Mr. Speaker, members of this Honourable House, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, visitors in the gallery - (and let me specially recognise students from my alma mater St. Catherine High School); my fellow Jamaicans listening and watching on TV, radio, and the internet, I must give thanks to God for sparing us as a nation and as a Parliament, that...

The majority of schools in the Corporate Area and St Catherine operated as normal today. However, seven schools were negatively impacted by the smoke nuisance emanating from the fire at the Riverton City disposal site. The four Corporate Area schools that were forced to prematurely close include Dupont Primary, Duhaney Park Primary, George Headley Primary and Pembroke Hall High. This...

Cabinet today approved the recommendation by the Ministry of Education to postpone the holding of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) from March 19 and 20 to the new dates of March 26 and 27. The decision was occasioned by the disturbance caused by the on-going fire and accompanying smog at the Riverton City disposal site. The overarching principle submitted...

This year the Budget Debate discussions can be safely described as ground-breaking. For the first time we have carried out the functions within the context of the recently updated fiscal governance framework. The enhanced framework, established through amendments to the Financial Administration and Audit (FAA) Act and the Public Bodies Management and Accountability (PBMA) Act and Regulations in March 2014...

Address by the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller Prime Minister of Jamaica Opening Ceremony of the Jamaica Investment Forum 2015 Wednesday, 11 March 2015 Montego Bay Convention Centre Montego Bay, Jamaica   Salutations The Honourable Anthony Hylton, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce; Other Ministers of Government Hon Dr. Wykeham McNeil Ministers of State Members of the Diplomatic Corps Heads...

My fellow Jamaicans, each year Commonwealth Day is observed on the second Monday in March. Fundamentally, it is a day to remember, celebrate and learn about the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 53 diverse member states that share language, history and culture and believe in the values of democracy, human rights and respect for the rule of law. This year,...

Since 1975, International Women's Year, the United Nations has celebrated International Women's Day on March 8. Each year on that day Jamaica joins with nations all over the world in recognizing the roles of women in nation building, human rights and social justice. It is primarily an occasion for envisioning potential opportunities, acknowledging accomplishments, assessing past challenges and focusing greater...

In light of recent concerns raised in the public sphere about the issuance of work permits to workers from an overseas jurisdiction to operate as “specialist finishers” at the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security advises that it administers at all times a rigorous work permit regime, with priority given to...

On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, we extend sincere congratulations to Jamaican and West Indian batsmen Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels for their outstanding performances in the West Indies Team’s match against Zimbabwe at the Manuka in Canberra, Australia during the 11th Cricket World Cup currently underway in Australia and New Zealand. Jamaica is proud that our...