It is my honour and privilege to speak on the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. My Ministry has a serious responsibility on behalf of all Jamaicans. We must consider developments in the international arena, see how they affect our national interests and help determine Jamaica's best response. We must identify challenges and help to address...

Mr. Speaker and Members of this Honourable House, It is indeed a pleasure to be standing here once again and to be privileged to be a part of the 2009/2010 Sectoral Debate. You will recall that over the last twenty two (22) months I was the subject of a court case regarding my legitimacy in the House. I stand here...

1.0 The Historical Context of AccessThe historical underpinnings of education in Jamaica, from slavery through to emancipation, through de-colonization, self-rule and finally independence; to the establishment of the Ministry of Education and the Education Act of 1965, to the New Deal in Education 1966, the 70:30 policy for reserving secondary places for public primary schools, the compulsory attendance policy, the...

Mr. Speaker:I am honoured to once again stand in this Honourable House to report on the performance of the health sector over the last financial year and to share with the people of Jamaica some of the priority areas for this current financial year. First of all, I would like to thank my Constituents who gave me the mandate to...

Mr. Speaker, the global economic crisis which began in 2007, will go down in history as one of the defining moments of our time. I will not attempt to engage this honourable house on matters best addressed by my colleague Minister of Finance, but I am constrained to mention the global economic crisis for two reasons. Its impact on the...

Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a humbling experience as I rise to speak in this Honourable House not only as a second term Member of Parliament, and first time Cabinet Minister, but at a time when the people of Jamaica have embraced and voted for change, ability and performance. They have voted for a team committed to, and leading the...

Mr. Speaker, permit me to begin my presentation this afternoon by expressing again my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for his continuing confidence in me and for allowing me to serve my country in the capacity of Minister of Tourism. I thank my Cabinet colleagues for their support. I especially thank those Ministries with which I collaborate on issues...

This honourable House will recall that on June 11, 2009, the World Health Organisation declared Phase 6 of its influenza pandemic alert, signaling that the world was at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic. Phase 6 means that sustained community transmission of the new Influenza A(H1N1) virus is occurring in more than one (1) WHO Region and that a...

"...the global financial crisis has exposed the artificial and tenuous nature of the international economic system..." "...But, in a crisis there are only two (2) options available - FIGHT or FLIGHT. Mr. Speaker, in our case, there is really only one feasible option at this time. We must of necessity FIGHT for the survival of OUR nation..." Pearnel Charles, 2009...

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to be addressing you on the occasion of the very first Caribbean Regional Conference of the International Telecommunications Society. Some of the best minds in our region will contend with the challenges and the unparalleled opportunities for development, which fast pace innovations in the ICTs have offered up. On behalf of the government, I...

Mr. President, the Bill being laid before this Honourable House is the annual Appropriation Bill required by subsection (1) of section 116 of the Constitution of Jamaica. It provides authority for expenditure (other than statutory expenditure) for the financial year 2009/10 and specifies the manner in which that expenditure is to be allocated to the various services and purposes specified...