Mr. Speaker, I rise to give an update to this honourable house and the nation on the current and ongoing challenge of the Dengue Outbreak that the country faces. This honourable house will recall, Mr. Speaker, that the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) has declared a pandemic in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, with more than 2 Million cases and...

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to update the House on critical security issues. The ABC partners (United States, Canada and the United Kingdom) have been critical longstanding bilateral partners in security operations in the Caribbean. These security relations are underpinned by several longstanding treaties, protocols and Agreements. Among these, was a Memorandum of Understanding which allowed for the use...

Mr. Speaker, The members of the House may recall that during my sectoral close a few months ago, I called the country’s attention to the extensive work that is being undertaken to undermine, interrupt and dismantle criminal gangs. On that occasion I highlighted the systematic, well financed, and structurally complex nature of the gangs of today. I would have also...

Mr. Speaker, I tabled the Human Employment and Resource Training (Amendment) Act, 2019, in the context of my budget presentation (on 19 March 2019) on “Building a new Jamaica” and addressed the critical element of human capital development in that new Jamaica. Mr. Speaker, former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga had a passionate mission to provide a meaningful...

My fellow Jamaicans my fellow Jamaicans! Jamaica’s heritage is indeed our greatest legacy. The uniqueness of our people, our language, music, folklore, gastronomy, and traditional practices are undeniably amazing. People from all over the world aspire to live breathe and experience the Jamaican lifestyle and want to identify with the Jamaican brand. In that regard, I am pleased to extend...

“OUR HERITAGE – A GREAT LEGACY” Once again as we celebrate National Heroes Day, it is a time for us to recognize and celebrate our cultural heritage and to pay tribute to all those who in the past and those who today have made their contribution to establishing our country’s cultural, economic and political foundations. I would like at the...

Mr Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of this Honourable House a matter of serious national implication – the emergence of the Tropical Race 4 (TR4), disease previously called “Panama Disease” in this hemisphere and the potential threat it poses to the local and regional banana and plantain industry. Mr Speaker, The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and...