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MESSAGE BY THE MOST HON. PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER, PRIME MINISTER TO MARK INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS’ DAY JUNE 16, 2012   Jamaica aligns itself with global community in marking International Domestic Workers’ Day. In doing so, we pay tribute to and value the services and contribution of the estimated 58,000 domestic workers in Jamaica.   At all levels throughout the society,...

Jamaica is proud to once again join the global community in observing World Day Against Child Labour as we take a concerted stand against the unacceptable abuse of the rights of our children and barrier to their proper development.  Child labour is not about children doing light chores assisting around the home, helping one’s parents or learning some valuable skill...

INTRODUCTION Mr. Speaker, we have come to the end of our budget process which began on May 10th with the presentation of the Estimates of Expenditure. Let me thank all who contributed to the Debate which I opened on May 24th, 2012. This budget process has been predictably difficult coming as it does at this time of crisis. We have...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says he will be addressing concerns regarding the country’s trade deficit with the rest of CARICOM, during his upcoming Sectoral presentation in the House of Representatives. Speaking at the launch of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association's (JEA) National Exporters’ Month on June 4th at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, Minister...

SALUTATION & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour and privilege for me to address this Parliament, in a budget debate as Prime Minister once again. For this, I owe a great debt of gratitude to the people of Jamaica for their vote of confidence in me and in the team that I lead. It is with deep humility...

Good evening.   I am pleased to join you and thousands of other citizens of the British Realm on this historic occasion, as we participate in one of the many activities to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the enthronement of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, Monarch of the Realm and Queen of Jamaica. (Related Story: Beacon Lighting Ceremonies to...

Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness, is urging the government to begin implementation of the tax reform measures. Mr. Holness, who was making his contribution to the 2012/13 Budget Debate Thursday May 31 in the House of Representatives, said that tax reform is necessary to increase compliance and broaden the tax base. “In the context of Jamaica, tax reform must...

In 2003, the first International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers was observed globally on May 29. Since then, the world has paid tribute to these men and women who have bravely served in some of the most hostile conditions, in order to restore an element of normalcy to the lives of the hundreds of thousands who are forced to...

Assisted by Captain Taraja Jackson of the Jamaica Defence Force, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller cleans the bust of National Hero, Marcus Garvey, on Labour Day when she volunteered at the National Labour Day Project, at the National Heroes Park. During her time at the park, Mrs Simpson Miller participated in the raising of a new perimeter fence on the...

In opening this debate on the 2012/13 Budget, I am mindful that my presence here is first of all a mandate from my constituents in East Central St Andrew who continue to show their satisfaction with the representation they receive by returning me to Parliament. They remain an invaluable and irreplaceable source of support, love and inspiration. Let me pay...

My Fellow Jamaicans: I greet you in peace and love on this special Labour Day, in this the 50th year of our Independence.  It is no accident of history that we mark Labour Day on the 23rd of May each year. That was the day, in 1832, on which Right Excellent Samuel Sharpe, grand conceptualizer and leader of the final...

Fellow Jamaicans: Today on Labour Day we remember the sacrifices of the workers of Jamaica as they dedicated themselves to the struggles for realization of their hopes, dreams and aspirations. Today we honour as well our visionaries; leaders who gave of themselves unstintingly to lead a mass of people determined to find fulfilment; the Rt. Excellent Paul Bogle, The Rt....