More Speeches

INTRODUCTION Express appreciation for the warm welcome and kind introduction. Let me begin by thanking President Lagos and the organizers of this event for affording me the unique opportunity to address such a distinguished audience, and to the Executive Secretary of ECLAC for hosting the encounter. This occasion bears particular significance, not only because it is my second visit to...

Members of Parliament Dr Paul Robertson, Fitz Jackson and the Portmore Municipal Mayor George Lee met with representatives of the Portmore Citizens' Advisory Committee (PCAC) yesterday evening regarding the issue of the Portmore leg of the Highway 2000 toll road. The meeting called by the MPs and the Mayor sought to invite the PCAC to join them in seeking to...

The hotel rates quoted in a newspaper article on Sunday July 31, 2005 for the Prime Minister's accommodation on his November 2002 visit to New York are within the limits that he is allowed and are by no means excessive. Contrary to what was stated in the article, the rates that Mr. Patterson is allowed do not afford him the...

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, It is my privilege yet again to participate in this annual exercise of reporting to Parliament and the nation on the stewardship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade which I have the honour to lead. The Ministry, and by the Ministry I mean not only the staff at headquarters here in Kingston but...

Information coming out of the UK has enabled us in Jamaica to check our records and we can as a result confirm that an individual having the name of a person provisionally identified with the London bombings was born in Jamaica in 1985. We have particulars of his date of birth, place of birth and other important data.It is our...

On June 29th at the invitation of President Hugo Chavez, I signed the Petrocaribe Energy Cooperation Agreement, and the Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding with his Venezuelan counterpart for the upgrading and expansion of the Petrojam Refinery. In view of their importance to the nation and the wider implications for our energy sector, I...

Are you ready? Have you started your preparations? What about supplies, equipment, a plan? We are at the beginning of what the meteorologists have been warning us as far back as last year is likely to be the most active hurricane season in recent years. Already five tropical systems have graduated to the status of storm and some even hurricane,...

It is unprecedented for any Prime Minister to be addressing this House in the aftermath of a hurricane as early as July. Hurricane Dennis has arrived two months early. The adage "June too soon, July goes by", clearly no longer applies. Both the timing and the severity of the Hurricane would suggest that we are in for an active season...

As I have said before, we are not usually faced with this severe weather condition so soon in the Hurricane Season. Changes to the ecological system are affecting the weather pattern around the world. The predictions are that we will have a very active Hurricane Season this year. Preparation is key. ODPEM is world renown for its effectiveness and capacity...

The passing of the Hon. Cecil Baugh marks the end of a dynamic chapter in the country's heritage and cultural development. Cecil Baugh was highly respected in Jamaica and internationally. His death has left a gaping hole throughout the artistic community. Cecil Baugh was a gifted and talented master potter who gave Jamaica and the world many great works of...

It was with deep regret and sadness that I learnt of the passing of retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ronald Small. Justice Small has given extensive and distinguished service to the Justice system in Jamaica and played a major role in the establishment of the Juvenile Court as a special avenue for meeting the needs of and dealing with issues...

Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to speak on the matter of the transfer tax payable on estates. Members of this Honourable House will recall that in my opening budget presentation, I announced a simplification of this particular tax to move from a complicated five tier system. Under the new system the first $100,000 of value of an estate would...