I take this opportunity to congratulate the nation's nurses for the tremendous work that they have been doing throughout the years to assist in the health care of the people of Jamaica. Despite the challenges, we know that we all have to stand together and play our part in providing the best health for the people of Jamaica. Today, we...

Salutations: This year, the UN-declared International Year of Biodiversity, is a time to take stock of the progress we have made and to evaluate how much further we have to go in our efforts at ensuring environmental sustainability. Ensuring environmental sustainability is the 7th of the 8 United Nations Millennium Development Goals. At the last check, Jamaica was reported as...

I wish to address the House on two related matters that have generated much public discussion and controversy. The one has to do with the request by the US government for the extradition of Christopher Coke, the other with the engagement of the US law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. The Extradition Treaty between Jamaica and the US specifies...

Due to an ongoing investigation and review into the process of issuing of Tax Relief (Waivers, 20% Motor Vehicle Duty Concessions etc ), all prospective and existing applicants are being advised that effective April 1, 2010, new procedures have been instituted to facilitate the processing of these applications. Applications are normally received in three (3) main categories: Twenty percent (20%)...

Teachers' Day 2010 sees us confronted by considerable challenges and some instability in our education sector. I urge us however, not to let the problems which prevail, shroud or cloud this very significant Day; but let us herald and praise our teachers, who over the years, have provided sterling service to our children and contributed to the advancement of our...

OPENING REMARKS This government has, since 2007, embarked on a divestment project for Air Jamaica. Our goals were threefold: The first was influenced by our recognition of the critical role that Air Jamaica played in the Jamaican economy, particularly in respect of the country's tourism industry. This means that the first goal of the Air Jamaica Divestment Project was to...

The Prime Minister in his Budget presentation earlier this month spoke to the Government's concern about the escalating crime rate in the country. He indicated some of the measures being pursued to address the problem - strengthening the police force, fighting corruption, the use of technology, and strengthening the legal framework. Today, as Minister of National Security, I would like...

I. INTRODUCTION The title of this year's presentation "Building the Foundation for Jamaican Prosperity" was carefully and deliberately chosen to give the clearest indication of the Government's task at hand. A careful and dispassionate review of my presentation reveals the elements that are essential at this time and which constitute the building blocks of a foundation for Jamaican prosperity: Low...

Budget contextEvery government, in presenting its budget, desires to be able to do more and spend more. Budget debates traditionally provide the occasion for grand announcements of projects and programmes to address every possible need, satisfy every important segment of the population. For many people, that has come to be the standard by which a government is judged and a...

INTRODUCTION Mr. Speaker I address this Honourable House against the background of a global economic landscape which was characterized by the worst recession in recent times and the prospects of a recovery that at best leaves the world in a cloud of uncertainty. Indeed as we say in tourism 'the only certainty is uncertainty'. Mr. Speaker, it is fair to...

INTRODUCTIONMr. Speaker, the first quarter of this year has been a very busy period for the Ministry of Finance & the Public Service and all the economic agencies under its umbrella. We entered the year navigating uncharted waters as we set about completing negotiations with the IMF while at the same time designing a debt exchange programme that would not...