Speeches by the Prime Minister

Address By The Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, MP Press Conference to Announce National Day of Prayer, Fasting and Repentance November 29, 2017 Thank you very much Madam Masters of Ceremonies, Dr Patricia Holness; Let me acknowledge the Reverend Dr Jefferey Shuttleworth; Reverend Courtney Gordon; Bishop Rohan Edwards; Minister Olivia Grange; MP Mark Golding; Distinguished ladies and gentlemen gathered here, good afternoon.   You've said it correctly Patricia what I have on my heart. It was late one night when I got a telephone call saying, “I have an important message for you, a prophecy and it must be delivered to you personally. I can't tell you over the phone.” So I said “I’m out of town but as soon as I get back into Kingston I’ll make the necessary arrangements to meet with you.”   I won't say who or maybe I should but let me go a little before that because the Government of Jamaica is increasing its access for the people of Jamaica to develop a portal through which citizens could petition the government using a digital platform. Having opportunities for petitions always existed; you could do a paper petition and you could send it in but…

Address by The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, MP at the United Nations World Tourism Conference Montego Bay Convention Centre                  November 28, 2017     General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization; Ms Gloria Guevara Manzo, President of the World Travel and Tourism Council; Mr Alexandre Guerra De Rosa, Vice President for countries into American Development Bank; Heads of Delegations; Members of the Diplomatic Corps and international organizations; His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Homer Davis, Mayor of Montego Bay; Delegates; Heads of Organizations, Agencies and Departments; Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.   I'm delighted to be here with you; a very pleasant good morning.   I know that yesterday Minister Bartlett would have welcomed you to the conference and to Jamaica but let me add my own warm welcome to all of you. Welcome to Jamaica.   This event is truly a remarkable success. As I was discussing with Mr Rifai, the numbers of delegates who have decided to attend have surpassed our expectations. It is clearly by virtue of the excellent arrangements that have been made but I will accept your observation too Mr Rafi that it is also as a…

Keynote Address by The Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, MP at NHT Handing Over Ceremony Nashville Mews, St Mary November 24, 2017   It is good to be back in St Mary, and especially to be handing over these units to the proud beneficiaries at Nashville Mews.   As Dr Clarke pointed out this event was planned for much earlier, but some events intervened or we will call it a super veiling event. But nevertheless and Dr Clarke explained all the considerations and ramification and equivocations. We decided that anything you’re going to do, you’re going to get criticized and we were already being criticized for making an allocation which was made long before the super veiling event in fixing the incoming road. And you know what? Its 32 beneficiaries, 40 housing units and we wouldn’t want your housing units to be tied up in any kind of controversy.   You have worked very hard. You’re going to be paying for it with your hard earned salary and you deserve to have a controversy free home so we decided that we have to protect the institution of the NHT which by the way has been one of our best performing…

Statement by the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister to Parliament on the  Delimitation of the Boundary of the Cockpit Country and the Cockpit Country Protected Area on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 Mr. Speaker, for several years, the public has been actively engaged in a robust, constructive discourse on the delimitation of the boundary of the Cockpit Country.  Discussions have been ongoing for decades; transcending administrations but Mr. Speaker, the wait is over, today; after extensive consultations and deliberations we are announcing the areas to be designated as the boundary of the Cockpit Country and of the Cockpit Country Protected Area.   Mr. Speaker, let me start by defining what the Cockpit Country is and why it is so important? The Cockpit Country is a unique geological feature.  The Encyclopaedia of Jamaican Heritage’ describes it ‘… as steep sided valleys that alternate with conical hillocks to form a peculiar type of terrain known as karst topography. The limestone cannot retain surface water and rain water immediately percolates below ground through cracks and fissures, widening these over millions of years until the pits or valleys are formed. The conical shape of the hills comes from the effect of weathering…’.   Mr.…

Statement by The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, MP IMF Press Briefing November 17, 2017   We've been pleased to host Madame Lagarde in Jamaica for the past few days, this being her second visit to Jamaica. We’ve had the opportunity for frank and meaningful discussions. Our partnership with the fund is strong and has transcended administrations. Over time Jamaica is taking more ownership and responsibility for our economic reforms even while we continue to utilize the incredible technical assistance and support of the IMF.   Jamaica is making significant strides, macro-economic stability is entrenched; public debt is on a downward trajectory. The labour force is expanding and employment is increasing. Over fifty thousand jobs have been created in the last twelve months. Growth is occurring- although at rates that could be a little faster but we're seeing growth nonetheless. Public finance is considered credible and monetary reforms are bearing fruit. This collectively represents material progress however much remains to be done. Public sector reform has started and the momentum needs to gather pace.   My government is built on partnership and we have brought additional stakeholders into the monitoring and reform efforts. Public sector reform will therefore also proceed…

Address by The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, MP Prime Minister at the Certification Ceremony for Integrity Champions  November 12, 2017   I'm pleased to be here with you today at this very important certification ceremony. There is no doubt that integrity, accountability and transparency are necessary pillars of any prosperous and progressive society. Having true ambassadors of integrity as the theme highlights and who are graduating today will definitely improve and build capacity for local and citizen based actions against corruption.   Let me commend the Council of Voluntary Social Services and the National Integrity Action for undertaking this important initiative. Let me also express our gratitude to the USAID for its continued assistance. You have been longstanding and faithful partners in Jamaica's development.   The principles that have been taught in this training must always be promoted, protected and upheld in order to strengthen good governance, social cohesion and economic advancement. The focus on integrity centred leadership by CVSS and NIA and the presence of integrity officers in our communities schools, youth clubs, churches and elsewhere promotes the very important message that we all need to take responsibility for our actions and endeavour to be agents of change…

Address by The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, MP Tour of BMR Wind Limited Project Potsdam, St Elizabeth November 8, 2017     When Bruce started, he just by nature ignores the protocols and that is not a bad thing. We stand on ceremony too much in Jamaica but I have Minister Floyd Green here, he would be very upset if I did not recognise him. He is the Member of Parliament for an adjoining constituency and Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.   I have the Member of Parliament for this constituency here, Mr Frank Witter and he certainly would be upset if I did not mention his name.   No questions that His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Derrick Sangster; Mayor of Black River, would not talk to me if I did not mention his name.   I have of course Councillors Simpson and Holness here as well and they would ignore me when I come to St Elizabeth.   Of course, my very good friend who - I am so welcomed when I come to St Elizabeth - he opens up his home for me, former mayor Councillor Jeremy Palmer; I would not…

Address by  The Most Hon. Andrew Holness ON, MP Prime Minister at the Opening of GWest Medical and Business Centre November 2, 2017   I will be back here again later this month as we continue to cement Jamaica as a global conference destination when we host the Global Conference on Sustainable Tourism from November 27th to 29th. That conference will focus on a larger scale what GWest is in fact showcasing here today bringing ideas and capital together to create a valuable offering which will stimulate economic growth, job creation and profitability.   Let me extend congratulations to the management and staff of the GWest centre particularly to the founders Dr Konrad Kirlew, Dr Ladi Doonquah, Mr Wayne Gentles, Mrs. Elva Williams- Richard and Mr Dennis Samuels and Mrs. Denise Crichton-Samuels for their confidence in confirming Jamaica as the place of choice for successful business endeavours.   I congratulate all who are involved, who played a role. I note NCB Capital Markets, JMMB and our own JAMPRO who played integral roles in making this venture a reality. I know that it took a lot of focus, ingenuity and optimism to realise this goal today and I congratulate you all…

Greetings my fellow Jamaicans:   ‘A Great Heritage…..A Great Legacy’, that is our theme for National Heritage Week, which culminates today on National Heroes Day. It is a theme that all of us as Jamaicans need to internalise, appreciate and bring to the forefront of our daily existence.   The preservation and continuity of our rich and deeply rooted history, heritage and culture spans generations and our indomitable spirit is a part of the fabric that makes us who we are as a nation. We have a great heritage to promote and a great legacy to protect.   We cannot afford to treat it lightly, knowing we have had significant global influence on every field including music, culture, sports, medicine and of course our contribution to world history through our national heroes.   Jamaica and Jamaicans can boast of our giants who stood tall against centuries of oppression. We produced heroes that impacted not just our great island nation, but the world.   Queen Nanny is known for her bravery, resoluteness and boldness. Sam Sharpe, was fully prepared to die on yonder gallows rather than spend his life enslaved.   George William Gordon took up the struggles of the black…