Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Government to take strong action against criminals
#Jamaica, January 19, 2018 – Mandeville – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says laws will be put in place to deal with the one per cent of Jamaicans who are seeking to destabilise the country “once and for all”.
Speaking at the launch of Fontana Pharmacy’s 50th anniversary celebrations, in Mandeville, on January 17, the Prime Minister pointed out that “99 per cent of Jamaicans are decent, law-abiding, upstanding people who want to see this country grow and prosper”.
“Over the past months, I have been observing public discourse on this matter. It is an emerging view that now is the time that the Government should take firm and resolute measures within the context of the law, the preservation of human rights and the dignity of life. We have reached the point where we are now prepared to take those firm and resolute measures,” Mr. Holness emphasised.
Later in the evening, the Prime Minister declared a State of Public Emergency in the parish of St. James. Mr. Holness said the resolute measures are to ensure that the “crime monster” does not destabilise the promising future that is in store for Jamaica.
“The measures would take great understanding and tolerance from the people, because the fight against crime is not just the business of the police or Government; it takes everyone to reach the point of understanding that the Government must act in a resolute manner, but with respect for the rights and dignity of the people,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that gangs, rather than more desirable forms of engagement in the formal system, which creates opportunities in which to work, are pulling the youth, thereby creating disorder.
“That is something we have to look at in a serious way, how we provide these kinds of structures, outlets and opportunities for our young men, in particular, to express themselves and to feel a sense of purpose, of being wanted and a sense of accomplishment,” he said.
He congratulated the Chang family for their decision to start Fontana, describing this as representing “forethought and commitment to filling a marketplace gap”.
“It took ingenuity, focus and hard work, discipline and optimism to accomplish what is now an exemplary model of how dreams become flourishing reality,” he said.
Fontana Pharmacy was founded by Angela and Bobby Chang in 1968, and has since expanded to Savanna-la-Mar, Kingston, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.
Release: JIS
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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