Mr. Speaker, as I rise to make this contribution to the sectoral debate 1. I give God thanks for the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference 2. I want to thank you and the parliamentary staff for the work that has been done in organizing...

Let me begin by thanking the team at the Women’s Leadership Initiative for inviting me to be part of today’s activity.  The WLI and I share a common goal: we want to see the end of child abuse.  Therefore, I am very pleased to work with the WLI and all other groups to ensure that we achieve our goal of...

We continue to observe August 23 as an important date not only for Jamaicans but for all humanity.  On this date in 1791 an uprising on what we now know as Haiti started the process which led to the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. We mark this date, on one hand, not as a celebration of slavery but as...

Address by Minister Hanna at UN Cross Regional Meeting for Advancing the Protection of Children from Violence Introduction At this moment, in every country, children are enduring the horrific impact of violence.  Children who live in upscale neighbourhoods in North American or European countries suffer just as much as those children who live in their inner-cities.  Equally, they suffer just...

My Fellow Jamaicans, as we celebrate Labour Day under the theme “Take a Stand - Beautify our land”, I ask that we all take a stand for the good stewardship of this beautiful land which God has given to us. Today, I invite all Jamaicans to join hands to beautify our land.  We must recall the watershed years of the...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to make my contribution to the Sectoral Debate.  I do not take this opportunity for granted.  I remain committed to the people of SE St. Ann who have reposed their confidence in me.  My sincere gratitude to my constituency executive, cluster managers, workers, my personal office staff, and my family of constituents who consistently go over...

The Minister of Youth and Culture, the Hon. Lisa Hanna, MP has urged global leaders to ensure that the culture is given a central focus in the development agenda. In her contribution to the Thematic Debate on Culture and Sustainable Development in the Post-2015 Development Agenda at the United Nations in New York on Monday, May 5, Minister Hanna called...

As we celebrate Child Month 2014, we pause to reflect on our nation’s children and how we, collectively, as parents, care givers, policy makers and indeed everyone responsible for providing care to our children, have met and fulfilled our responsibilities. I am heartened that there has been significant progress on several fronts. We have reduced infant mortality, which means fewer...