Jamaica joins the rest of the world on December 1, 2009 to commemorate World AIDS Day, which has been observed globally on that date every year since 1988. We have come a far way since then in educating and sensitizing our people about the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. This year the general theme is simply Universal Access to Human Rights. This...

Chronic diseases claim about 3 million lives around the world each year and low and middle income countries like Jamaica are primarily affected. This is why I am pleased to take this opportunity to put diabetes in the spotlight as one of the Chronic Non-Communicable diseases that we need to take more seriously. We in the Caribbean, collectively and individually...

Mr. Trevor Alleyne, chief of the Caribbean division of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and head of the mission to Jamaica, issued the following statement today in Kingston: "An IMF team visited Kingston during October 27-November 6 to continue discussions toward a Stand-By Arrangment with the Fund. The team met with Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Minister of Finance Audley Shaw,...

I wish to address the House on the matter of the dismissal of the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, the resignation of the Commissioner of Police and issues related thereto. BOJ Governor Last Friday, the Minister of Finance terminated the services of the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica. The Government found unacceptable, embarrassing and repugnant the interpretation and...

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, will make a statement in Parliament today (Tuesday, November 3), outlining the circumstances surrounding the departure of both former Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Derick Latibeaudiere, and Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, from their positions. A release from Jamaica House, Monday night, quoted Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunication...

Regardless of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, parents the world over have the following traits in common: 1. They love their children2. They want the best for their children3. They learn how to parent from their own parents4. They can learn new ways of parenting. Research has shown us that nurturing parent-child relationships and parental participation in child related activities relate...

The Government has refrained from making any detailed public comment regarding the request by the US Government for the extradition of a Jamaican national, Mr. Christopher Coke, to face charges in the United States. This is in keeping with established convention. However, recent statements by the Opposition warrant an appropriate response. It is completely untrue, as suggested by the Opposition...

Let me use this opportunity to greet Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora, as we celebrate National Heritage Week. This year we celebrate National Heritage Week at a time when Jamaicans and indeed the world face tremendous challenges. As we celebrate, let us draw strength and determination from our National Heroes who rose to the occasion of their time...

My fellow Jamaicans... Today, we honour the heroes of our land. We celebrate, in particular, the lives and accomplishments of the six men and one woman we have declared as our National Heroes. Theirs was a vision that saw in us and for us, what we may not have been able to see ourselves. Theirs was the courage that challenged...

Today we salute the rural women of our country on World Rural Women's Day. I want us all to pay special attention to the very important roles that rural women play in our society; roles that we sometimes take for granted. The theme of this year's observance is Rural Women at the Heart of Innovation. The rural women I meet...

Greetings from Jamaica, the land of the fastest human alive on planet earth. Today we celebrate history. We have witnessed the election of our first female Director-General and for the first time the Caribbean presides at the General Conference. As a fellow Caribbean State, I congratulate my colleague from The Bahamas. I also congratulate the Director-General designate for having shattered...