Olivia’s story is one that touched my heart. Before his passing, Olivia’s father had sought assistance through the New Social Housing Programme because he wanted to secure a safe and stable home for his daughter. Sadly, he did not live to see that dream fulfilled. As I listened to her speak about her father and the love they shared, I was reminded of the responsibility we have to care for our most vulnerable Jamaicans. Through the New Social Housing Programme, we are reaching families facing difficult circumstances and helping to provide the security and dignity that every Jamaican deserves. I know you too will be moved my Olivia’s story which she shares in this video. Olivia, I pray that this home brings you comfort, peace and the strength to keep pursuing your dreams. Your father wanted you to have a safe place to call home, and today, that wish has been fulfilled.

After losing her home to a devastating fire in July 2021, Doreen Palmer faced the painful task of rebuilding her life and finding a place for her family to call home. Through the Government’s New Social Housing Programme, Doreen and her family now have a new place to call home at East Palm Estate. Her story speaks to the importance of providing safe, secure housing for Jamaican families facing difficult circumstances. Congratulations to Doreen and her family on this new chapter. We are happy to see them settled into a safe and secure home as they move ahead with renewed hope.

A community space reclaimed, and a new future taking shape! The East Palms Housing Complex in Kingston Central will become a home for residents, following its redevelopment under the New Social Housing Programme.

For years, many residents of Tivoli Gardens have been waiting to secure full ownership of their homes. We are taking steps to help them move closer to that goal. This afternoon, a total of 221 residents received Certificates of Possession, which will help advance the process of obtaining individual titles for their homes. As part of this effort, all 250 outstanding accounts under the Tivoli Gardens High Rise Housing Programme benefited from the Government’s $150,000 write-off initiative. The accounts have been closed by the Housing Fund, and occupancy audits have been completed for 221 residents. The remaining 29 audits are to be completed. We will continue working to resolve the remaining requirements so that more residents can move towards receiving their individual titles.

A total of 221 Jamaicans received Letters of Possession, providing legal recognition of their right to occupy their land as they continue the process of securing ownership. A Letter of Possession gives you the legal recognition of your right to occupy your property without disturbance. This document establishes your possession and is an important part of the process towards obtaining official titles. I understand what this means for a family. It means having a place to call your own, building a home and creating something that can be passed on to your children. Your Government remains committed to helping more Jamaicans regularise their land and gain the security that comes with having a recognised right to their property.

🚨 FRAUD ALERT, JAMAICA! A fake promotion is circulating on WhatsApp and other platforms, falsely claiming that J$15,000 in cash is being offered to the public for National Heroes’ Day. The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Digicel Jamaica and Flow Jamaica are NOT associated with this promotion. ⚠️ Do not click on or share suspicious links.. Verify information through official channels. Report suspicious messages to (876) 578-5705 or [email protected].

The Chess in the City School Tour made another exciting stop at St. Catherine High School, where students got the full rundown on what’s ahead this weekend. From the competition to the prizes and the opportunity to represent their school, the message was simple: Chess in the City 2026 is almost here. Our title sponsors, Juici Patties and the Social Development Commission (SDC), have been right there with us as we continue taking the excitement directly to students across Jamaica. Get ready for a full day of strategy, competition and young talent on display. Smart Moves. Stronger Jamaica. 🇯🇲♟️ #ChessInTheCity2026 #StCatherineHighSchool #SmartMovesStrongerJamaica

Early detection saves lives. Breast cancer can affect anyone, but knowing the signs, checking your breasts regularly, and attending recommended screenings can make a difference. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s prioritise our health, pay attention to changes in our bodies, and encourage the people we love to do the same. If you notice any unusual changes, consult a healthcare provider. Your health is worth it. Act today. 🎀

Jamaica is facing severe drought conditions, and I want every household to understand what this means for our water supply. In Kingston and St Andrew, 45 water systems are being affected, along with systems across St Catherine, Clarendon and the North East. The Mona Reservoir is currently at 33.5% capacity, while Hermitage Dam is at 40.3%. The NWC is responding with 18 of its own trucks and 52 privately contracted trucks to support communities affected by the shortage. We are also preparing for the possibility of longer supply restrictions in some communities, including day-on, day-off supply, if rainfall does not improve. We are also paying close attention to schools and healthcare facilities to ensure they have the water they need during periods of shortage. This is a time for all of us to conserve, use water wisely and take personal responsibility.

Crime is a hard-won fight, and we cannot afford to lose the gains we have made. I have been clear that the measures we have put in place to tackle crime and violence must continue to be refined. Our goal is to protect innocent Jamaicans while making it harder for criminals to operate. One of the lessons we have learned is the importance of geography. Crime does not happen everywhere in the same way, and understanding where crimes are concentrated helps us to better position our security resources and respond where they are needed. The Zones of Special Operations were developed from this approach, using data to identify communities with historically high and persistent murder rates. Today, the patterns of crime are changing, and criminal networks are attempting to move into new areas. We are using intelligence and geographic data to track these changes and respond. The gains we have made have come through the hard work of our security forces and other agencies, supported by significant investment. We must protect that progress while ensuring that no innocent person pays the price for the actions of criminals. We will continue to refine our approach, using the tools available to us not only to respond to crime, but to anticipate and prevent it. It is a hard-won fight, and we are not out of the woods yet.

I want to reassure Jamaicans that there is no attempt to remove accountability, transparency or oversight from the Government’s procurement and contracting processes. The systems we have in place are important, and where there are flaws, we must fix them. At the same time, there are projects of national importance that need to move with greater speed because delays can hold back investment, jobs and improvements in people’s lives. The special process for these projects does not remove oversight. Parliamentary oversight remains, and additional measures are being put in place to protect accountability and transparency. I am particularly eager to see work begin in Pedro Plains. This is a promise that has been spoken about for generations, and I am grateful to be in a position to help move it forward. The people of Pedro Plains have waited long enough. It is time to get the work started.

#PressRelease: Government Delivers 19 Humanitarian Grants Valued at $9.9 million to Vulnerable Citizens in Cooper’s Pen.