Speeches by the Prime Minister

There has been much debate in the public domain about CARICOM. Some of the information and the debate in the public domain has not always benefited from a studied view of the issues that surround Jamaica's participation in CARICOM and speaking Mr Speaker, as the Prime Minister of the country but also as leader of a political party, the expressions that have come sometimes would seek to indicate that there is some reluctance on this side to fully participate in CARICOM. By this debate Mr. Speaker, I wish to put to such thought that there is no reluctance on this side to participate in CARICOM. What we have always maintained is that our participation in whatever regional organization must make sense for Jamaica, and we have also maintained that a weak Jamaica does not make a strong CARICOM and we acknowledge Jamaica's important leadership role in building and strengthening and sustaining the institution of CARICOM. We assembled a team of eminent persons to review Jamaica's participation in CARICOM and advise the Government so that we can take a studied approach to the issues of CARICOM. You will recall that in 2016/ 2017 there was great concern regarding issues of free movement of persons…

REMARKS PREPARED FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY, THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA, THE MOST HONOURABLE ANDREW HOLNESS, MP ON THE OCCASION OF THE SPECIAL LUNCHEON HELD IN HONOUR OF HIS EXCELLENCY MR.  MIGUEL DIAZ CANEL-BERMUDEZ, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCILS OF STATE AND MINISTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA ON THE MARGINS OF THE THIRTY-NINTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM)  5TH JULY 2018 MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA     Good Afternoon, Our collective presence at this Thirty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM reaffirms the spirit of unity and solidarity which binds us together as a region. It is in keeping with this spirit of oneness that I extend a special welcome to His Excellency Mr.  Miguel Diaz Canel-Bermudez, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, in whose honour I am pleased to host this luncheon. Excellency, On behalf of my colleague Heads, I am pleased not only to welcome you to Jamaica,  but also to receive you into the region’s fraternity of leaders. We note that since your recent election and appointment to office, this will have been your first…

REMARKS BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA, THE MOST HONOURABLE ANDREW HOLNESS, O.N, M.P FOR SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE ADRIAN DUDLEY SAUNDERS AS PRESIDENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE  KINGSTON WEDNESDAY 4TH JULY 2018   Your Excellencies, the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General and the Most Honourable Lady Allen Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Members of the Cabinet Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community Sir Dennis Byron, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice and Lady Byron Senator the Honourable Thomas Tavares-Finson, President of the Senate The Honourable Mr Justice Bryan Sykes, Chief Justice The Honourable Mr Justice Dennis Morrison, President of the Court of Appeal The Honourable Mr Justice Adrian Dudley Saunders, President Designate of the Caribbean Court of Justice Specially Invited Dignitaries Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen all Good afternoon   I am honoured, as Chairman of the Conference of the Heads of Government, to address such an august gathering at this Swearing-In Ceremony on the Assumption of Office of the Hon. Mr Justice Adrian Saunders as President of the Caribbean Court of Justice. Let me express my gratitude to the Rt. Hon Sir Dennis Byron…

OPENING STATEMENT BY THE MOST HONOURABLE ANDREW HOLNESS ON, MP PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA AND CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) DELIVERED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE THIRTY-NINTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA 4TH JULY 2018     Your Excellencies  the  Most  Honourable  Sir  Patrick  Allen, Governor General and the Most Honourable Lady Allen; Your Excellencies Colleague Heads of State and Government; Mr. Tony Hylton representing the Leader of the Opposition Chief Ministers and Ministers of Government Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary-General Newly installed President of the CCJ Justice Saunders Members of the Jamaican Judiciary I wish  to  acknowledge  former  Prime  Minister  PJ  Patterson whom we all agree is the epitome of the Caribbean Man High Commissioners, Ambassadors and Special Emissaries Representatives of Regional and International Organizations Distinguished Delegates Members of the local and international media Ladies and Gentlemen all WELCOME Allow me to specially acknowledge my colleague CARICOM Heads who have been re-elected or newly elected since our last meeting: Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada The Hon.  Gaston  Browne,  Prime  Minister  of  Antigua  and Barbuda The Hon.  Mia Mottley,  the  first  female  Prime  Minister…

I have the distinct honour of saying welcome to Jamaica for all our first-time investors and visitors. Your presence at this forum signals that we are strengthening confidence in Jamaica's business environment. The Jamaica Investment Forum represents one of Jamaica's key initiatives designed to secure new investors and cement the decisions of investors who have indicated interest in our country. As it stands, the forum is achieving its objectives with past events, creating over six thousand (6000) jobs and over US $300 million in investment. If you ask me, I think that that is a success so I want to congratulate Diane and her staff at JAMPRO, and I want to in particular point out the great work that has been done by the Chairman of JAMPRO and one of our leading entrepreneurs, Mr Don Wehby. Now, I don't usually try to take the credit but I’m a politician, I can't help it,  but for a brief time about two years, I was the minister responsible for JAMPRO but then I decided that I would have another minister who is very energetic, who was an investment promotion specialist himself to take the lead in JAMPRO and you may have heard…

Thank you for that introduction Mr Casserly and Simon it's not too late to share the platform you wished to share with me but I think that the platform you're on now is still a very good platform. The Kiwanis Club, the Kiwanis organization is an organization that I wanted to join but just was never invited. Your most distinguished Former Governor but I believe you still take the title as Governor Godfrey, oh Master of Ceremony Distinguished President Simon Casserly and Members of the Kiwanis Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District Members of the Diplomatic Corps Member of Parliament Bishop the Honourable Conrad Pitkin, Custos Rotolorum of St James Your Worship Councillor Homer Davis, Mayor of the great city of Montego Bay And Mayor Councillor Leon Williams of the upcoming city soon to be hopefully Leon Thomas Dr Carey Wallace, Executive Officer of the Tourism Enhancement Fund and other sponsors and other heads of agencies who are here in attendance Members of the private sector Distinguished ladies and gentlemen Members of the media Good evening.   It is indeed a pleasure for me to be here with you. I know that this is the fifth time Jamaica is hosting the…

Thank you, Heather, Deputy General Manager of the UDC Senator Ransford Braham, Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation Colleague Members of Cabinet Senator the Honourable Tom Tavares-Finson, President of the Senate and other members of the senate who are present The Honourable Pearnel Charles, Speaker of the House of Representatives and other members of the house of representatives who are here Ambassador the Honourable Douglas Saunders, Cabinet Secretary Your Worship the Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew- we now call it the KSAMC, Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams The Honourable Steadman Fuller, the Custos of the parish of Kingston Members of the Diplomatic Corps Akbar Khan, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Dr. Damian Graham, General Manager of the Urban Development Corporation Other Heads of Agencies who are here Councillors Architect Leighton Whyte, Senior Project Manager at the Urban Development Corporation Architect Suzette Adams-Rickards, Project Architect, Urban Development Corporation Members of the private sector Members of the academic community Distinguished ladies and gentlemen  boys and girls, good morning.   I hope I have not left anyone out. I keep telling the Cabinet Secretary that we have to have a shorter list for acknowledgements but we…

Statement to Parliament on Petrojam by The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister on 26 June 2018   Cabinet last evening (Monday, June 25) received a preliminary report on the operations of Petrojam, and on specific allegations in the public domain. The meeting, which ended at approximately 11:00 pm, gave the Cabinet the opportunity to question the General Manager and management team of Petrojam as well as officials of the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology. Pursuant to the exhaustive discussions surrounding the report the Cabinet gained a better understanding of the issues and problems at Petrojam and has identified key areas of weaknesses in the governance of Petrojam. The weaknesses identified appear to be longstanding and systemic in nature and have impacted the governance, transparency and efficient running of the entity. Some of the issues raised in the discussion highlighted governance and management practices that require a policy response that will improve governance not only at Petrojam but also across all public bodies. As Prime Minister, I have tasked the Cabinet Secretary to compile the relevant legislation, regulations and policy guidelines relevant to the areas of weaknesses identified in order to close the existing gaps. There were some issues reported…

 Honourable Dr Horace Chang, Minister of National Security Mrs Marlene Malahoo-Forte, Attorney-General of Jamaica Mrs Dian McIntosh, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Mrs Audrey Sewell, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and in the Office of the Prime Minister I am extending apologies for Mr Fitz Jackson who has indicated that he is unable to attend but reminded me that I will see him parliament later today. Major General Retired Anthony Anderson, Commissioner of Police Mr Stewart Beckford, representing Mr Raymond Spencer, Commissioner of Jamaica Fire Brigade Ms Charmaine Gray, representing Commissioner of Corrections Members of the Jamaica National Service Corps Intake 1701 Other Distinguished guests Officers Men and women of the Jamaica Defence Force Members of the media Good morning.   It fills me with a tremendous sense of pride to be here today, to witness the certification ceremony of the first batch of the Jamaica National Service Corps members. In June last year, I welcomed you as Jamaica National Service Enlistment Corps Recruits and congratulated you on taking this important step towards charting your future, then in September, I was the Reviewing Officer for your passing out. It was therefore very…