Parents, teachers, students, educators, friends, once again we look forward to the start of a new school year. For some of us it is a time of great anticipation and great expectations, for others it is the beginning of a period of struggle and sacrifice. For me, it is the beginning of a process by which the society makes better...

I extend my heartiest congratulations and the warm sentiments of the entire Government and people of Jamaica to Mr. Gerard S. Johnson, current IDB Representative in Jamaica, on the well deserved promotion to the post of General Manager of the Country Department Caribbean Group (CCB), effective September 1, 2010. This now places Mr. Johnson in charge of the entire Caribbean...

Today, Jamaica joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Youth Day. It's an opportunity to reflect on the work that has been done and is being done to improve the lives of our youth and the outstanding contributions that the youth themselves make to society. We also assess the challenges that our young people face and strengthen our...

My Fellow Jamaicans, Leader of the Opposition The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller O.N. M.P. As we celebrate the 48th Anniversary of our Independence let us be reminded of the hard work and sacrifices of those from previous generations whose dreams are fulfilled each time we mark our Independence. Each step along the path to becoming a 'full free' and...

Today, we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our nation. It was a memorable night 48 years ago when we respectfully lowered the Union Jack and proudly hoisted the Black, Green and Gold as the symbol of our nationhood. With that flag was also raised our hopes and expectations as a people. What were those hopes and expectations?That we...

My fellow Jamaicans at home and abroad: Governor-General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD Our Independence Anniversary allows us another opportunity to reflect, renew and recommit ourselves to the ongoing task of nation-building. We pause on our journey, as we do each year, to celebrate, and then we continue, pursuing our objective of achieving the...

My Jamaican brothers and sisters This year we celebrate Emancipation Day amidst the challenges and hardships that we continue to face as a nation. Every year at this time I can imagine and feel the excitement of our ancestors as they prepared for the August Morning, referred by our ancestors as "Augus Mawnin", that promised them freedom. I can imagine...

We celebrate, once again, our emancipation from slavery 176 years ago. We glory in that achievement as the greatest victory that mankind has ever won because slavery is the worst form of oppression that man can impose on his fellowman. We celebrate the heroes of that victory, especially those who risked their lives and gave their lives in the struggle...

THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Approaching three years into my stewardship of the Transport and Works portfolios, I am happy to be now delivering the kind of strategic applications that are geared at modernising all portfolio areas. This first phase of delivery has come out of in-depth analysis of the pluses and minuses of the systems that were inherited in September 2007,...

Mr. Speaker, it is well known that ICTs are the pivot of productivity and growth in the post-industrial world and it is for this reason that our own growth prospects are inextricably bound up with how we drive this industry. Mr. Speaker, Jamaica has taken great care in not only laying a strong and sound foundation, but in adding value...

Since the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Corporate Area on May 23rd which was later extended to St. Catherine, the Police and the Military have been conducting an intensive campaign to reduce the level of crime and violence that have plagued the country for many years. The results have been positive and encouraging. For the first time...