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JAMAICA: Government committed to creating ownership society

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#Kingston, October 12, 2018 – Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to creating an ownership economy that facilitates greater participation by Jamaicans in activities designed to spur higher levels of growth and development.  This, he said, is being pursued through public-private partnerships (PPP).

He noted that the Government has already successfully implemented a number of PPPs through collaboration with foreign investors, citing the Kingston Container Terminal (KCT), Sangster International Airport (SIA), and Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA).  He said that while the success of these agreements has resulted in a heightening of Jamaica’s profile globally as an ideal location for investments, the Government wants more local investor input.

“We believe we have investors here who can compete with international investors… and win. I encourage our local investors to step up to the plate as well. The Government wants the people of Jamaica to own the economy and participate in [its] ownership,” the Prime Minister said.  He was speaking at the NMIA PPP concession agreement signing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Wednesday (October 10).

The Government has divested the management of NMIA’s operations to Mexican entity, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB. De CV (GAP), under a 25-year concession agreement, with an option to extend the arrangement by five years.

GAP, which has also been managing the SIA since 2003, will be responsible for improving NMIA’s land and air operational efficiency, and financing and completing a modernization programme at an estimated cost of more than U$110 million.  Additionally, the Government will receive a guaranteed percentage of the airport’s gross revenues.

GAP emerged as the preferred of three bidders, inclusive of two consortia of foreign and local investors.  The entity’s selection followed a public opening and evaluation and Cabinet’s subsequent approval in September of the submissions received by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) in July. The transaction value for GAP’s bid totals in excess of US$2 billion.

GAP has concession management agreements, some for 50 years, for 13 airports in Mexico.

“We will be faithful to what we have agreed to… and I have no doubt that our friends, who will now be operating the NMIA will proceed in good faith with the agreement,” Mr. Holness said.

“The Government will follow the legal and regulatory process… and be vigilant [to] ensure that the public’s interest is preserved… .  That is an assurance that we give to the people of Jamaica,” he added.

Since 2009, the Government has successfully privatized over 20 State assets, which also included Caymanas Track Limited and the Petroleum Company of Jamaica (PETCOM).

Mr. Holness advised that the Administration will shortly announce details of other potential investment opportunities that will be facilitated through PPPs and other divestment engagements.  He emphasized that the Government’s role in this dispensation is providing a strong regulatory framework, and assured that the Administration will be vigilant in ensuring that the terms of agreements reached are met and maintained.

 

Release: JIS

Contact: Douglas McIntosh

Photo Caption: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), shakes hands with Board member of Mexican entity, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB. De CV (GAP), Carlos Rohm (centre), following the signing of the 25-year Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) concession agreement at the Office of the Prime Minister on October 10.  Sharing in the moment (from second left) are Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Robert Montague; President and Chief Executive Officer, Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), Audley Deidrick; and GAP Chief Executive Officer, Raul Revuelta Musalem.

Michael Sloley Photo

 

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Caribbean News

CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Caribbean News

Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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