Honourable Members: We meet to launch the activities for a new Parliamentary year and to set out the next steps as we continue to improve the lives of our people and further develop our country. Today,  the state of our economy is stronger than it was one  year ago. In this new spring, the signs of growth are appearing. The...

Joint Statement Issued By The Governor-General, The Most Honourable Prime Minister And The Leader Of The Opposition Fellow Jamaicans,   Our homeland is passing through a moral crisis such as we have never seen before. Most of us are still reeling from the shock of the heinous crimes committed against our people, young and old alike, babies and young children,...

As we stand at the dawn of 2014, we must take time to reflect on the experiences of the past year and look ahead to the 365 days of an unknown future. Today, many are making resolutions as we seek the best strategy for securing a 2014 which is happier, healthier and more productive than 2013. Others are regretting the...

This year, Jamaicans are again observing Heritage Week against the backdrop of prevailing global economic challenges which have served to deepen national socio-economic difficulties. In my inaugural address in 2009, I had urged Jamaicans to regard the economic downturn as an opportunity to explore new approaches to economic well being, using what is right about Jamaica to fix what is...

Jamaicans who will be honoured for their contribution to nation building on National Heroes Day, October 21,  have been commended by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen. In a message read at the National Heritage Week Thanksgiving Service, held on Sunday, October 13, at the Power of Faith Deliverance Ministries, in May Pen, Clarendon,  the Governor...

My Fellow Jamaicans, at home and in the Diaspora, We bring the curtains down on our 50th Anniversary celebrations and begin our 51st year at a time when our country is beckoning to us for our re-commitment to rise and build! This is a call to all of us; none is exempt! Our National Anthem constantly inspires us to believe...

My fellow Jamaicans, I greet you warmly as we unite in celebrating that momentous first of August in 1838 when “Full Freedom” finally ended the oppressive slave regime in Jamaica and elsewhere in the British Empire. Amidst the various celebratory events, we must not forget the journey of our ancestors: the degradation, hardships and suffering they endured; the resilience they...

Honourable Members: The annual Ceremonial Opening of Parliament provides us as a nation with the opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed so that we can reset our governance compass and recalibrate our efforts in order to address the challenges and grasp the opportunities that are presented. Optimism About Our Country’s Future The Legislative Year we have just...