Speeches by the Prime Minister

“We are going to have to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Your mind is your only ruler. The man who is not able to develop and use his mind is bound to be the slave of the other man who uses his mind”. As we pause to celebrate Emancipation Day, to reflect on its significance to our present reality, I greet you with the words of the forefather of Pan-Africanism – our very own, the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Only a few days ago, I launched the National Education Transformation Commission, out of an acute recognition that we must transform our systems, particularly our education system, to give ourselves the best chance of developing a growing economy and thriving society in a new global order, driven by knowledge and technology.  The Pandemic has only served to hasten this new global order and heightens the need for us to undergo this critical transformation. You may be asking yourself – what does this have to do with Emancipation? Here again, I invoke the words of Marcus Garvey, immortalized in song by Bob Marley – “none but ourselves…

As Prime Minister acting in accordance with the advice of the National Security Council, and having received the written agreement of the Commissioner of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff, I have declared a Zone of Special Operations under the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act, 2017. The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) (August Town Zone) Order, 2020 has been gazetted. The community of August Town has been assessed as a significant contributor to the level of crime in the St. Andrew Central Police Division and for some time now has been designated a hotspot within this Police Area.   Based on the assessment, there is an urgent need for intervention. The presence of major gangs in the community, as well as a number of other less organized gangs, has over the years, contributed to the level of crime. Additionally, the criminal activities of these gangs are not only restricted to the geographical boundaries of the community but have negatively affected other areas. The community in 2016 went a year without murder and it has been the beneficiary of several anti-violence social intervention efforts over decades. Home…

Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. Thanks for joining us on this Sunday afternoon.  We welcome Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica from home and abroad who are joining us virtually. As you know, a number of measures in the existing order under the Disaster Risk Management Act will expire today, May 31, 2020. The purpose of today’s press conference is to inform the public about the measures that will be in place as of tomorrow, June 1, 2020.  We have been indicating for last two weeks, that we will move into the next phase of our management of the pandemic.  We have been successful in our efforts thus far which have been focused on containment of the virus.  We had our first confirmed case of COVID-19 nearly 12 weeks ago and, as at yesterday, we had a total of 581 confirmed cases, of which 290 persons have recovered.  Unfortunately, we have had 9 deaths and we currently have two persons critically ill.  Therefore, there are currently 282 active cases. On the first graph displayed on your screen, the solid black line which is now appearing shows the cumulative number of cases (581) as announced yesterday.  The dotted black line displays the…

The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act, 2017 The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) (Greenwich Town Zone) Order, 2020 Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 9:00am at OPM Media Centre, Jamaica House As of today, I,  as PRIME MINISTER IN COUNCIL, that is to say, as CHAIRMAN of the NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, acting on the advice of the security forces have officially declared A ZONE of SPECIAL SECURITY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS under The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act, 2017. The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) (Greenwich Town Zone) Order, 2020 has been gazetted. This Law under which the Zones are declared was created for upholding and preserving the rule of law, public order, citizen security and public safety within certain geographically defined areas of Jamaica.   This Law allows for a coherent strategy utilising inter-Ministerial and inter-agency coordination toward social intervention with the aim that the people gain confidence in the security forces and trust the justice system so that the new culture of the community is self-sustaining and permanent.  This…

1st Extraordinary Inter-Sessional Summit of the OACPS  Theme: “Transcending the COVID-19 Pandemic: Building Resilience through Global Solidarity” Agenda Item 4: Discussion on Key Global Solidarity Actions The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 Mr. Chairman Colleagues all When we met in Nairobi last year, we resolved to deepen and strengthen our solidarity as a group of developing states. Little did we know that only a few weeks later, the Novel Corona Virus would be declared a “Global Health Emergency” and then later a Pandemic, severely eroding our resilience and even reversing the hard-earned gains of sustainable development. CARIFORUM States have experienced devastating impacts in multiple areas including health, education, culture, trade and finance.  The mainstays of most of our economies; agriculture and tourism, were hardest hit by a staggering fallout in revenue and employment.  These experiences are certainly echoed across ACP states. This global crisis is a resounding call to action for nothing less than a comprehensive revision of the system of global economic governance that will promote sustainable development, even in the face of a pandemic. This includes redefining development indices, ameliorating inequalities and addressing economic imbalance. Admittedly, the pandemic has summoned increased coordinated responses from…

OPENING REMARKS by the MOST HON. ANDREW HOLNESS, PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA High Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond on Thursday, May 28, 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to all joining us from across the world. I am pleased to co-convene this event with Prime Minister Trudeau and Secretary General Guterres, as we address this immense global health and economic crisis. The support of so many UN Member States among the Group of Friends of SDG Financing is important to meaningful outcomes from today’s event. This pandemic is a wake-up call for the international community to re-invigorate a comprehensive system of global economic governance - one that can cope with global disruptions, while promoting inclusive development. Without such a strategic and decisive response, amidst declining economic growth and increasing uncertainty, the social and economic fallout could persist. Access to emergency liquidity support for developing countries, which can least withstand shocks to their economies, is key. However, the bigger challenge for the international financial system is to channel public and private credit flows into productive, inclusive developmental capital formation. The work streams on Global Liquidity and Financial Stability, as well as Debt Vulnerability should inform our response…

PRESS BRIEFING REMARKS by the MOST HON. ANDREW HOLNESS, PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA High Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond on Thursday, May 28, 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- * As you have seen from the widespread participation at today’s meeting, the international community is united and committed to taking the action required to mount a robust and coordinated response to the devastating economic and human impacts of COVID-19. * Over 50 Heads of State and Government responded to our invitation to participate at this High-Level Event. * It is fitting that the UN has taken the initiative as our co-convenor in this regard, as it comprises the broadest and most inclusive range of countries of any international organization. * By leveraging its convening power, the UN and its Member States have today launched a partnership with key stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society. * Our aim is to facilitate a process to devise concrete solutions to the development emergency that stems from the COVID-19 pandemic. * As we heard today, there is general agreement that the response to this pandemic will require large-scale, comprehensive multilateral effort particularly to support countries most in need.…

CLOSING REMARKS by the MOST HON. ANDREW HOLNESS, PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA High Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond on Thursday, May 28, 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. I am pleased with the spirit of determination exhibited today by global leaders and institutions, including the United Nations. We have committed to rescuing our economies and societies from the devastating economic and human impacts of COVID-19, and to emerge as more resilient societies. 2. What is abundantly clear from our exchanges is that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an unprecedented global development emergency. The magnitude of the shock from this pandemic has weakened our resilience and threatens to erode our hard-earned gains in pursuit of the sustainable development goals. 3. As co-convenors we are keen to support the important follow-up work that the working groups will be undertaking in line with the key areas explored today: 1. Global liquidity and financial stability 2. Debt vulnerability 3. Private sector creditors engagement 4. External finance for inclusive growth 5. Illicit financial flows 6.  And Recovering better for sustainability. These groups will be comprised of Member States supported by the UN Development System and in partnership with relevant international…

My fellow Jamaicans, With giant leaps in science and technology, mankind may sometimes have a false sense of invincibility about the global civilization we have created. The COVID-19 Pandemic has exposed just how fragile we are and how vulnerable our connected world can be, ironically, by virtue of that same connectedness. We know that disruption is part of the natural order of things. We have experienced hurricanes, conflicts, and economic down-turn, but most of us have never experienced disruption of this magnitude and over such an extended period, in our living memories.  Nevertheless, we are resilient, and we will adapt, change and evolve; together we will overcome the pandemic and create a new normal way of living. Every cloud of crisis carries a silver lining of opportunity. Crisis focuses the national consciousness and clarifies positions. Things we thought impossible, which we were just simply reluctant to incorporate, are now imperatives. The pandemic has exposed just how inefficient and risky cash based transactions are, not just from a security point of view but from a public health point of view, especially when large numbers must gather at transaction points to collect transfers or make payments in person. However, governments have been…