More Speeches

Tomorrow afternoon, as you know, I will demit office and we will witness the swearing-in of the Honourable Andrew Holness as the new Prime Minister of Jamaica. He will become one of the youngest Heads of Government in the entire world. His youthfulness, however, belies the tremendous ability he brings to the job, as demonstrated in the transformational leadership he...

Jamaicans at home and abroad... National Heroes' Day is a time for celebration, a time to celebrate the achievements we have made because of the extraordinary contributions of those men and a woman who, in such a remarkable way, helped to shape our destiny. It is a time, too, for reflection, for, even as we face the enormous challenges of...

I have noted the concerns raised by environmental groups regarding the National Water Commission’s wastewater treatment plants, which are below the required standards. As I have previously indicated, the current regulations regarding these sewerage plants were passed after many were constructed. One must admit that the NWC was somewhat tardy in addressing the problems, but this was largely due to...

The Government continues to hold discussions with our multilateral partners regarding the actions necessary to consolidate the gains made in fiscal management and ensure the success of Jamaica’s economic programme as embodied in the Standby Arrangement with the IMF. While the performance for this fiscal year is broadly on track, there are challenges that must be addressed in order to...

Today, just over 50 percent of the world’s population lives in cities and it is estimated that by the year 2050, there will be approximately six billion urban dwellers; attracted by the lure of jobs and a better standard of living. Growing urbanization has created challenges for governments and officials, who must strike a sustainable balance between economic growth and...

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My fellow Jamaicans... Last Sunday, I advised my party's central executive that I would not seek re-election at the annual general conference to be held next month and I would step down as Prime Minister as soon as a new leader had been elected. I had come to this position after deep contemplation and prayer, seeking to do what is...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz, confirms that the Minister of Water, Housing and the Environment, Horace Chang, was involved in a motor vehicle crash on the Dyke Road, St Catherine, this morning, September 28. Minister Chang, his wife and their driver were immediately transported to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) where they underwent medical checks. The...

Statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh Mr President, I congratulate you on your assumptionas President of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. We are confident that your extensive diplomatic experience will guide your leadership of this Session.  I assure you of my delegation’s full support. During the...

My fellow Jamaicans, I’m extremely happy to address you today September 27, which is being celebrated as World Tourism Day all across the globe. This internationally recognized day is organized annually by the United Nations World Tourism Organization to promote the benefits of tourism globally. This year’s theme is Tourism – Linking Cultures and as Jamaicans, we understand very well...

Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the celebration of the International Day of Peace. The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September. The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982.  In 2001, the...

Statement by Minister of Health Hon. Rudyard Spencer This unprecedented Summit obliges us all to focus on a grave and increasing challenge to Jamaica, the Caribbean region and the entire global community. It is clear that the global burden and the attendant threat of NCDs constitute one of the major challenges for development in the 21st century. As reported by...