Bulletin Jan. 29, 2018.qxp_Layout 1 1/26/18 4:39 PM Page 1 Gov’t Working on Policy for InRIMEt MeINISgTER r Tihe tPryime Minoister f Security Forces the Most Hon. noted that the security NIR at Record Levels Andrew Holness says forces is not just the police THE COUNTRY’S Net provide confidence to the Government is in the and the army; but, it also International Reserves the markets that external Pprocess of developing a includes Jamaica Customs, (NIR) now stand at obligations can be met. comprehensive policy to deal Passport Immigration and US$3.2 billion, putting Meanwhile, Minister with ensuring the integrity Citizenship Agency, Fin an- the country in a better Shaw explained that the position to withstand foreign exchange market of the security forces. cial Investigation Division and external shocks. continues to improve, Persons who the Tax Authority. This was disclosed with the rate of exchange The Prime Minister noted by Minister of Finance appreciating by almost have that persons who have and the Public Service, three per cent for the 12- enforcement enforcement powers of the Hon. Audley Shaw, during month period ending law must be beyond reproach. the 13th Jamaica Stock January19, 2018, when powers of the “If you have enforcement Exchange (JSE) Invest- compared with a depre - powers you should not be ments and Capital ciation of 6.6 per cent law must be Markets Conference at for the corresponding susceptible to being sub - beyond the Jamaica Pegasus period of 2017. orned to any other interest Hotel in New Kingston “I want to make the reproach. than the interest,” he said. on January 24. point to those who want to He said persons found He said approximately contemplate speculating He was responding to to be corrupt in the security 80 per cent of that stock is with the exchange rate again questions from journalists at structure should be removed. Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness fields in non-borrowed reserves, that not only are our the quarterly press briefing He added that the policy questions from journalists during his quarterly press noting that Gross reserves at record levels will see a unified and holis tic briefing, held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Foreign Reserves now but, under the standby held on January 24 at the stand at US$3.8 billion. arrangement with the Inter- approach to security. January 24. Office of the Prime Minister. The NIR represent national Monetary Fund contingency funds, which now, we have access to can enable the country to another US$1.6 billion if Critical Crime-Fighting Bills this Year survive severe external we need it. Because we THE GOVERNMENT will tabled in Parliament, which shocks, cope with shifts have passed the last two be pushing several critical will replace and repeal in investor confidence tests, we already have and natural disasters. access to almost US$800 pieces of legislation through the 150 year old Jamaica While the reserves million of that; we have Parliament this year that Constabulary Force (JCF) are not credited to the access to it, if we need are aimed at strengthening Act. country’s revenues, they it,” he pointed out. the fight against crime. The objective, Mr. Among them is the Bill Montague said, is to break to establish the Major with the past and “create a Organised and Anti- modern police service Corruption Agency (MOCA) befitting our times, and to as an independent law- better protect the members enforcement entity. and serve the public”. National Security Min- Meanwhile, the amend- ister, Hon. Robert Montague, ments to the Fingerprint said the MOCA Bill has National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague already been tabled in the Act will be completed within Lower House by Prime Minister Montague als o datory minimum sentences. eight months. Minister the Most Hon. stated that the Firearms Act This is the way to go, con - The Anti-Gang Act is also being amended to allow Andrew Holness and is is being reviewed and will sidering that the gun fea - Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. scheduled for debate on be brought before Parliament tures in 80 per cent of all for a watch list to be estab - Audley Shaw (left), in discussion with Minister of January 30. in three months. murders in Jamaica,” he lished as well as the imple - State in his Ministry, Hon. Fayval Williams, during He was speaking during “The amended legis- explained. mentation of control orders the 13th Jamaica Stock Exchange Investments and against suspected criminals. Capital Markets Conference at the Jamaica the sitting of the House of lation will feature new Within six months, the Pegasus Hotel on January 24. Representatives on January 23. penalties and harsher man- Police Service Act will be Progress Made in Removing Growth Constraints ECONOMIC GROWTH the enablers in Govern- He noted that the new proceedings as part of the Council (EGC) Chairman, ment and implementers in Act will support the overall crime-fighting Michael Lee-Chin, says the private sector are JCF’s transformation into strategy. notable progress has been focused on producing a modern intelligence- Another key area of made in addressing the greater economic growth driven service that ensures progress involves work to obstacles to economic and new jobs,” he said. public safety and security divest Government-owned growth in Jamaica. Mr. Lee-Chin was through stronger systems assets. He said the achieve - presenting the EGC’s of administration and Mr. Lee-Chin said ments over the last two fourth report to the nation internal discipline. plans have been completed quarters of the 2017/18 at Jamaica House on Mr. Lee-Chin further for submission to Cabinet fiscal year resulted from the January 24. cited the installation of that will inform the pri - EGC’s collaboration with He cited progress made video-link equipment in vatisation of 20 per cent public and private sector in national security through the courts, noting that the of the assets of the Urban entities and international the drafting of the proposed process, which is well Development Corporation partners. Police Services Act to under way, will make it and Factories Corporation “All of these collabo - replace the existing Jamaica Chairman, Michael Lee-Chin, gives the EGC’s fourth easier and safer for of Jamaica. rative activities between Constabulary Force Act. report to the nation at Jamaica House on January 24. persons to testify in trial $1.35 Billion to Rehabilitate 166 Roads PM Opens Kingston Wharves’ Total CHIEF EXECUTIVE the remainder by parish do the procurement and Officer, National Works councils. the analysis. We are going Logistics Facility Agency (NWA), E.G. “We are going to to use limited tender in Hunter, says a total of use limited tender most instances, recom - mend or select the con - $1.35 billion will be spent in most instances, to renovate and rehabili - tractor and get the work tate 166 roads across the recommend or done,” he said. island. select the He pointed out that Several of the island’s contractor and get the contractors will be roads have been severely the work done.” chosen from the approved undermined following National Contracts Com- persistent rainfall during Mr. Hunter empha - mission (NCC) list. the second half of 2017. sised that the road money “We will take inputs Addressing the Public will have to be spent from Members of Par- Administration and Appro- before March 31 and in liament to the extent that this is useful to our pur - priations Committee (PAAC) strict conformance with the Government of Jamaica pose, but at the end of the held on January 24, at Procurement Guidelines. day, we are the ones that Gordon House, Mr. Hunter “What this means is will have to speak to effi - said almost every con - that we have to get on the cacy of the process, and stituency is represented ground with this pro - we certainly intend to on the programme. gramme now, and we orchestrate the process in Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right) is attentive as Chief Executive He added that 85 per have to be able to cleverly strict conformance with Officer, Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL), Grantley Stephenson (left), shows him a cent of the roads are main - package the programme the rules of engagement,” layout of the Total Logistics Facility (TFL) at its official opening held at 195 Second tained by the NWA, while in such a way that we can Mr. Hunter said. Street in Kingston on January 25. Looking on is Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. ADVT..