More Speeches

Today we join the international community in commemorating International Human Rights Day, under the theme "embrace diversity, end discrimination." This year's theme emphasizes the principle of non-discrimination enshrined in the first sentence of the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." Sixty-one years ago, this...

The celebration of CARICOM-Cuba day each year on 8th December presents a fitting opportunity to reflect on the strong ties of friendship and cooperation which link the Republic of Cuba and the member states of the Caribbean Community. CARICOM-Cuba Day coincides this year with the 37th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the first four independent countries of...

Heads of Government of the Commonwealth convened for 2 1/2 days in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad over the weekend amid severe challenges facing the world, the most significant of which are the global economic crisis and the urgent need to forge a collective response to the creeping disaster of global warming. 49 of the 53 member countries were represented at the meeting....

Jamaica joins the rest of the world on December 1, 2009 to commemorate World AIDS Day, which has been observed globally on that date every year since 1988. We have come a far way since then in educating and sensitizing our people about the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. This year the general theme is simply Universal Access to Human Rights. This...

Chronic diseases claim about 3 million lives around the world each year and low and middle income countries like Jamaica are primarily affected. This is why I am pleased to take this opportunity to put diabetes in the spotlight as one of the Chronic Non-Communicable diseases that we need to take more seriously. We in the Caribbean, collectively and individually...

Mr. Trevor Alleyne, chief of the Caribbean division of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and head of the mission to Jamaica, issued the following statement today in Kingston: "An IMF team visited Kingston during October 27-November 6 to continue discussions toward a Stand-By Arrangment with the Fund. The team met with Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Minister of Finance Audley Shaw,...

I wish to address the House on the matter of the dismissal of the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, the resignation of the Commissioner of Police and issues related thereto. BOJ Governor Last Friday, the Minister of Finance terminated the services of the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica. The Government found unacceptable, embarrassing and repugnant the interpretation and...

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, will make a statement in Parliament today (Tuesday, November 3), outlining the circumstances surrounding the departure of both former Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Derick Latibeaudiere, and Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, from their positions. A release from Jamaica House, Monday night, quoted Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunication...

Regardless of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, parents the world over have the following traits in common: 1. They love their children2. They want the best for their children3. They learn how to parent from their own parents4. They can learn new ways of parenting. Research has shown us that nurturing parent-child relationships and parental participation in child related activities relate...

The Government has refrained from making any detailed public comment regarding the request by the US Government for the extradition of a Jamaican national, Mr. Christopher Coke, to face charges in the United States. This is in keeping with established convention. However, recent statements by the Opposition warrant an appropriate response. It is completely untrue, as suggested by the Opposition...

My fellow Jamaicans... Today, we honour the heroes of our land. We celebrate, in particular, the lives and accomplishments of the six men and one woman we have declared as our National Heroes. Theirs was a vision that saw in us and for us, what we may not have been able to see ourselves. Theirs was the courage that challenged...

Let me use this opportunity to greet Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora, as we celebrate National Heritage Week. This year we celebrate National Heritage Week at a time when Jamaicans and indeed the world face tremendous challenges. As we celebrate, let us draw strength and determination from our National Heroes who rose to the occasion of their time...