As is evident from the pinning ceremony which took place today, the United Nations Development Programme is a critical partner that continues to demonstrate commitment to provide support to governments to integrate the sustainable development goals (SDGs) into national development plans and policies. This ceremony symbolizes the fact that Parliamentarians have a responsibility to play a significant role in promoting...

Mr. Speaker, as I stand here today; it is of grave concern to all Jamaicans, regardless of political persuasion that our murder rate is rising; and now stands at approximately 300 above the figure for the corresponding period last year. Mr. Speaker, the driving factors are well known; gang warfare compounded by extortion, lottery scamming, drugs and contract killings account...

Mr President, I am pleased to share with this Honourable Senate the results of the Literacy and Numeracy tests which were sat by students at the grade four level of primary education in June of this year. The preliminary results showed that in 2017 , 84.6% of all the candidates sitting the Grade 4 Literacy Test received a level of...

Mr President, I am pleased to share with this Honourable Senate the results of the Literacy and Numeracy tests which were sat by students at the grade four level of primary education in June of this year. The preliminary results showed that in 2017 , 84.6% of all the candidates sitting the Grade 4 Literacy Test received a level of...

Mr. Speaker I felt it necessary to update this Honourable House on the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) initiative to prevent cervical cancer through the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine. It is however important Mr. Speaker, that we look at the global reality of cervical cancer which has propelled the need for an intervention such as this. Globally, cervical...

Mr. Speaker, As I rise this afternoon, I reflect on the words of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in addressing the 2017 United Nations General Assembly; “Let these extraordinary events elicit extraordinary efforts to rebuild nations sustainably”. I have great confidence that as a region we will rebuild and we will not just replicate what was there before. The approach will...

Mr. Speaker, during my Budget presentation for this Fiscal Year, I informed the Parliament that the Government is developing Plan Secure Jamaica. It is a comprehensive, whole of government plan to build a national security architecture that is robust, resilient and adaptable, capable of responses that address immediate problems that yield long-lasting, transformational results. The plan is being actively pursued...

Your Excellencies the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General and The Most Honourable Lady Allen Dr Peter Phillips, Leader of the Opposition Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade The Hon. Olivia ‘Babsy Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Other Colleague Cabinet Ministers The Most Honourable Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, Former Governor...