Press Releases

Smith Expresses Shock at Police Murder/Suicide in St. Ann

Release Date: 
Sunday, May 3, 2015 - 15:30

Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith, says he is shocked and disturbed at reports of an alternation involving two policemen in St. Ann on Sunday morning, which saw one policeman killing the other and then taking his own life.

Mr. Smith says the nature of Sunday's incident is particularly disturbing and has understandably sent shock waves throughout the Constabulary.

Opposition Calls for Prime Ministers Intervention in Health Sector

Release Date: 
Friday, May 1, 2015 - 15:45

Opposition Spokesperson for Health and Healthy Lifestyles, Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte, today called on Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to either directly intervene or direct the Ministry of Labour to handle increasing worker unrest in the Health Sector given the very serious lack of confidence in Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson by stakeholders and the country in general.

Senator Malahoo Forte’s latest call came on the heels of growing rumblings within the sector that may lead to its lockdown as Doctors express vehement opposition to the proposed shift work system.

Child Abuse and Murder Epidemic Must Be Stopped - Johnson Smith

Release Date: 
Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 15:45

Opposition Spokesman on Education and Youth Senator Kamina Johnson Smith is once again calling on the government to move quickly to deal with the issues of child abuse in the society.

Her call comes after another incident where a child has been murdered in what is alleged to have been the result of a relationship with an adult: "How many children will it take to be murdered in similar circumstances before the government will present a plan to address what is clearly a national crisis."

Smith Condems Murder of 12 Year Old in St. Catherine

Release Date: 
Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 15:45

Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith, is condemning the killing of 12 year old Jamelia Johnson, whose lifeless body was on Friday, found discarded in bushes near her home in Riversdale, St. Catherine.

Mr. Smith says law-abiding Jamaicans are agonizing at this hour as hopes of finding the adolescent alive, following reports earlier in the week that she was missing, were dashed with Friday's heart-wrenching discovery of her body.

"MOU Signing a Slap in the Face of the Jamaican People". - Samuda. Hylton’s Future as Minister Hinges on Timely Delivery of Investment Projects

Release Date: 
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 - 19:45

Opposition Spokesman on Industry, Investment & Commerce, Karl Samuda, says Tuesday’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and Krauck Systems/Anchor Finance is a slap in the face of the Jamaican people, in light of the Minister’s failure to address the range of concerns raised in relation to this transaction.

Samuda Blasts Hylton Over Logistics - Related MOU Row

Release Date: 
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 20:00

Following the non-signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday regarding Minister Hylton’s announcement of US$5 Billion in logistics-related investments, Opposition Spokesman on Industry, Investment & Commerce, Karl Samuda, says portfolio Minister Anthony Hylton has spun a web of confusion and left the nation with more questions than answers.

Opposition Proposes PETSS Program to Secure Tablets in Schools

Release Date: 
Monday, April 20, 2015 - 20:00

Opposition Spokespersons Dr. Andrew Wheatley (Science, ICT and Digital Economy Development) and Senator Kamina Johnson Smith  (Education and Youth) are today calling on Minister Phillip Paulwell to urgently take up the suggestion made by Dr. Wheatley in his recent sectoral debate contribution to help to reduce student’s circumvention of security measures put in place to prevent access to inappropriate content on tablets.

Wheatley Calls for Audit of Spectrum Management Authority

Release Date: 
Monday, April 20, 2015 - 15:45

Opposition Spokesperson on Science, ICT and Digital Economy Development, Dr. Andrew Wheatley in his sectoral presentation, expressed concern about the operations of the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA). He pointed out that the SMA is responsible for managing the national radio spectrum, one of the country’s valuable assets which allows for over air the communications services used by broadcasters, telecommunications operators and security companies  to name a few.

Holness: "Show Solidarity with the poor!"

Release Date: 
Wednesday, April 8, 2015 - 16:00

For as long as I can remember the crab vendors have been selling crab, soup, and roast corn with coconut at Heroes Circle by the Voluntary Organization for Uplifting Children (VOUCH). I don't eat crab, however, roast corn is a personal favorite and that's the only place to get it in Kingston. I used to be the Executive Director for VOUCH and did quite a bit of community work in the area. A few of the vendors still remember me from my days there when I had to negotiate with them not place their wares against the chain link fence.

"Health Crisis Demands Better Leadership", Says Malahoo Forte.

Release Date: 
Thursday, February 26, 2015 - 08:00

Opposition Spokesperson for Health, Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte is extremely disturbed that the dreadfully sick state of Jamaica's Public Health System far exceeds what has been depicted by the many recent media reports.  

She notes that the severe shortage of necessary supplies, including medicine and machines, accompanied by deplorable and unsanitary conditions in many hospitals and health centers, demotivated and inadequate staff, amount to a death sentence on the system.

Wheatley Demands Immediate Security Audit of Online Services and Websites

Release Date: 
Monday, February 23, 2015 - 19:45

Opposition Spokesman on Science, ICT & Digital Society Development, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, is demanding that the government immediately execute security audits on all government online services and websites, especially those which house sensitive citizen information.

Montague Objects to GOJ Sale of Petcom, at this time.

Release Date: 
Monday, February 23, 2015 - 09:15

The Jamaica Labour Party Shadow Minister for Mining and Energy, Senator Robert Montague says he notes recent reported comments by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), pushing for the sale of PETCOM, the government’s petroleum marketing company, and is suggesting that the divestment process be stopped at this time.

Opposition Says Throne Speech Fails to Inspire Hope

Release Date: 
Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 19:30

The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is describing this morning’s outline of the Government’s programme of work by Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen, as offering little hope to Jamaicans who are suffering as a result of economic hardships and failing to inspire confidence that the sacrifices they have been called upon to bear in the economic recovery efforts are bearing significant fruit.

JLP Parliamentarians Express Confidence in Holness as Opposition Leader.

Release Date: 
Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 19:30

JLP Members of Parliament this morning expressed confidence in Mr. Andrew Holness as the Leader of the Opposition. This was done at a meeting which was called by Mr. Derrick Smith, the Leader of Opposition Business in the House, at JLP headquarters, and was comprised of fifteen of the JLP’s  twenty-one elected members of Gordon House.

The members also requested that outstanding matters involving parliamentarians be referred to the Operations Council of the party for guidance and ruling.

Holness Hails Late Retired Principal as Champion Educator

Release Date: 
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 19:00

Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness, has hailed the late retired principal of the Denham Town High School, Clover Thompson-Gordon, as a, "Champion educator and community-builder".

In expressing regret at news of her passing earlier this week, Mr. Holness says the Jamaica Labour Party joins the thousands of Jamaicans whose lives she positively impacted over the years. The Opposition Leader described Mrs. Thompson-Gordon as an unsung hero who led by example, gave sterling service to the education sector and distinguished herself as a role model in the community.

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