for them as you would…

Prime Minister Holness has paid tribute to the Honourable Louise Bennett Coverley, OM, OJ, MBE, affectionately called “Miss Lou” for her pioneering work in spreading Jamaica’s culture to the world. The Prime Minister said that Miss Lou was a positive cultural Ambassador of whom all Jamaicans are proud. Speaking at a special ceremony to mark the centenary of her birth in Gordon Town Square, St. Andrew, the Prime Minister noted that Miss Lou’s significant body of cultural work is etched in history. He said Miss Lou’s contribution to culture has resulted in the evolution of reggae and dancehall as forms of cultural expression. Prime Minister Holness also noted that dancehall plays an influential role in the popularity of our country. “I want you to understand that what we make here as a people has an impact all over the world in the highest halls of authority and power. Jamaica is there but not everything that we do is going to make it there and not everything that we claim is culture is of value and some of it is pulling us down. So, we need some more Miss Lous, some more Koffees to take our experience, put it into words…

The Government of Jamaica has completed a comprehensive national drainage plan to improve the drainage system which will put an end to the flooding in the Corporate Area as well as several flood-prone towns such as May Pen, Santa Cruz and Port Maria. “When we are done, the entire Jamaica will be fully developed. Indeed, improving our road infrastructure is critical to productivity, connectivity and building a prosperous new Jamaica” said Prime Minister Holness. Speaking in Parliament Tuesday (September 10) Prime Minister Holness stated that last year the National Works Agency (NWA) completed a Master Drainage Plan which gives a comprehensive overview of the gaps in the drainage system nationally. “We have done the request for proposals for a drainage design for Kingston and St. Andrew. Hopefully, they will go to contracting within a month and the period of design will be this month. Hopefully, we will have that ready in terms of the major drains that will have to be reconstructed or new drains to be put in Kingston and St. Andrew,” said Prime Minister Holness. In that regard, the areas that would benefit from this new drainage plan would be primarily the Tinson Pen, Maxfield Avenue Areas, St. Andrew West…

The parishes of St. Catherine and Clarendon have been placed under a State of Public Emergency. The announcement was made today (September 5) by Prime Minister Andrew Holness. According to Prime Minister Holness, the SOPE was declared based on empirical statistics and intelligence gathered. Since the start of 2019, the Clarendon division has recorded the second-highest number of murders at 100. The St. Catherine South division has seen an increase in murders of 50% over last year, currently recording 91 murders since the beginning of the year. While the St. Catherine North Division has had 66 murders so far this year. Prime Minister Holness declared that the Government is not using the State of Emergency as a substitute for regular policing. “The Government is not using the State of Emergency as a substitute for regular policing. What the State of Emergency does, is to provide a respite in the number of crimes in particular murders that are taking place, it helps to expand the number of law enforcement personnel that we have on the ground. It helps to restrict the free movement of the criminal enterprise and then, that gives regular policing an increased ability to do their work,” stated Prime…

The first contingent of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) has been dispatched to the Bahamas following the passage of hurricane Dorian. The Government of Jamaica will provide support to the Government of the Bahamas by way of the deployment of the Jamaica Defence Force soldiers from DART. The first group left the island today (September 5). Speaking at a press conference today, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, Jamaica will receive assistance in transporting the members of DART from the Royal Canadian Air Force. “They will be airlifted for us in partnership with our friends – our Canadian friends, they will be airlifting both men and equipment. So, Jamaica will have a presence in the Bahamas, and we will be at the disposal of the Bahamian Government if they require any further assistance,” stated Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister also noted that he has been in direct contact with the Hon. Hubert Minnis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas for updates. "Just before and during the hurricane, I’ve been in direct contact with Prime Minister Minnis of the Bahamas and he has given me an update on the situation in the islands that have been affected. You would have seen…

Jamaica has mobilized the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to be dispatched to assist the hurricane-ravaged, neighbouring islands of the Bahamas. Prime Minister Andrew Holness who has pledged to support the Bahamas in the wake of the disaster has placed the DART on standby to be on the ground in Abaco and Grand Bahama, the two worst-hit areas. Prime Minister Holness has been in constant touch with the Prime Minister of the Bahamas Hon. Hubert Minnis who indicated that Bahamian officials are currently doing their assessment. Once the initial assessment is complete Jamaica will be able to provide assistance. Prime Minister Holness has also offered condolences to the Government and people of the Bahamas on the lives lost as a result of the catastrophic category 5 Hurricane Dorian. The hurricane has been pounding the Bahamas since Sunday (September 1) slowly meandering across the islands. Officials have reported the death toll at 5, and there have been loss of electricity and extensive damage to infrastructure. DART, which consists of members of the Jamaica Defence Force, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and other response agencies will help to address issues of need in search, rescue, assessment and restoration of…

I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Hon. Sameer Younis, OJ. Mr Younis, who died yesterday (September 1) was a business giant who served Jamaica with distinction. He worked tirelessly in the private sector to help build a better Jamaica. Indeed, as an entrepreneur for more than 50 years in Jamaica, Mr Younis helped to shape the local business environment. He served as President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, the Jamaica Manufacturers Association and in the leadership of several other private sector bodies and established the Sameer Younis Foundation to assist people in vulnerable communities. His life through business and philanthropy was an example of impacting and empowering people. Mr Younis was conferred with the national honor, the Order of Jamaica in 2013. Jamaica has lost one of our great developers of the industry. May his soul rest in peace.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness today recognized the tremendous contribution of Dr. Kenneth Baugh to the development of Jamaica and hailed him as a true gentleman of Jamaican Politics. Dr. Kenneth Baugh OJ, transitioned this morning at home in Kingston. He was born on February 24, 1941, in Montego Bay, St. James. He attended the Springfield Primary School; Cornwall College and University of the West Indies (UWI). Dr. Baugh was a surgeon by profession. As a physician he was always motivated to heal and care, a perspective based on his love for humanity which he also brought to political service. Anyone who knew him, whether as a patient or a constituent or even a colleague, would agree that he was a kind and caring person. During a distinguished political career as a member of the Jamaica Labour Party, Dr. Baugh served as Member of Parliament for North West St. James between 1980 and 1987, as a Senator from 1989 to 1993 and then as Member of Parliament for West Central St. Catherine until his retirement in 2016. Dr. Baugh also served as Opposition Leader, Minister of Health, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica as well as General…