Every year since 1948, the 24th of October has been celebrated globally as United Nations (UN) Day. This is in commemoration of the founding of the Organisation with the ratification of its Charter by the five (5) Permanent Members of the Security Council, namely: France, the People’s Republic of China, the former Soviet Union (now the Russian Federation), the United...

Speaker, I begin by again congratulating the Prime Minister, Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, in being a visionary in establishing this Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change. The inter-linkages between the portfolios and indeed, across portfolio Ministries such as Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Transport, Works and Housing and Agriculture and Fisheries, to name a few, are no...

The Ministry of Health continues to formulate policies and programmes to reach the goal of a healthy and stable population. As part of my commitment to secure the health and wellbeing of the people of Jamaica, the Ministry of Health has crafted a Strategic Business Plan which takes into account our National Development Plan Vision 2030, this Administration’s Manifesto and...

The Vision 2030 Jamaica – National Development Plan sees the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) sector as playing a central role in the transformation of Jamaica over the next two decades on the path toward making the transition to becoming a developed country. [Watch the presentation LIVE] ICTs have become engines for social and economic growth globally. Their appropriate utilization...

This year, in the midst of the economic hardships, public chastisements and threats of violence, we seek to observe May 5-11, 2013 as Education Week, under the theme, Advancing the Nation’s Human Capital through Education. Education Week is packed with activities geared at enhancing the cause of education and teachers as they struggle to educate Jamaican children and youth so...

I take this opportunity to congratulate the nation's nurses for the tremendous work that they have been doing throughout the years to assist in the health care of the people of Jamaica. Despite the challenges, we know that we all have to stand together and play our part in providing the best health for the people of Jamaica. Today, we...

Mr. President, Members of the Governing Council of the United Nations, Members of the Secretariat, Heads of States, Excellencies, Ministers, Heads of Delegations, friends. I am honoured on behalf of the Government of Jamaica to address this 14th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and 4th Conference of the...

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members of the House,It is a privilege and honour to report through the Parliament on the activities and strategic plans of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for the period September 2007 to the end of the financial year 2008/2009. In doing so, I must first place on record my appreciation to the Prime Minister,...