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Government Committed to Peaceful and Orderly Society – Holness

By: , August 29, 2017

The Key Point:

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to transforming the nation into a peaceful and orderly society, with access to world-class education and training, and high-quality healthcare.
Government Committed to Peaceful and Orderly Society – Holness
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. (FILE)

The Facts

  • Addressing a Jamaica 55 Independence Gala at the New York Hilton in Manhattan on August 26, the Prime Minister noted that a major challenge to Jamaica’s development and job creation remains citizen security.
  • Mr. Holness said that in order to reduce the level of criminal activity, the Government “has passed a groundbreaking piece of legislation, which, with others to come and other initiatives to be announced, will, for the first time since our independence, empower the Government to confront the breakdown in law and order and public safety, and return Jamaica to a safe and secure place of choice”.

The Full Story

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to transforming the nation into a peaceful and orderly society, with access to world-class education and training, and high-quality healthcare.

He also emphasised that this would include sustained and inclusive economic growth, job and wealth creation, and an end to poverty, particularly inter-generational poverty.

Addressing a Jamaica 55 Independence Gala at the New York Hilton in Manhattan on August 26, the Prime Minister noted that a major challenge to Jamaica’s development and job creation remains citizen security.

Mr. Holness said that in order to reduce the level of criminal activity, the Government “has passed a groundbreaking piece of legislation, which, with others to come and other initiatives to be announced, will, for the first time since our independence, empower the Government to confront the breakdown in law and order and public safety, and return Jamaica to a safe and secure place of choice”.

The Prime Minister was referring to the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act.

Passed in Parliament recently, the legislation seeks to contain crime while safeguarding the human rights of residents and promoting community development through social-intervention initiatives.

The Prime Minister can only declare an area a zone of special operations after the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commissioner of Police, as members of the National Security Council, have advised him so to do in writing.

Mr. Holness said the Government will continue to engage members of the diaspora in the effort to secure sustained growth and development.

“I am very cognisant of the fact that you, our diaspora members, are amongst our best assets, and are indeed our national treasures,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister commended members of the diaspora for their overwhelming support of the recently held Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference in Kingston.

He noted that some 60 per cent of the attendees were first-time conference participants, which indicated that the Government’s reach continues to expand.

At the function, the Prime Minister received the 2017 Award for Distinguished Leadership from the diaspora.

Also receiving awards were former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, for his service to nation building; and former NBA player, Patrick Ewing, who received the ‘Son of the Soil’ Legacy award.

Last Updated: August 29, 2017

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