Speeches by the Prime Minister

Keynote Address by Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Port Antonio Bypass On June 26, 2025 _______________________________________________________________   We're gathered here to celebrate, to mark a major achievement. This is a civic function. This is a function for the entire Jamaica and particularly for the people of Portland because I preside over the government as Prime Minister, but I administer the government on behalf of all the people of Jamaica. Whether you voted for me or not, whether you're a part of my political organization or not, every Jamaican is served by the government I administer, is served fairly, equally and we are broadcasting today for those Jamaicans who may not be under the stent, but who are equally interested in the infrastructure development of their country. This is for them as well, including those who may not want this government to do it, may want another government to do it, but that's fine. We are the ones doing it now, but it's still for your benefit. I acknowledge all Jamaicans who are in this room, under this tent with us. I like to say my government is a…

Keynote Address by Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) Launch On June 17, 2025 ____________________________________________________________   Allow me to stand on the protocols already established. Safe to acknowledge, especially the Minister of Local Government, The Mayor of Kingston and St Andrew and his colleague mayors and members of the system municipalities of the KSAMC who are here Members of the public service who are here in support And of course, you, the young people who are participants and beneficiaries of this amazing programme. The minister of local government has explained that this year's programme involves 10,000 youth being employed, but that is not the extent of the government's summer employment programme. There is a cohort of youngsters being employed through HEART. I don't have those numbers with me, but I'm certain it is in the thousands and of course, today is not their day. I know that the Ministry of Science, Energy and Transportation now also has a special programme. But right across the government, all ministries have their own little programme that they employ students and youngsters in the summer, and I would venture a guess that…

Address by Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At Falling Springs Water Supply Project: Springfield, St Mary On June 18, 2025 ______________________________________________________________ Thank you, Mr President. And allow me to acknowledge my colleagues, MP Kerensia and MP Bobby, who are so neighbourly. I'm actually surprised because even though MPs are colleagues and even when they're in the same political organisation, they're usually still very competitive because they're competing for resources for their individual constituencies, but I have found a surprisingly high level of cooperation between Bobby and Kerensia, which leads me to think of that there might be something else, but... they're very cooperative. And it renounced to the benefit of both constituents because the truth is that water resources are placed naturally in areas by God. We don't determine where they are. We have to go and dig them up wherever they are and make the connections, so there might be a water source in Kerensia's constituency that must serve the people in Bobby's constituency. It's one Jamaica, so we can't say the water that is in Kerensia's constituency can't serve the people in Bobby's constituency; the water in St Catherine can't be…

Address by Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At Jeffrey Town Primary School On June 18, 2025 _______________________________________________________________  Now, let me see by a show of hands who would like six new classrooms? Who would like an office for their guidance counsellor? And let me see who would want a staff room for the teachers? And shouldn't there be a little administrative block of offices? And shouldn't there be good sanitary facilities, bathrooms? How about a multipurpose auditorium space? And what about some space for storage? And I know that all of you would want a computer room with labs. And of course, you all want your school to be properly fenced. Well, all of these things are going to happen. In fact, last year we allocated resources to do what is called the planning for this. So, Madam Principal, they would've come to do what is called the geotechnical survey. They came and did their site visit to check the soil to make sure that the soil can carry the weight of the buildings. They have done all the plans. Yes, they have drawn the buildings already. They have gone to get the…

Keynote Address By Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Handing Over Ceremony, HAJ’s Edmund Ridge Project, Rhyne Park, Montego Bay, St James On April 25, 2025 ______________________________________________________________   I am eager to tour these units. I recall when I broke ground here, in 2019, there was great anticipation that the project would be completed before now, but a few months after breaking ground, we were impacted by the COVID pandemic and when we are having these conversations about the timeline for project completion, somehow, we forget that we were impacted by a global pandemic. And for the HAJ and the NHT, as I mentioned earlier, at another event, it has disrupted the delivery timelines and, in this project, it had significant disruptions. Nevertheless, the project is now underway full steam ahead. There are 739 housing solutions that will be constructed here. Phase one and phase two are already completed, I believe they are occupied already and those communities are flourishing communities, you already have a citizens association in place. Phase three is already sold out and Phase four, five and six are underway in varying stages so this project is well underway.…

Remarks by Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the NSHP Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Shady Grove, Lluidas Vale, St Catherine On May 30, 2025 _______________________________________________________________  Thank you, Judith. Very quickly,  this story that was told by Nadine as to how she got to this point clearly indicated a great deal of support from her family, support from political representatives and support from communities. And in fact, what I glean from your story is that your son put some funds together and some friends put some funds together and someone who used to work with Mr Pickersgill was very instrumental in referring you to the programme and all of that comes together to bring you to this point. It's critical to point out that the government in this programme does not purchase lands to construct the houses. The beneficiaries have to come to the programme with land. Either they own it or they get it as a gift or someone is willing to give them a long-term lease and for us the long-term lease would have to be somewhere in the region of 99 years. That means you technically own it for your lifetime so…

Remarks by Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the NSHP Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Turnbull Sandy River, Clarendon On May 30, 2025 _______________________________________________________________ The New Social Housing Programme is designed to provide housing and shelter for the most vulnerable in our communities and as you can look at the before and after, there is no question that Anita would be in need of shelter, but the programme is more than that. We provide shelter for persons who are victims of natural disasters, usually fires and houses destroyed by floods or hurricanes. We also provide housing for persons who are the victims of domestic violence and abuse. So far we have gone several such homes that we have provided for women in particular who have suffered abuse, who have had to flee and who have been harmed physically and in that process of having to leave their homes they become literally homeless moving from home-to-home living with friends and Anita, your case is something similar. Beneficiary Ms Anita: Yes, because I used to live with my family and I got thrown out by one sibling, and then I started to search for places to stay…

Keynote Address by Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Prime Ministers’ National Youth Awards On May 31, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Thank you, Debbie and Jevon, for your masterful mastery of the ceremony. Allow me to acknowledge Senator Dr the Honourable Dana Morris Dixon, our Minister of Education Skills, Youth and Information, and other Members of the Cabinet who are in attendance. Mr. Christopher Henry, Junior Shadow Spokesperson on Education and Community Development representing the leader of the opposition, Our friends in the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Our permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Fabian Brown, Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Award Selection Committee   Other public and private sector stakeholders and sponsors, And of course, the important people of the moment, our 2024 Prime Ministers National Youth Award nominees and their proud family members and special guests who are here. As I entered this venue and I had a brief chance to survey the audience, I thought to myself, you all look amazing. Yes, clap yourself. And as I was reviewing the nominees, I could not help but thinking we are a…

Keynote Address By Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Prime Minister’s Medal Award Ceremony, Jamaica House Lawn On  May 28, 2025 _______________________________________________________________   This evening is about acknowledging and honouring the educators who have given their lives in service to others. Our educators have been partnering with us in building our nation one lesson at a time, one child at a time, one generation at a time. We honour those who have stood on the front lines of transformation. The Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education is the highest honour that can be bestowed by the government of Jamaica to an educator for contribution to education. It is not given lightly and it is never only symbolic. This award is a statement, a clear national declaration that says you matter, your service matters, your commitment counts, your legacy is very much real. What makes a person devote 30, 40, or even 50 years to education? What keeps them going? It is obviously purpose and passion. It must be love for children and it must be a deep and abiding concern for future generations. By the way, these are answers…