Speeches by the Prime Minister

Mr President, Jamaica is honoured to speak at this high-level plenary of the 108th Session of the International Labour Conference, to commemorate the Centenary of this most important global institution. Jamaica’s democracy was born out of the struggle of the labour movement. Labour is a respected and deeply integrated partner in the tripartite collaborative culture that is a feature of our sociopolitical system. Indeed, Labour has been a critical partner in overcoming political and economic crises in Jamaica throughout the last century and certainly since our Independence in 1962. A decade ago, Jamaica teetered on the brink of economic collapse. The global financial meltdown at the time exposed the weak foundations of the Jamaican economy. The truth is for decades we had defied economic logic in the management of our fiscal affairs and now we had to reckon with it. Our national debt reached an unsustainable high of almost 150% of GDP, our net international reserve fell to dangerously low levels, and by 2013 overall unemployment stood at almost 16% and youth unemployment was almost 36%. In the face of this national crisis, Jamaica engaged a tough IMF programme requiring at the time a rescheduling of local debt and a…

Thank you for those kind words, Charlie. Master of Ceremonies Mr Fernando Rivera, General Manager of the Shipping Association Mr Martin Medina, Caribbean Shipping Association Group D Chairman, thank you for the invocation. Mr Juan Carlos Croston, President of the Caribbean Shipping Association And of course, our own Charles Johnston of the Jamaica Shipping Association Mr Marc Sampson, Vice President of the Caribbean Shipping Association Members of the General Council of the Caribbean Shipping Association Delegates Executive Representatives of public and private sector agencies Media representatives Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.   It is my pleasure to welcome you to Jamaica and to the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Shipping Association's 18th Annual Shipping Executives Conference. Jamaica is proud to be hosting this important meeting and I’m pleased at the high level of attendance this morning. Allow me to extend hearty congratulations to the Shipping Association of Jamaica which is celebrating its 80th anniversary. The Shipping Association has come a long way since its formation and has set a high benchmark for excellence in its efforts to promote and protect the interest of the Jamaican shipping industry as well of those of the wider region. To the Shipping Association, we express deep appreciation for…

To the debate on the resolution and where points have been repeated, I note them for emphasis. What I believe is being emphasized is what are the strong points of evidence to be considered by Members of the House in making the decision to exercise their constitutional right to approve the extension. Well, you have a right and if you choose to use it, you use it by duty. You may feel that you have a duty not to, but you still have the right. Mr Speaker, the first point to consider is whether or not there is a threat to the right to life in certain areas of Jamaica. The constitution provides a benchmark is it on an extensive scale and if I could get the slide of the murders per hundred thousand for 2017 just to make the point particularly to the member from Central Manchester. When the security forces and the Member from Central Manchester would appreciate this, that when they go to give advice to the government it is not on  a frivolous frolic that they do serious consideration of the intelligence that they have of the evidence that is before them and of certain knowledge…

I'm here because this is a very important day in Jamaica's history, indeed our government. The government has taken a positive decision towards what we like to call the ownership economy. A few days ago, I was reading the editorial in one of our leading newspapers and you can guess which one that is, and the writer of the editorial was making the point that Wigton came out of the PetroCaribe loan facility and thereby attributed Wigton's success to our good friendship and relationship with Venezuela and this is true, there's no debate about that. Indeed, the lament was the closing of the PetroCaribe Funds and the intention of the founders of PetroCaribe, that this would be a way to give back to poor countries that were oil dependent, indeed a way to help countries that were energy poor and populations that were energy poor. If we reflect on what we are doing today and how we've structured the transaction you would have to say that this is the best way of giving back to the people of the country, this is the best way of achieving the goal of socialization of wealth. There is a confusion operating in the…

I was at an event last week where I obviously over exerted and so I’m recuperating. Clearly, Mr Clarke and Williams didn't do much. I'm here because this is a very important day in Jamaica's history, indeed our Government. The Government has taken a positive decision towards what we like to call the ownership economy. A few days ago, I was reading the editorial in one of our leading newspapers and you can guess which one that is, and the writer of the editorial was making the point that Wigton came out of the PetroCaribe loan facility and thereby attributed Wigton's success to our good friendship and relationship with Venezuela and this is true, there's no debate about that. Indeed, the lament was the closing of the PetroCaribe Funds and the intention of the founders of PetroCaribe that this would be a way to give back to poor countries that were oil-dependent, indeed a way to help countries that were energy-poor and populations that were energy poor. I f we reflect on what we are doing today and how we've structured the transaction you would have to say that this is the best way of giving back to the people…

Thank you for your direction of the ceremony so far. Let me assure everyone that my presentation will be brief and therefore I’m expecting to have your full attention. Let me thank Reverend Burchell McPherson for offering the prayers, good to see you again father. Their Excellencies, The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen Dr Peter Phillips, Leader of the Opposition Mr Christopher Issa, Chairman of the Chris Issa Group of Hotels The Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism and other members of the Cabinet who are here Jamaica is fortunate to have former prime ministers and I want to especially welcome them to this ceremony; the Most Honourable PJ Patterson and the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller. I say fortunate because when you hold this job you get tremendous experience and that experience can be converted into advice. Advice that should not be kept in a silo but advice that can be shared and I’m certain that all prime ministers are sharing their advice and I can say definitively that I have been the beneficiary of many council and sessions where I've been advised, and I personally am grateful to have access to all former prime ministers. Your Worship…

Madam Director of Protocol and Ceremony, Ms Gloria Henry Reverend Peter Burnett, Thank you for your prayers The Honourable Karl Samuda, the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Mrs Marlene Malahoo-Forte, Attorney General and Member of Parliament for the constituency in which we are now, Mr Mark Hart, Chairman of the Montego Bay Free Zone and other members of the board who are here, Professor the Honourable Gordon Shirley, President and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica and other members of the board of the Port Authority who are here, His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Homer Davis, the Mayor of Montego Bay and other members of the St James Municipal Corporation who are in attendance, Members of the Montego Bay Free Zone Global Services sector workers, Executive Representatives of the public and private sector agencies who are here, Media Representatives, ladies and gentlemen, Let me start with a few housekeeping matters. Firstly, the bypass is still on track and in fact by way of an update the Cabinet last year approved the submission for the bypass to proceed. The submission for funding is now with the China Exim bank awaiting their approval but we've…

Thank you very much Dermon and may I offer you congratulations on your new appointment as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. Since I made it the recommendation for the appointment I know that you will do a good job. I want to thank Mrs Myers for her fervent prayers for us. I gather she is a member of the board of Lititz Primary School and while I’m at it may I congratulate the students for their dramatic performance in every sense. I too have some association with agriculture and my father also insisted that I do some duties in the pig pen so in acknowledging the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, I want him to know that he's not alone in that upbringing. It is the most humbling experience and Warren got it right that it was a promotion to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries because I know that the man-of-farm will do an excellent job and I tell you why I feel that way. He has the natural ability to understand the people. He has the natural ability to motivate and inspire but more than that he has a…

Happy New Year everyone. I am certain that this year will be a far more progressive and prosperous year than 2018. Now, 2018 as Julian (Robinson) would agree, was a very good year for Jamaica but this year we're looking forward to even greater things and since you were wondering Julian why you were not appointed now that I know that you have an interest…. Let me do the protocol by first of all acknowledging the singer of the national anthem who did such an inspirational job. Father who prayed for us Let me acknowledge the minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Environment, Lands and many other things. Mr Daryl Vaz and his wife AnnMarie who as you know Julian has stepped into the political fold as well and I’m expecting great things from her, I know you're not. Our friend His Excellency the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom Asif Ahmad The Venerable Worshipful Mayor Senator and my friend Delroy Williams, the Mayor of the KSAMC And then, of course, Mr Julian Robinson, the Member of Parliament for this constituency and I’ll be meeting upon him quite regularly at these events. You know we have to…