This year's commemoration of Teachers' Day, takes on even greater significance, as the teaching fraternity and the wider education sector are confronted by graver challenges than those experienced in previous years. Despite these obstacles, our teachers have remained resilient and committed to their task of educating our nation's youths; and for this, they deserve our highest commendations. The escalating levels...

Much of this year's Budget Debate has been spent discussing the unprecedented economic challenges facing the global economy. To be sure, we find ourselves at a difficult and critical juncture. Nevertheless, this year's Budget Debate has given Jamaicans and all stakeholders ample reasons to be proud, particularly in light of the challenges we face. Rather than discussing the details of...

The challenging global context This debate is taking place in the context of the worst global economic downturn since the Great Depression 80 years ago. It is frequently referred to as a "crisis" and that is exactly what it is. Economies that had come to regard robust economic growth as a natural way of life have suddenly found themselves slipping...

As the 2009/10 Budget Debate draws to a close this week, Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding will make his contribution in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 5, beginning at 2:00 p.m. His presentation will bring to three, the number of contributions which have been made by members of the Government, which also included those from Finance and...

Mr. Speaker, this marks the 29th consecutive occasion that I have had the opportunity to participate in the Budget presentation in this Honourable House. On this particular occasion, the challenges facing our country are unprecedented, given the current global economic downturn. I am confident, however, that working together we will be able to pull through these difficult times. Since last...

We enter this year's Budget Debate in the midst of the most challenging global economy in our nation's history. The world is experiencing a severe economic contraction not seen since the great depression over 75 years ago. All over the world: economies are slowing, businesses are closing and jobs are vanishing. Under this weight, some of the oldest and largest...

Two weeks ago, we tabled in Parliament the Budget for the new fiscal year. Members of Parliament spent three days last week going through the Budget, page by page, line by line. As I had explained to you in a broadcast on April 5th, we had to cut expenditure in several areas. We are going through tough times and we...

Taking a break from Cabinet meeting a short while ago, Prime Minister Bruce Golding advised that he will be making a broadcast to the nation tonight at 8:00 pm. His address to the nation will be aired on all major radio and television stations at 8:00 pm and comes ahead of the start of the 2009/2010 budget debate which will...

I am pleased to report that the Sangster International Airport in Jamaica's resort capital of Montego Bay in St. James is open for business following a brief closure due to an incident involving a mentally challenged, armed man, who boarded CanJet flight 918 at approximately 22:30 CDT April 19. The flight was due to travel from Montego Bay to Santa...

The demolition of six houses in Colouden, Westmoreland yesterday, (Friday, April 17, 2009) is unfortunate. However, I am presently in dialogue with Member of Parliament, Mr. Luther Buchanan to ensure adequate resettlement of the families. This resettlement will include assistance with building materials. Since 2007 hundreds of persons living in informal settlements have been relocated to areas with proper infrastructure....

On Tuesday, the Minister of Finance will be tabling in Parliament the budget for the new financial year. You would have been aware of some of the difficult challenges we have had to grapple with in constructing this budget. When the debate is held, we will outline the tough choices we have had to make and why we had to...