Speeches by the Prime Minister

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…

Keynote Address by The Most Hon. Andrew Holness ON, MP at the Geographic Information Systems User Conference October 10, 2017 Mr Fitz Jackson, Opposition Spokesperson on National Security Mr Silburn Clarke, President, Spatial Innovision Ltd Mr Alexander Williams who left us chairman, Land Information Council of Jamaica Mr Evan Thompson, Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica The Chief of Defense Staff, General Rocky Mead Commissioner of Police, George Quallo Permanent secretaries, Heads of Agencies And departments Members of Staff of the Nation Spatial Data Management Division The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Member of the Private Sector Distinguished guests Members of the media Ladies and Gentlemen A very good morning to you all It is an honour to address the Inaugural Jamaica GIS User Conference celebrating geo-spatial technology, innovation, implementation and use in our country. I congratulate the Land Information Council of Jamaica on their 25th anniversary of organizing and ensuring the development and maintenance of a national network geographical information system through the collaborative efforts of land and land related agencies. I must single out Mrs. Jacqueline Dacosta, former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Land and Environment and former Chairperson of the LICJ who has…

Keynote Address by The Most Hon. Andrew Holness ON, MP at the Itelbpo 5th Anniversary Celebration and Housewarming October 4, 2017   It is my great pleasure to be here with you this evening. I make it a point of duty to be present at these very important openings - groundbreaking - because it drives home the point that great things are happening  in Jamaica and believe me I am doing about three per week so it's amazing what is happening in Jamaica and it is showing the psychology of economics: confidence.   People are willing to take risk and Yoni, Lisa, Richard you have taken a risk on Jamaica and that is something that the government looks on and we're very grateful for that and we encourage more Jamaicans to take a risk on Jamaica but we're not saying that you should be foolish with your money because what the government is doing is to make it easier for you to calculate your risk and it is clear that you have been able to project what the future will be. You have been able to calculate what the risks are and find them acceptable and then you have made…