COVID-19 continued to feature prominently in the national conversation as Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the nation on New Year’s Day.

In his address today, Prime Minister Holness commented on a wide range of issues including the economy, national security, education and moving Jamaica towards a digital economy.

In his address, Prime Minister Holness acknowledged what he described as a job well done in managing the pandemic. He says although 2020 was a difficult year, the challenges may be solved through cooperation and unity.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the nation’s frontline & healthcare workers for what he called their outstanding job in flattening the COVID-19 curve. He says the public shouldn’t squander the good work done last year.

The Prime Minister also commented on the Covid-19 vaccine and said that the Government has set up a committee to plan and operationalise the distribution logistics involved. The Prime Minister says Jamaica has had a long and successful history in administering national vaccination programmes.

Prime Minister Holness is strongly urging Jamaicans, particularly those who are vulnerable, to get vaccinated. He says the vaccine will be free to those who seek to obtain it via the public health system.

The Prime Minister says the Government will also engage in a public education campaign on vaccination.

During his New Year’s Day address, Prime Minister Holness said that COVID-19 has had implications for more than just the health of individuals. He acknowledges that the pandemic has had an effect on the global, national and household economy.

In addition, the Prime Minister says the pandemic has also taken a toll on the education system, with the public not yet fully aware of the psychological impact on children, teachers and parents.

Prime Minister Holness says the pandemic has shed light on the nation’s infrastructural challenges, particularly shortcomings associated with broadband internet connectivity.

According to Prime Minister Holness the pandemic has also shed light on the expectation for social justice & equity in economic care response of the government to crisis and on the application and enforcement of the measures implemented to control the spread.

He says the pandemic has also caused the country to rethink the organisation of society and has provided the basis for which long desired change can take place. This includes the need for a digital society, greater financial inclusion in the move to cashless transactions and a national identification system.

Prime Minister Holness says in response, in 2021 the Government will advance the development of a digital currency, pass the National Identification Bill, continue to expand and intensify the programme for financial inclusion and expand broadband internet access.

He says there will be focus on measures to regain employment and to keep businesses going. He says the Government plans on diversifying the economy by improving efficiency and competitiveness through institutional and regulatory reform.

The Prime Minister says steps will be taken to build 21st century skills like coding and programming to support the high demand for these skills in the Global Services Sector.

According to the Prime Minister, the Government believes the Construction and Real Estate Development sectors have the potential to create jobs, transform and build the environment, modernise infrastructure and improve quality of life, through proper regulations.

The Prime Minster commended both the Jamaica Constabulary Force, JCF, and the Jamaica Defense Force, JDF, who have supported the front line health workers and helped to man the nation’s ports, deliver care packages, secure quarantine facilities, manage States of Emergency and Zones of Special Operation, in addition to their regular duties.

According to Prime Minister Holness, the country managed to flatten the homicide curve last year, with all major categories of crime except shootings being down. He says the government plans to continue to modernise the technology and systems of the security forces.

He says there are also plans to strengthen the legislative framework to support enhanced crime fighting measures and to expand Zones of Special Operations to transform crime plagued communities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness says despite the best efforts to fight crime, success will be limited unless it’s recognised that Jamaica has a violence problem. He says regardless of what is done to reform the security apparatus, if our society doesn’t reduce violence, then there will be no sustainable growth and development.

Other highlights of 2020, according to the Prime Minister:

  • The lowest levels of interest rates for mortgages and consumer loans in the history of Jamaica
  • The most stable period of low inflation to benefit consumers and fixed income earners
  • The introduction of the tourism workers’ pension scheme
  • New opportunities for ownership of the economy with 30,000 Jamaicans becoming shareholders of Trans Jamaica Highway
  • The abolition of the minimum business tax and the introduction of the $375,000 MSME tax credit
  • The reduction of GCT of 1.5%
  • The implementation of the CARE programme, the largest ever social intervention programme in the history of Jamaica to cushion the effects of the pandemic; and
  • The recognition of the global community for the country’s handling of COVID-19.