The Right. Honourable Perry Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of the Caribbean Community The  Honourable  Barack Obama, President of the United States of America Colleague Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community Secretary General of CARCOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque Distinguished Representatives The Government and people of Jamaica  are deeply honoured...

Mr. Speaker, let me begin the closing presentation for the 2015/2016 Budget Debate by again thanking the staff of all of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies across Government and, in particular, the Financial Secretary and the other members of the team at the Ministry of Finance and Planning; the Governor and staff of the Bank of Jamaica; the Director General...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has acknowledged the partnerships forged between Jamaica and various bilateral and multilateral institutions, which continue to redound to the country’s benefit. Making her 2015/16 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on March 24, Mrs. Simpson Miller noted that Jamaica’s strong international partnerships are facilitating trade, investments, and “people to people”...

Mr. Speaker,   I thank my Maker and Master for His direction and guidance along this journey.   As I stand in this House today, I can truly say the words of the Psalmist, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song...

Mr. Speaker, members of this Honourable House, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, visitors in the gallery - (and let me specially recognise students from my alma mater St. Catherine High School); my fellow Jamaicans listening and watching on TV, radio, and the internet, I must give thanks to God for sparing us as a nation and as a Parliament, that...

The majority of schools in the Corporate Area and St Catherine operated as normal today. However, seven schools were negatively impacted by the smoke nuisance emanating from the fire at the Riverton City disposal site. The four Corporate Area schools that were forced to prematurely close include Dupont Primary, Duhaney Park Primary, George Headley Primary and Pembroke Hall High. This...

Cabinet today approved the recommendation by the Ministry of Education to postpone the holding of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) from March 19 and 20 to the new dates of March 26 and 27. The decision was occasioned by the disturbance caused by the on-going fire and accompanying smog at the Riverton City disposal site. The overarching principle submitted...

This year the Budget Debate discussions can be safely described as ground-breaking. For the first time we have carried out the functions within the context of the recently updated fiscal governance framework. The enhanced framework, established through amendments to the Financial Administration and Audit (FAA) Act and the Public Bodies Management and Accountability (PBMA) Act and Regulations in March 2014...