My fellow Jamaicans, each year Commonwealth Day is observed on the second Monday in March. Fundamentally, it is a day to remember, celebrate and learn about the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 53 diverse member states that share language, history and culture and believe in the values of democracy, human rights and respect for the rule of law. This year,...

Notes of Opening Contribution to the House of Representatives Debate on the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) 2015 Act by the Minister of National Security   Introduction It is with a sense of being on the right side of history that I rise to open the debate on the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) 2015 Act, a very significant piece of legislation, which has...

My Fellow Jamaicans,   There is something about Christmas which retraces our childhood days and floods our hearts with memories of family and friends. It makes us wish for joy and happiness and that indeed, there will be peace on earth and goodwill among mankind.   That is what we call, “the spirit of Christmas;” that spirit of Love which...

It’s the season to be jolly! I totally understand if we may not all feel this way. Against the backdrop of our difficult economic situation many Jamaicans are finding it hard to see the festivity in the season. It has been a rough year for all of us, but let this not blind you to the virtue and meaning of...

It is an interesting coincidence that the debate on the three Bills to establish the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Jamaica’s final appellate court and the debate on the Reparations motion are occurring contemporaneously, because both address the impact of slavery and colonialism on the societies of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. While the Reparations debate focuses on receiving...

I too would like to add my word of welcome to all of you in attendance today and to the IMF for hosting the third Caribbean High Level Forum in Jamaica. Several studies have shown that the main constraints to growth are primarily on the supply side.  These include: (1) a high debt burden with the associated impact on the...

This afternoon I will update this Honourable House, and the nation regarding two recent issues, which this Administration considers to be serious threats to our national security. The first concerns our recent refusal to land a CARICOM national in the interest of public safety and security, and the second, the security sector’s contribution to Jamaica’s preparedness for the threat posed...

My Fellow Jamaicans:   Our annual commemoration of Heritage Week is an important point on the national calendar; culminating in the observance of Heroes’ Day and the conferment of national honours and awards on deserving Jamaicans. Heroes’ Day affords us the opportunity as a nation, to reflect on the lives of our forebears, celebrate their achievements, and recognize their sterling...