Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, says a collaborative approach must be taken to design and shape a framework for Unemployment Insurance that is best suited to Jamaican conditions. Mrs. Simpson Miller was addressing the opening session of a two-day Labour Market Forum on: ‘Reforming Jamaica’s Labour Market: Social Protection through Unemployment Insurance’, at the Jamaica Conference Centre,...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, says that Jamaica has made strides over the years in meeting the needs of disabled persons. The Prime Minister, who was addressing the Inaugural Disability Friendly Awards and Gala Dinner at the Wyndham Kingston hotel on Monday, cited progress in improving accessibility to public buildings, increasing access to education and training, and...

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, 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...

The Cabinet yesterday concluded a most fruitful two-day Cabinet Retreat at Jamaica House. The Retreat had two major agenda items. The first major activity of the Retreat was the assessment of the progress of each Ministry and determining whether they had been meeting the commitments made to the Jamaican people that are outlined in the Peoples National Party's Manifesto, the...

Today the 11th of October 2012, the world is called upon to celebrate the first International Day of the Girl Child. The establishment and recognition of this day is more than symbolic. Indeed, it must be understood as a call to action for governments and civil societies to boldly confront the scope and gravity of the continuing high levels of...