Mr. Speaker: The Most Honourable P.J. Patterson once reminded me of a story of a very young girl, who many years ago, was distributing flyers for the Vice Presidential contest at a PNP Annual Conference being held at  the National Arena. P.J. Patterson was among the vice presidential candidates.  He arrived at the National Arena and she enthusiastically handed him...

Salutations: Master of Ceremonies The Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica; Hon. Anthony Hylton, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Congresswoman Yvette Clarke Karl and Faye Rodney of the New York Carib News The legendary Harry Belanfonte Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, and participants in this momentous conference It is timely to express my sincere and heartfelt support...

Mrs Simpson Miller was delivering remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Conference of Executive Heads of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, which was held at the regional headquarters of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, St. Andrew.   The Prime Minister said:“Our students, I noted, stood toe-to-toe, and successfully matched minds, wits, strategies, techniques and intellect...

Mr Speaker,   Last week I reported to this Honourable House the damage sustained due to the passage of Hurricane Sandy on Wednesday, 24thof October. Since then Hurricane Sandy moved northwards and developed into a 'Superstorm' which also devastated areas on the North Eastern seaboard of the United States of America and parts of Canada. Parts of the Tri-State area,...

Salutations: I am most grateful for this opportunity to address your association. Insurers and the health ministry share many interests in common, including a vested interest in preserving the well-being of our clients. We share many similar goals in this regard. I am pleased with your continued support to the health sector over the years through your outreach projects including...

Madame Chairperson Permanent Secretary Mr. Jerome Thomas, Acting UN Resident Coordinator Members of the Diplomatic Corps Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen,   It is indeed an honour for me to deliver these remarks on the occasion of the United Nations Day, which was commemorated around the world on 24th October. The commemoration of UN Day this year is particularly significant...

Mr Speaker, The members of this Honourable House are already aware that Hurricane Sandy made landfall at approximately 2pm on Wednesday, 24th October some 5 miles east of Kingston. Central and eastern parishes experienced storm force winds at up to 80 mph. Due to the passage of the hurricane just under 2,000 persons were accommodated in approximately 140 shelters. Most...

Jamaicans and the Culture of Marronage: An Invaluable Inheritance October 27, 2012 SALUTATIONS: Distinguished Colonels from Accompong, Moore Town, Charles Town and Scotts Hall, Conference participants, students and young people, Fellow Maroons from this and other communities, A very good afternoon to you all. Yes; you heard right: I said “fellow Maroons"! This is because it is my firm belief...

My fellow Jamaicans... Hurricane Sandy has come and gone.  The nation must be thankful that once again we have been spared the worst.  I thank the Almighty for his protection of our nation. This morning, I convened a meeting of the National Disaster Executive.  The agencies presented an update on the impact of the storm and gave a preliminary assessment...

A meeting of the National Disaster Committee which comprises all the relevant agencies was convened this afternoon as the nation prepares for the threat posed by Tropical Storm Sandy.   Jamaica is now under a tropical storm warning as Tropical Storm Sandy approaches the island. By later this afternoon into tonight, the country will begin to experience deterioration in the...

It is well known that a negotiating mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Jamaica between September 24 and October 5 this year and, as the Fund indicated then; significant progress was made in those discussions. Mutual understandings were established relating to a growth agenda, structural reforms and a preliminary timetable for implementing structural benchmarks to monitor progress. Still...