Speeches by the Prime Minister

Groundbreaking Ceremony Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant
High-Level CARICOM Meeting on Haiti
Jamaica Stock Exchange 19th Regional Investment & Capital Markets Conference
The Launch of The Pinnacle, Montego Bay
Official Launch of Amber UTECH
Official Opening of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement  Project (SCHIP) PartB II (Harbour View to Yallahs Bridge)
Official Opening of Pepsi Jamaica New Production Line

Official Opening of Pepsi Jamaica New Production Line

November, 13 2023
Keynote Address By The Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Official Opening of Pepsi Jamaica New Production Line November 7, 2023 First, let me apologize for Minister Fayal Williams, I gather she was here, but she had to run off to Parliament. Allow me to acknowledge in similar form my neighbour and friend, the Member of Parliament for Western St Andrew, Tony Hilton; good to see you Tony, and I hope you recover quickly. It is a coincidence that Tony is also the Opposition Spokesman on Industry and Commerce, but it is no coincidence that I am the Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation, which is what we celebrate here today. If it is one thing that has done well, not by subjective analysis, but by the data and the statistics, is that our economy is growing and jobs are being created, indisputably so. Let me acknowledge as well, Alberto Ramirez, General Manager for Pepsi Cola Anecia Levy, your Transformation Manager Luz Tejada, Commercial Manager The Executives and Management and staff of Pepsi Cola Members of the private sector who are here in support of Pepsi Cola and this significant investment. Members…
Handing Over Ceremony for Shrewsbury Phase II

Handing Over Ceremony for Shrewsbury Phase II

November, 05 2023
Keynote Address By The Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Handing Over Ceremony for Shrewsbury Phase II Petersfield, Westmoreland On October 25, 2023 ________________________________________________ I want to thank Pastor Albert Whyte for his prayers. I know that you did not pray for the rain to hold, but you may have had it in your mind and so the rain is holding up. Nevertheless, we are appreciative of the blessings that it brought. We have beengoing through a long period of drought for a few months, so we are very appreciative of the break in the drought, and we are hopeful that this rain that we are having will not cause any damage to infrastructure. So far, it has not been expected that we note that in Kingston, it has caused some traffic snarls which areexpected because when it rains so intensely, so quickly, our drainage system was never built to deal with this excess capacity of water. Allow me to acknowledge my particularly good friend the Custos of your parish, Canon the Honorable Hartley Perrin. And on my entry, I made sure to ask him to pray for me and I know he…
Water Update- Statement by Prime Minister Holness in Parliament

Water Update- Statement by Prime Minister Holness in Parliament

November, 03 2023
Update on Water By The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At The Sitting of the House of Representatives On October 31, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr Speaker, these documents are normally circulated in a physical copy so the members can be assured that they will have a physical copy of it. Mr Speaker, I rise to provide an update to this honourable House on some matters related to the issue of water. It is to provide an update to this honourable house on some matters related to the issue of water. In the last 12 months, Jamaica has suffered the effects of significant reductions in its average rainfall. This is a result of both our change in climate and the El Nino phenomenon. Members of this House should recall my statement on the drought which I made in February of this year and the outline response of the government. However, I think it's important, Mr Speaker, to remind members of how severe our drought really was prior to the rains we thankfully received in this month, October 2023. In October 2022 to March 2023, Jamaica received cumulatively the lowest rainfall ever for this period since records…
National Heroes Day Message 2023

National Heroes Day Message 2023

October, 16 2023
Jamaica! Today, as we have been doing for many decades, since 1969, we mark our National Heroes’ Day. It is a day wherein we celebrate the strength, service and sacrifice of our national heroes, and importantly a day that calls upon us to look within ourselves and put into action our own heroism in the service of our country and our fellow citizens. Jamaica needs heroes; our nation was built on the backs of our heroes, and if we are to continue our march towards, peace, progress and prosperity for our people, we must all answer the call to be heroes. We need our society to be a place of heroes who do the right things, say the right things and live in the right ways that promote harmony. As we acknowledge the need for more Jamaican heroes, we salute those who are already heroes among us- individuals and communities who rise above challenges, who lend a helping hand, who inspire hope, and who exemplify the true spirit of Jamaica. The many families who work together and raise their children with love, respect, and positive values. The many community members who look out for their neighbours and assist the senior…
Prime Minister Holness Independence Message- Jamaica 61

Prime Minister Holness Independence Message- Jamaica 61

August, 06 2023
When you are independent, you walk your own road to success, peace, and prosperity. Independence, therefore, begins with a road. Today I am standing on the May Pen to Williamsfield Highway, which is slated for completion at the end of August 2023. This infrastructure, like all the others currently under construction across the island, represents development and ease for Jamaicans. It represents progress, growth, transformation, and independence. Today I stand in acknowledgment and reflection on our attainment of 61 years of national independence and my thoughts, as always, are about my Jamaican people and what independence means for them. On August 6, 1962, when we raised our own flag, bearing the much loved and celebrated, black, green, and gold, we heralded in our political independence. Since that time, we have embarked on a journey to become economically independent, with one aim; to raise the standard of living of our people and to provide every Jamaican with the opportunity for an improved quality of life. To do this we would have had to achieve economic growth. Jamaica, except for the early post-Independence years, that is the period during the 1960s, and for short periods during the 1980s and early 1990s, has…
Prime Minister’s Emancipation Day Message 2023

Prime Minister’s Emancipation Day Message 2023

August, 01 2023
Happy Emancipation Day Jamaica! Each year on August 1, we are presented with the opportunity to reflect on the heroism of our ancestors whose physical bodies were in shackles but whose minds could not be conquered. I encourage you today to reflect on their bravery, courage, and indomitable spirit and the heritage of resilience they bestowed on us. Our ancestors struggled against their dehumanizing treatment and with determination, strength, and dignity, fought to regain the freedom that is their birthright. The freedom struggle gave rise to our heroes who we today acknowledge. Nanny who taught us determination, ingenuity and creativity; Sam Sharpe who taught us about leadership and harnessing the power of our minds; Paul Bogle who taught us to stand up against injustice irrespective of whether it impacts us directly; Marcus Garvey who taught us self-reliance and self-respect; George William Gordon, who taught us kindness and sacrifice; Norman Manley who taught us about advocacy and the virtues of democracy; and; Alexander Bustamante who taught us to believe in ourselves to become politically and economically independent. Let us be inspired by the lives of our forebears whose freedom was won in blood through battle so that today we can enjoy…
THE 2023 EU-CARIBBEAN LEADERS MEETING

THE 2023 EU-CARIBBEAN LEADERS MEETING

July, 17 2023
STATEMENT ON HAITI BY THE MOST HONOURABLE ANDREW HOLNESS, PRIME MINISTER ON THE OCCASION OF THE EU-CARIBBEAN LEADERS MEETING JULY 17, 2023 | BRUSSELS, BELGIUM ____________________________________________________   Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Afternoon. I am pleased to be part of this meeting, which allows us to exchange views, progress our collaboration on matters of mutual interest, discuss ways in which to address challenges and seize opportunities including on the Caribbean side, for the furthering of our development aspirations. Excellencies, My colleagues have asked me to address the situation in Haiti which deeply concerns us all. On his recent visit to Haiti, Secretary-General Guterres highlighted the depth of the crisis, recalling that a recent earthquake and flooding have only compounded the existing political and economic turmoil and widespread insecurity – especially for women and girls, as a result of gang violence.  Citizens fighting back with vigilante justice and the gang’s further efforts at repression mark a dangerous phase of deterioration which we cannot afford to ignore. The insecurity in Haiti is well-known and has impeded access to healthcare, education, and other basic goods and services. It is most certainly undermining efforts for a lasting solution, which the ordinary Haitian people…
New Social Housing Programme Handing Over Ceremony Speech in Clarendon Southwestern

New Social Housing Programme Handing Over Ceremony Speech in Clarendon Southwestern

July, 17 2023
Address By The Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the New Social Housing Programme Handing Over Ceremony Clarendon South Western, Kemps Hill, Race Course On July 12, 2023 ________________________________________   I have to thank our Mayor Maragh and our Councillor Pauline Reynolds for the very warm welcome as well. So on behalf of the Social Housing team that is here, we thank you for the welcome, and let me thank the people who are gathered of all stripes, colours, and social groupings and communities that are assembled. It is quite a diverse set of observers that we have here on the periphery of this function. Some are in very bright green and some are in orange colours, significant numbers are gathered and it is reminiscent of a period of time which comes about every five years or so, but that period of time is not near. I get that there is an attempt to kind of bring on that period of time before time, time doesn't come yet time. Well, there is still a lot of work to be done before that time, and as the person who has responsibility to do the work,…
Reading of the Proclamation at King’s House

Reading of the Proclamation at King’s House

June, 30 2023
Remarks by The Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Reading of the Proclamation at King’s House on June 21, 2023 _________________________________________________________   Thank you, Dr McCarthy for your excellent mastery of the ceremony. You're quick on your feet. Your Excellencies, The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen Honourable Minister Senator Gabriela Morrison, representing the Leader of the Opposition Custodes Stakeholders Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.   My presence here at the podium was not planned. I imposed myself on the ceremony and His Excellency was very kind to accommodate me, but I thought it's important that the full force of the government be seen to be in support of this initiative. In Cabinet on Monday, we dedicated an extensive block of time discussing this issue and how, not just as politicians, but as leaders of the society, how we will mobilize the entire society to supporting this initiative so I'm very happy to see here a wide cross-section of civic leaders. I see the president of the JTA, good morning, how are you? And other influential leaders present. So, let me say officially that I endorse the proclamation of a National…