This year, Human Rights Day holds a special significance,as it coincides with the 65th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 20th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is widely recognised as the common standard of achievement for human rights of all peoples and nations, it is...

The entire human race has lost one of the finest mortal beings who ever walked this planet. Nelson Mandela overcame the tyranny of racial oppression to become an apostle for a world where people, irrespective of colour or creed, could dwell together in peace and harmony. He has finally departed our earthly realm, but his memory will endure throughout the ages. We who were...

With today being observed as Disability Awareness Day, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, ON, MP has issued the following statement:- “Today is being celebrated as Disability Awareness Day. It is being celebrated under the theme “Break Barriers, Open Doors for An Inclusive Society for All". The theme that has been chosen for this year’s observance by the...

Ladies and Gentlemen, in 2012 this Ministry conducted a Qualitative Survey on the Situation of Youth in Jamaica.  Among the poignant and pointed views coming from participants in Focus Groups in St. Thomas as part of that survey was: “Most of us are trying to find ourselves. We have no jobs. We are lost. We have no skills to deal...

Paris, November 8, 2013 - The Minister of Youth and Culture the Honourable Lisa Hanna, MP has given a brief outline of the work being done by the Ministry to advance culture and youth development in her statement at the 37th session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on Friday, November 8.   In her statement, Minister Hanna reported...

I welcome members of the press to this post-WADA/JADCO consultation and operations review media briefing. Thank you all for responding in such a positive way to our invitation. I am pleased to confirm that the three member WADA team visited Jamaica and engaged in constructive meetings with JADCO over the past two days. They had very fruitful discussions with our...

INTRODUCTION Mr Speaker, you will recall that when I last addressed this Honourable House on September 10th of this year, I indicated  that  China  Harbour  Engineering  Company (CHEC) had submitted an investment proposal to the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) for the  development of a transshipment  port and an industrial  and  commercial  economic zone. CHEC's preferred site for this investment was the...

It has long been recognised that an important part of securing growth will require tax reform. The current taxation system operates as a high tax regime co-existing with a system of negotiated exclusions for certain aspects of particular sectors. These cover Tourism, aspects of Manufacturing and Agriculture, Free zone, Petroleum and Shipping activities to name a few. Members will recall that...