Good evening, As we approach the end of the year, the health sector faces its busiest time with increase in vector borne disease, gastroenteritis, influenza and Influenza Like Illnesses as well as trauma. As a result, there is an increase in waiting times as most public health facilities will be seeing increased numbers of patients. Dengue Fever is a big...

Mr Speaker, yesterday Jamaica joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is a necessary commemoration because violence is still a major factor of life for too many women. We now know from the results of the Women’s Health Survey: - That one in every four women in Jamaica...

It is a sad reality that at this moment, a woman and a girl and a family and a community in our country are experiencing the horrific effects and consequences of gender-based violence. Despite progress at reducing it, gender-based violence is still a major factor of life for too many women in Jamaica and across the world. Each year on...

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...