My fellow Jamaicans my fellow Jamaicans! Jamaica’s heritage is indeed our greatest legacy. The uniqueness of our people, our language, music, folklore, gastronomy, and traditional practices are undeniably amazing. People from all over the world aspire to live breathe and experience the Jamaican lifestyle and want to identify with the Jamaican brand. In that regard, I am pleased to extend...

“OUR HERITAGE – A GREAT LEGACY” Once again as we celebrate National Heroes Day, it is a time for us to recognize and celebrate our cultural heritage and to pay tribute to all those who in the past and those who today have made their contribution to establishing our country’s cultural, economic and political foundations. I would like at the...

Mr Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of this Honourable House a matter of serious national implication – the emergence of the Tropical Race 4 (TR4), disease previously called “Panama Disease” in this hemisphere and the potential threat it poses to the local and regional banana and plantain industry. Mr Speaker, The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and...

Mr. President, I extend heartiest congratulations on your election as President of this 74th Session of the General Assembly and assure you of Jamaica's full support in the work ahead. I must also convey our deepest appreciation to Her Excellency Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, for so ably guiding our work in the preceding session. Mr. President, The United Nations is...

I have been briefed by the Minister of National Security, the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of Transport on the situation concerning the public transportation system. It is clear, that indiscipline on our roads has now reached a level where it is a threat to our economy and public order and safety. I have directed the Minister of National...

Secretary General: In attention to our mandate to lead a process of climate finance mobilization; we carefully identified and discussed each of the challenges preventing financing from reaching the most vulnerable and embarked on a thorough process of assessment of existing and new initiatives. I am therefore pleased to report a few of our main achievements: 1. We collectively encouraged...

Colleague Heads of State and Government, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. I wish to start by thanking Prime Minister Solberg for her leadership on matters of The Blue Economy, Ocean Health, and Climate Change. This has manifested in the work of the High Level Panel which is making great strides in delivering on its mandate to “develop, catalyse and support solutions...

Colleagues, the global financing system requires an immediate transformation. It must be science-based; technically appropriate; transparent and supported by accurate and inclusive tracking methodologies. Let us look at some of these system fixes: 1. The PACTA Risk scenario analysis tools already applied by over 600 financial institutions worldwide, could be adopted by private investors to align their portfolios with the...