Speeches by the Prime Minister

Remarks By Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Ceremony for the Swearing-in of Cabinet Ministers On September 17, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Excellencies the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, our Governor General, and the Most Honourable Lady Allen Members of the new Cabinet Members of the new Senate The Honourable Audrey Sewell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service, and other government officials in attendance Bishop the Honourable Conrad Pitkin, Custos Rotulorum for the Parish of St James Family members and support teams of the newly appointed Members of the Executive and the Senate Other special guests Representatives of the media Fellow Jamaicans viewing these important proceedings at home and abroad, a very good afternoon. Following on my swearing in yesterday as Prime Minister, today we begin the work of delivering on demanding as we gather to swear-in the women and men who will serve as ministers of the government of Jamaica. This is indeed a milestone, and it is right that we pause to celebrate the personal journeys that have brought each of you here. Your families, your communities, and your supporters share in this achievement, and they too deserve…

Swearing-in of Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP As Prime Minister of Jamaica On September 16, 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Their Excellencies, the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General, and the Most Honourable Lady Allen Mr Mark Golding, Leader of the Opposition, and Mrs Golding The Most Honourable Juliet Holness, and other members of my family who are here. Her Excellency, Raquel Peña, Vice President of the Dominican Republic CARICOM Government delegations from the governments of the Cayman Island and the Turks and Caicos Islands, Former Prime Minister, Mr Bruce Golding and Mrs Golding Widows of former heads of government, Excellencies and members of the diplomatic community and the Consulate Corps, Members of the judiciary, Cabinet Secretary and heads of Public Services, The Cabinet Secretary, Honourable Audrey Sewell Leaders of the public sector, private sectors and academic bodies The Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman Acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Andrew Lewis. Members of the Clergy Other distinguished special guests, Fellow Jamaicans at home and abroad in the diaspora, a very good afternoon to you all and thanks for coming out.   My fellow Jamaicans, to God be the glory. His grace, his mercy…

Theme: "Be Proud. Be Bold. In the Black, Green, and Gold."   My fellow Jamaicans, today, we mark 63 years since our beloved country declared our independence to the world, raised our glorious black, green, and gold flag for the first time, and declared that this land, our land, would be home to a nation of free people, charting our own destiny with pride and purpose. Our forebears rejected the notion that the affairs of Jamaicans must be dictated by others. They chose instead the harder path: to stand on our own, to chart our own future, and to build a society grounded in our own image and aspirations. In that spirit, the theme for this year’s Independence celebration, “Be Proud. Be Bold. In the Black, Green, and Gold,” calls us to boldly commemorate our freedom and proudly recommit ourselves to the values that must shape our future. Let us be proud of our progress in macroeconomic stability, record employment, resilient growth, reduction in crime, reduction in poverty, and increased national confidence. But let us also be bold in confronting what still holds us back: indiscipline, social inequities, and low productivity. There is more work to do to build a Jamaica that lives up…

My fellow Jamaicans, Today holds profound meaning and solemn pride. It is a moment of remembrance, reflection, and reaffirmation. A day when we pause to honour the struggle, suffering, and sacrifice of our ancestors, while also drawing inspiration from their strength to shape our path forward. It is also a day where we take stock of where we have come from and commit never to do anything that could compromise our freedom or impact our trajectory towards the better Jamaica our ancestors dreamed of. A Jamaica where we have complete financial and economic freedom, freedom from crime and violence, freedom from unemployment, and freedom from any restraint that could prevent us from realizing our individual and collective potential as a nation. Emancipation Day holds significance not only for Jamaica but for the entire world. The abolition of slavery was not merely a historical event; it was a seismic moral awakening. It marked a decisive turning point when an institution, once regarded as lawful, even natural, was confronted and condemned as a crime against humanity. The formal end of slavery in the British Empire in 1834, followed by full freedom in 1838, ignited a wave of abolition across the globe over…

Keynote Address By Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica at the Port Authority of Jamaica Groundbreaking and Project Launch of Caymanas Special Economic Zone On July 29, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Good afternoon, everyone. Allow me to thank Stacy-Ann for her wonderful mastery of the ceremony. And Pastor Rachel Thompson for invoking the presence of the Lord in our midst and blessing this venture, which we are about to undertake. Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Investment, Industry and Commerce His Excellency Mr Antonio Sá Ricarte, the Ambassador of Brazil to Jamaica. Welcome, sir. Mr Alok Jain, Chairman of the Port Authority of Jamaica Professor the Honourable Gordon Shirley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Port Authority Executive heads of public and private sector organizations, and I see a few in the audience. Members of the media Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, good morning.   I don't know if you recall the movie Field of Dreams. Some of you may recall that movie in which Kevin Costner was the star, and he was hearing a voice in his head saying, build it, and he will come. And that voice kept haunting him and he ended up building…

Keynote Address By Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica At the Official Grand Opening of the newest KFC Black River, St Elizabeth On July 26, 2025 ______________________________________________________________  Thank you very much, Debbie. You are indeed the master of ceremonies. Let me thank Gaylean Skervin for her prayers. Thank you for blessing this event and interceding on our behalf. Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, is a parishioner and he is a very strong advocate for St Elizabeth, and he may have gone a little bit ahead of himself in the advocacy, but it is only because he knows where my heart and head is in relation to the development of the parish and therefore, he was just speaking into being what we are planning for the parish. Your homeboy, Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, and indeed a very good Member of Parliament. Let me acknowledge Cetany Holness, representing His Worship the Mayor Richard Solomon And then Mark Myers, Managing Director of Restaurants of Jamaica and Michelle Myer Mayne and Tina Matalon and other members of the Restaurants of Jamaica family and management team Representatives of the public and private sectors who…

Keynote Address By Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica at Installation Ceremony for Custos Hon. Lennox Anderson-Jackson, Custos Rotulorum of Hanover On July 17, 2025 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Thank you, Madam Master of Ceremonies, Your Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General, and the Most Honourable Lady Allen Senator Janice Allen, representing the Leader of the Opposition The Honourable Deroy Chuck, Minister of Justice Other Members of the Cabinet The Most Honourable Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, Former Governor General of Jamaica and Mrs Hall The Honourable Mrs Justice Lorna Shelly-Williams, representing the Honourable Mr Justice Bryan Sykes, Chief Justice Excellencies And Members of the Diplomatic Corps Members of the House of Parliament Brigadier Elon Clarke, representing the Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, Chief of Defence Staff Mr Glenford Miller, Assistant Commissioner of Police representing Dr Kevin Blake, Commissioner of Police His Worship the Mayor Councillor Sheridan Samuels, Mayor of Lucea The Honourable Lennox Anderson-Jackson, Custos Rotulorum of the parish of Hanover, and Mrs Anderson-Jackson. Other Custodes Justices of the Peace Other distinguished guests Members of the media   Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed a good morning. Before I proceed, if my voice fails me…

Keynote Address By Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Harmony Cove Development Duncans, Trelawny On July 22, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Thank you everyone. And thank you for the wonderful birthday greetings. Yes, one more year pon them. There are so many distinguished persons here that it is sufficient to say good afternoon nice and decent people. That's sufficient coverage for everyone without getting me into trouble for not acknowledging anyone specifically. Horace told me a tale, that is my deputy Prime Minister, that he was so stressed as a member of parliament that he was seeking a place for some relaxation and he went to visit a friend who had a property across the road, and that friend pointed him to a very secluded beach that he could go and clear his mind. And whilst there he looked at the place and said, wow, what a paradise; untouched, unspoiled, this would be a great place for a development. And as he is a visionary himself, he foresaw what could be, and he got in touch with Kingsley Thomas, another visionary. And at that time, I believe Kingsley was…

Keynote Address By Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP Prime Minister of Jamaica at J Wray & Nephew 200th Anniversary On July 23, 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Now, I did have some concerns when I saw you sprinkling the libations around the hall, especially when you went over to Tony, because I know that even a whiff would cause him to become delusional. Our Excellency, Dr Erja Askola, the Ambassador to Jamaica from the European Union, His Worship the Mayor Andrew Swaby Mr Daniel Karen, Managing Director, Campari Group and other executives here today. And special mention to Dr Joyce Spence. Your story is inspiring and I'm awaiting your book if you haven't done it already. I'm sure it will make an exciting read. The leadership team and members, past and present, of J Wray & Nephew Limited and the J Wray & Nephew Foundation, Specially invited guests, Representatives of the media, Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed a good afternoon. Allow me to first express what an honour it is to be with you as we mark this historic milestone, the 200th anniversary of J Wray & Nephew. Today, we're not merely celebrating a company we're saluting a…