Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says tighter restrictions will be re-imposed if a spike in confirmed local Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reoccurs, subsequent to further relaxation of the existing preventative measures, beginning Monday (June 1). Noting that the number of cases totaled 586 as at Sunday (May 31), Mr. Holness emphasized that “we must continue to protect...

A Motion calling for legislative changes to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) Act, to strengthen the investigative capabilities of the organisation was tabled in the House of Representatives by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, on May 27. A Joint Select Committee of the Houses of Parliament reviewed and reported on the Act in October 2015. It recommended, in light...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has called for the creation of a revamped system of global, financial and monetary governance that focuses on the most vulnerable groups in society. He was addressing the United Nations (UN) ‘Virtual High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond’ on Thursday (May 28). The Prime Minister co-convened...

Special guidelines for shelters and emergency operations are being developed by the Government as it prepares for the upcoming hurricane season while concurrently managing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who said the guidelines are being finalised by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Ministry of...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the measures that have been implemented to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) have reaped success, but they will be tightened if there is a significant increase in the number of cases in the island. "Yes, we are doing well; but don't let our success become our enemy," the Prime Minister emphasised. "Continue to...

My fellow Jamaicans, With giant leaps in science and technology, mankind may sometimes have a false sense of invincibility about the global civilization we have created. The COVID-19 Pandemic has exposed just how fragile we are and how vulnerable our connected world can be, ironically, by virtue of that same connectedness. We know that disruption is part of the natural...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday (May 13) had a telephone discussion with the General Secretary of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres and the Prime Minister of Canada Hon. Justin Trudeau on the challenges and impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on nations across the world particularly Small Island Developing States and the role that the leaders of Jamaica...

The cohort of Jamaicans that returned yesterday from the United States and Canada under the Controlled Re-Entry Programme has been encountering a number of difficulties at their quarantine location. These difficulties relate primarily to delays in the admission process at the quarantine facility and the lack of timely provision of meals. First of all, I must unreservedly apologise to every...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Jamaica is preparing for a phased reopening of the tourism sector, with the necessary health and safety protocols being put in place to guard against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). “So we have to plan in advance and anticipate when our largest tourism market would be ready for us, and what...