KINGSTON, Jamaica– Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that all measures under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) will be withdrawn on Friday, including curfews and gathering limits.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister announced his contribution to the 2022-2023 Budget Debate in Parliament.
The island’s COVID-19 deaths per million of the population is 13 percent below the world average; excluding India and China, the Prime Minister touted his Government as the country safe.
“After two years of dexterously balancing lives and livelihoods with executive powers under the DRMA, the measures would end since citizens now know what to do to protect themselves and their families.”
Although the measures have been lifted, he acknowledged that the pandemic is not over, so “continued vigilance is necessary.”
“It is no longer sustainable to manage the pandemic as a “special project” by Executive Order, through the Disaster Risk Management Act. However, risks remain, and continued vigilance is necessary, especially for vulnerable populations. For this reason, some measures, such as the requirement for people who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate and handwashing and sanitization rules, will be retained and subsumed into the Public Health Act.”
Other rules that will now fall under the Public Health Act include laboratories protecting the privacy and identity of people testing for COVID-19 and mask-wearing in enclosed public spaces – such as supermarkets, banks, and tax collectorates.
The Prime Minister stated that the mask-wearing requirement will remain until April 15. It will no longer be mandated but recommended for businesses like restaurants and bars.
He also announced that pre-testing as a requirement for travel to Jamaica will also remain in place until April 15. After that, an assessment will be done to determine whether this can be discontinued.
In addition, physical distancing will also be “highly recommended” but not mandated. The same will be valid for general infection prevention and workplace control protocols.
While curfews will end, Holness urged the public to “use discretion” regarding how late they stay out to ensure their safety and security.
The prime minister said the prohibition on entertainment events would also be lifted on Friday concerning the entertainment industry.
However, the Prime Minister reminded the public that events are regulated under various laws and administered by different entities, including the municipal corporations and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, from whom permits must be sought and licenses paid.
Meanwhile, following backlash and outrage from the general public about giving particular preference to a music Romeich Major, five ministers of Government government the launch of an album by dancehall artiste Shenseea’ – they have each been charged J$100,000 each. Holness who
Dubbing the MMinister’spresent at the launch as ‘starstruck,’ the Prime Minister has appointed Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange to collect the fines and donate them to a worthy charity.
“Some people were starstruck and forgot their senses; I believe they should be fined. nd so Minister Grange, who is used to being among stars and kept her mask on, I am appointing you MMinisterto collect $100,000 from every MMinisterwho was there and made a donation to a worthy charity.”
Those who attended the album launch were Minister of Finance, Dr. Nigel Clarke, Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Olivia’ Babsy’ Grange, and Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Floyd Green and State Minister Alando Terrelonge.
They were all photographed, sometimes without masks, hugging and defying social distancing orders.
Concerning national security – the Prime Minister said Jamaica Defence Force [JDF] army bases are to be established in remote areas to flush out criminals who feel they are out of reach of the law.
The first such base is to be established in Wareika Hills, in the eastern parish of St Andrew.
Holness said that the move was part of a government security strategic plan in the country’s land domain. E said it was also “in response to the growing trend of criminals creating hideouts and camps in remote and uninhabited areas, from which they launch attacks on communities and then escape back into these areas.”
“The JDF will be expanding its patrol, surveillance, and presence in our remote and inaccessible regions across Jamaica,” the prime minister said. E noted that where feasible, a permanent presence will be established.
“This will assist in detecting criminals and illegal activities, but it will also help conserve the country’s natural resources in these areas,” he explained. E disclosed that last Thursday, he approved the transfer of over 100 acres of hilltop land from the Windsor Farm property in Wareika Hills to the JDF to create a special operations base.
“This is a strategic location from which the JDF can take control of the mountain range and conduct a range of operations in support of the JCF [Jamaica Constabulary Force] and other national security programs,” said Holness. E told the House that the Wareika Hills base is the first of many such bases to come.
“We will not cede one inch of land to criminals to feel that they have control and are out of reach of law enforcement and the Jamaican state,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister also announced that the Cockpit Country Protected Area in the island’s interior had been given legal protection under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act. The protected area is approximately 3,292 hectares larger than the 74,726 hectares announced in 2017.
Concerning the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Prime Minister stated that this has further disrupted the already fragile global supply chains and worsened high inflation levels through spikes in global commodity prices, remarkably the price of oil and gas; casting a shadow over global economic confidence, just at the moment optimism about the post-pandemic recovery was beginning to take hold.
“This geopolitical crisis, thousands of miles away, is of macro-critical importance to Jamaica. The energy cost is now a financial risk and is likely to become our most significant growth impediment. The price of imported crude and refined oil products in 2021 was over US$1 billion, an increase of 77% relative to 2020. The increase in imports between 2020 and 2021 was approximately 13%. The current global oil prices are 40-50% higher than the average levels prevailing in 2021.
“This illustrates the extent of oil price volatility and our vulnerability. Volatile oil prices immediately affect the transport sector and the cost of electricity. His then ripples through all-economy segments, affecting inflation and impacting our balance of payments and, therefore, the exchange rate. E has been monitoring the world oil prices and seeing some recent corrections in the spike. E expect that this downward settling will continue as the markets adjust; however, prices will likely remain high. The implied volatility will continue in the long term,” he said.
“There are calls from certain quarters to give up revenues while at the same time calling for in-creased expenditure. These two things are not sustainably possible without increasing borrowing. Hile the Opposition can make these calls without any political accountability, it is the Government tGovernmentalance the country’s books so that all Jamaican households can, in turn, balance their books.
He noted that his administration had presented seven budgets with no net new taxes and five without any further taxes.
“In addition, we have removed taxes such as the Minimum Business Tax and income tax for over persons earning less than J$1.5m. e reduced taxes such as GCT and Transfer Taxes. I am sure every Jamaican is quite appreciative of the fact that amid the economic fallout from the pandemic, which was the worst global crisis in 100 years and now exacerbated by oil price increases, factors outside of our control, our Government government the people and say, “NO NEW TAXES.”
Holness noted that as Jamaica celebrates 60 years as an independent state, he said the countries also pride 78 years of being a democratic nation as marked by Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944.
“We have made significant strides as a nation. Americans continue to excel in various fields of endeavor and wave the black, green, and gold high. However, we are yet to scratch the surface of our tremendous potential as a country. e are a people richly blessed with strength, wisdom, courage, and creativity. have a firm and abiding belief that our best days are ahead of us.’
“Though the road may be rocky and the hills steep, I have unshakeable faith in the goodness of my country and the resilience of my people. S we move into the next phase of our journey as an independent nation, we are determined to sow the seeds for a bountiful harvest of Peace, Opportunity, and Prosperity for every citizen. Your best days are ahead of us,” the Prime Minister said.
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