Mr. Chairman, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, and wish to assure you of my delegation’s full support. Jamaica aligns itself with the statements delivered by Bolivia on behalf of the G77 and China, Costa Rica on behalf of CELAC, and Guyana on behalf of CARICOM. The Priority Theme for this...

Statement in the Senate Senator the Honorable A.J. Nicholson QC Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade   Visa-Free Travel to Bermuda Before reporting on the visit to Caracas by the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister, I would like to advise this Honourable Chamber of some good news that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade received...

Mr. President, I thank you and members for this opportunity  to address this Honourable Senate in a State of the Nation address. I was moved last week by the sentiments expressed in this Senate of the desire to be bi-partisan in many of the fundamental issues that we are required to unite around to get Jamaica out of its myriad...

STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT BY THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND ENTERTAINMENT, THE HON. WYKEHAM McNEILL, MEASURES TO REGULARIZE PERSONAL WATER CRAFTS (PWC) OPERATIONS   Background The Honourable House will recall that following two accidents involving Personal Water Crafts (PWCs) on August 17th and 21st, 2013, where one child died and another person was severely injured, in Ocho Rios and Negril, respectively,...

I welcome you most warmly to this sixteenth staging of Jamaica’s Diplomatic Week.  I am delighted that we are joined by an unprecedentedly high number of non-resident Heads of Mission. I extend a special welcome to the newly appointed resident and non-resident High Commissioners and Ambassadors who have joined us since we last met, including those who, just yesterday, presented...

INTRODUCTION The House is reminded that late in December 2013 the Government of Jamaica laid in this Honourable House the Fiscal Policy Paper - Interim Report and an adjusted Letter of Intent and Memorandum of Economic     and Financial Polices (MEFP). I wish to make some comments on both documents, and I will also use this opportunity to provide an update...

My fellow Jamaicans …   It’s that time of year again, when, as a nation we are encouraged to reflect on the importance of the tourism sector, as we welcome the start of the 2013/2014 winter tourist season which begins on December 15.   Jamaica like many of our neighbours in the wider Caribbean region has faced numerous challenges over...

INTRODUCTION: Mr. Speaker, we have come to the end of our budget process which began on the 4th of April, 2013 with the presentation of the Estimates of Expenditure. Let me thank the Members of this Honourable House who have made contributions in the Standing Finance Committee and to the Debate which I opened on April 18th, 2013. Mr. Speaker,...