The unprecedented spread of Covid-19 has created a global health crisis. Each day brings new developments as countries around the world seek to “flatten the curve” and achieve “social distance” which is significantly, sharply and suddenly curtailing economic activity around the world. The Jamaican government, led by the Most Hon. Prime Minister Andrew Holness, has taken strong action to protect...

To advance further understanding as it relates to the implementation of measures in the public sector to encourage “work from home”, Permanent Secretaries are required to consult with department and agency heads to determine certain functions which could be carried out from home for seven days starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020 to March 25, 2020. The objective is to reduce...

Salutations Mr. Speaker, as I rise to make this presentation in the 2020/21 Budget Debate, I give thanks to Almighty God for this beautiful gift of life, for health and strength, and for the opportunity to serve the people of Jamaica land we love. There are also many people who play a critical role in my life and who I...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to update this Honourable House and the people of Jamaica on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has now been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Mr. Speaker, as of Thursday, March 12: 296 persons have arrived in the island from countries of interest to Jamaica. Of that number, 65 have been...

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 SALUTATIONS & EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE Mr. Speaker, I begin by thanking Almighty God, from whom all blessings flow. Great is thy faithfulness. Great is thy mercy and thy loving kindness. Mr. Speaker this is a demanding job and one I could not do without the support of family, friends and colleagues. To the Councillors and Executive of...

Thank you for joining us this afternoon for what is an important development with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Jamaica today confirmed its first imported case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) here in Kingston. The patient is a Jamaican female who had travelled from the United Kingdom, which has cases of COVID-19. She arrived in the island on March 4,...

Jamaica is pleased to join member countries of the Commonwealth located across the world in commemorating Commonwealth Day, once again. This year we do so under the theme “Delivering A Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”. The Commonwealth family of nations represents a rich cultural diversity of islands and landlocked states as well as developed and developing countries, but all committed...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness and, in fact, the whole of Government is making every effort to safeguard public health, as the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) remains a clear and present danger to the island. We now have a COVID-19 Comprehensive Response Plan, which has received the approval of the Prime Minister Andrew Holness-led National Disaster Risk Management Council. This...