Mr. Speaker, I rise to update this Honourable House and the people of Jamaica on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has now been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Mr. Speaker, as of Thursday, March 12: 296 persons have arrived in the island from countries of interest to Jamaica. Of that number, 65 have been...

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 SALUTATIONS & EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE Mr. Speaker, I begin by thanking Almighty God, from whom all blessings flow. Great is thy faithfulness. Great is thy mercy and thy loving kindness. Mr. Speaker this is a demanding job and one I could not do without the support of family, friends and colleagues. To the Councillors and Executive of...

Thank you for joining us this afternoon for what is an important development with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Jamaica today confirmed its first imported case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) here in Kingston. The patient is a Jamaican female who had travelled from the United Kingdom, which has cases of COVID-19. She arrived in the island on March 4,...

Jamaica is pleased to join member countries of the Commonwealth located across the world in commemorating Commonwealth Day, once again. This year we do so under the theme “Delivering A Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”. The Commonwealth family of nations represents a rich cultural diversity of islands and landlocked states as well as developed and developing countries, but all committed...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness and, in fact, the whole of Government is making every effort to safeguard public health, as the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) remains a clear and present danger to the island. We now have a COVID-19 Comprehensive Response Plan, which has received the approval of the Prime Minister Andrew Holness-led National Disaster Risk Management Council. This...

The new Coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread to more than 60 countries, fueling widespread anxiety, as many consider the implications for public health. Here in Jamaica we understand that anxiety and wish to reassure the public that we are, even now, enhancing our readiness for the very real possibility of the virus coming to our shores. Up to March 1, there...

TOWARDS A DECADE OF GROWTH TO ANCHOR OUR PEACE AND PROSPERITY! We are gathered here at the dawn of a new decade. The seeds we have planted in previous years are germinating and we commit to making this new decade one of increased growth, peace and prosperity in our land. Honourable Members, Jamaica has much to celebrate. Our emphasis on...