Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the Hon. Matthew Samuda, MP announced today in Parliament the historic appointment of Professor Dale Finster St. George Webber as Jamaica’s first special envoy for Climate Change, Environment, Ocean, and Blue Economy.

This pioneering role reflects Jamaica’s commitment to addressing the global challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and sustainable development. Professor Webber, an esteemed marine biologist, conservationist, and climate change advocate, will serve as an Ambassador in this capacity, reporting directly to the Most Honourable Prime Minister while working closely with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

Prime Minister Holness and Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness expressed his commendations to Professor Webber in Parliament.

“I wish to add my commendations to Professor Webber, he has done a great deal of work in the field of climate, and it was a very easy decision for me and the Minister responsible for climate change to make the appointment. We are confident that he will represent Jamaica well in the many climate fora that are conveyed around the world and particularly at this time”, said the Prime Minister.

Minister Samuda emphasised the importance of this appointment, citing the critical need for Jamaica to enhance its representation in international negotiations and agreements. “The challenges of our time—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—demand high-level participation and collaboration on the global stage. This appointment signals Jamaica’s resolve to lead and act decisively in these areas”, he said.

Professor Webber’s expertise in Coastal and Environmental Management and his distinguished career in academia and public service, including his tenure as Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, make him exceptionally suited for this role.

In his new role, Professor Webber will engage in international dialogues and technical negotiations, ensuring that Jamaica’s interests remain at the forefront of global environmental policy and action. According to his Terms of Reference, his role will include:

• Clear identification of leads on projects or programmes representing sound prospects for advancing Jamaica’s economic growth, environmental sustainability and job creation agenda; and
• Provision of specific proposals with supporting documentation, as will permit the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to assess the feasibility of proposed projects or programmes.

Minister Samuda concluded by urging bipartisan support for this significant appointment, noting its importance for Jamaica’s future resilience and sustainability.

The House of Representatives has approved amendments to the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act and the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA), to allow for significant increases in fines and related custodial sentences.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, who piloted the Bill through Parliament on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, noted that the Amendments were necessary due to the increase in environmental crimes in Jamaica.

He attributed this increase to the low levels of penalties for offences under the NRCA Act and the WLPA, adding that “the level of the fines under these two pieces of legislation currently does not act as a deterrent to non-compliance”.

Minister Samuda noted that the NRCA Act had never been amended since its promulgation in 1991, while the fines under the WLPA were last updated in 1998 to a maximum of $100,000 for offences under the Act and $40,000 for persons found in breach of the Act.

Under the draft Bills, depending on the severity of the offence as adjudicated by the Supreme Court, Corporate Bodies may now be subject to a fine of approximately J$10 million, individuals in breach of the Acts may face a fine of up to J$5 million or serve a term of imprisonment up to five years, subject to the jurisdiction of the Parish Courts.

Minister Samuda further stated that the imposition of criminal sanctions is one element of the regulatory tool kit used to foster compliance, adding that “to be effective and efficient, imposition of criminal sanctions must be coupled with an increase in enforcement action by NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency), including the identification and apprehension of offenders in a timely manner”.

The Minister explained that in response to the inadequacy of the existing penalties under the NRCA Act and the WLPA, NEPA has instituted several cooperative intervention measures to bolster its monitoring and enforcement regime to foster a culture of compliance with environmental laws.

These measures, he said, included the development of a Special Monitoring List, based on specific criteria, which involves those facilities/developments that require more stringent monitoring; the establishment of several inter-agency partnerships, such as the Inter-agency Regulatory Monitoring and Review Committee for the Bauxite/Alumina industry; and the expansion of the Agency’s monitoring activities through the conduct of its environmental wardens on the ground.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his 2024/25 Budget Presentation, indicated that the penalties under the NRCA Act and the WLPA would be increased.

The Amendments, which were tabled in Parliament on December 10, 2024, are part of the measures the Government is taking under its justice reform agenda.

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Preliminary figures show that approximately 2000 persons, or just over 600 per day,  have applied for the National Water Commission’s Amnesty since it came into effect under three working days ago, on January 2, 2025.

This was disclosed by Minister without Portfolio, in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, during an interview on Nationwide News Network this morning (January 7, 2024).

Minister Samuda, who has responsibility for the water portfolio, told the hosts of “Nationwide This Morning’ George Davis, and Tauna Thomas, that a better idea of the numbers will be obtained later this week.

“We will be able to have a better view of the breakdown in numbers towards the end of the week.  As it is still in its preliminary stages, we are working through, as with any programme the teething pains to make sure that it is smooth”, he noted.

Minister Samuda reiterated that persons wishing to take advantage of the amnesty, have been asked to call the NWC’s dedicated helplines to make appointments to prevent an influx of persons at the Agency’s offices.

“Thus far we are seeing persons calling and making their appointments. There are those that obviously want deeper cuts than the programme allows, so you do have some negotiations and some conversations that are taking longer.  We are working through the issues. We are assessing whether it will become necessary to look at opening for this programme on Saturdays if it creates too much pressure in-branch for any of the spaces”, he said.

The Minister further noted that the NWC is also looking at doing some community interventions for persons who are remotely located from the NWC’s offices, adding that the data received towards the end of the week will be critical to ascertaining the necessary interventions.

Minister Samuda said in all, it is expected that the Amnesty will benefit 150,000 persons by bringing those who have been disconnected back into the formal system as paying customers.

Under the Amnesty which will last up to March 31, 2025, pensioners who have been disconnected for two years, and are assessed as being in need based on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) beneficiary identification standards, will have their debt written off and reconnection fees waived.

The Amnesty will also benefit persons trying to transfer land Titles and customers who have been disconnected for longer than six months.

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The water issues experienced by the 1000 residents of the rural district of Orangefield in Northwest St. Catherine are now behind them, with the commissioning on Friday December 20, 2024, of the Orangefield Water Improvement Project.

In commissioning the project, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda M.P., who has portfolio responsibility for water, noted that water projects like Orangefield can transform lives.

“The NWC, for two years running, has been able to make a surplus that has facilitated the investment of over $130 million between Jericho and Orangefield’s system. The NWC has invested in your comfort, in your standard of living in your land value, and in your future”, he noted.

Minister Samuda continued that the Government is investing in ensuring that potable water reaches every Jamaican, adding that no area nor parish is being left out. He stated that the NWC is midway in 42 small projects similar to the works at Orangefield.

“We are proud of that because 42 works of this nature from the Water Commission is a big deal. At no point in memory has the NWC been able to take on 42 of these types of projects simultaneously and that is because of good leadership. So, whereas we are transforming our ability to supply, we are also working to transform our finances.   When that transformation takes place, the dividends are going to be paid to those in rural Jamaica who do not have reliable water”, he stated.

In addition, Minister Samuda noted that Rural Water Supply Limited is investing close to J$1 billion into rural communities that have waited for decades to get water.

“This is the single largest investment in rural water systems in the country’s history and we are proud of that, and we are not going to resile from the fact that we are investing at an unprecedented rate”, he stated.

The Orangefield Water Improvement Project, involved the excavation and laying of approximately 0.15km of 6” PVC and 0.65km of 8” PVC pipelines from the Orangefield Primary School to the turn-off point at the Orangefield Square.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, shares a celebratory moment with recipients and officials during the handing-over ceremony for 36 new housing units in St. Paul’s Lane, Tower Hill, West Central St. Andrew.

36 residents of St. Paul’s Lane receive the keys to their new homes 36 residents in St. Paul’s Lane, Tower Hill, West Central St. Andrew, are the proud recipients of new homes, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), the National Housing Trust (NHT), and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). The residents, including several who were displaced by a fire which gutted their dwellings two years ago, received the keys to their houses during a handing-over ceremony in the community on Wednesday (December 11, 2024). Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, noted that initially 24 homes should have been built.  However, he stated that following discussions with members of the community, the decision was taken to clear the entire one-and-a-half-acre plot to facilitate the construction of 36 units. “It took some time and convincing and it took some guarantee that we would pay rent for those persons who gave up their structures for new structures that would be built.  In all, we have 36 units…The moment that we broke ground, and we were coming up out of the foundation, the persons who were sceptical, their minds and their outlook immediately changed, and they wanted to be a part of this”, he stated. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the St. Paul’s Lane development will spark a ‘demonstration effect’ for other projects where lands are not readily available for greenfield development. “Once the public sees that this is the policy and it has worked, then we can now move full speed ahead with developing other such communities across Jamaica and in particular, within Kingston and St. Andrew”, he noted. Dr. Holness added that communities across Jamaica have already been identified to replicate the St. Paul’s Lane development model, adding that the NHT, HAJ and JSIF will be tasked to develop a working model that can easily be deployed to these communities to conduct a proper programme of urban renewal. “We want to do this for every single inner-city community in Jamaica.   This is my wish, and this is my vision, and we have proven that it can be done without any issues, any complaints, any conflicts, we have done it.  We have identified the communities. In the next budget there will be an allocation for this urban renewal project”, the Prime Minister stated. Among the facilities in the development are a play area, washing and drying area, parking, sewage, water, electricity and other amenities.

Residents of the Northern Trelawny community of Spicy Hill received an early Christmas gift today (December 17, 2024), with the commissioning of newly installed pipelines to serve the growing population.

Minister without Portfolio, Hon. Matthew Samuda, who has oversight for the Water Portfolio, described the occasion as momentous.

“It is a momentous occasion because it represents the Government moving one step closer to fulfilling its commitment under the UN SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals), which aim to provide potable water and sanitation to all citizens by 2030. This is an investment of over J$30 million by the National Water Commission into the community of Spicy Hill and to the 1200 plus residents”, he stated.

Minister Samuda commended the NWC for bringing in the project on time and within budget.  He added that the regularisation initiative for Spicy Hill marks a crucial advancement in securing formal water access for the residents while addressing the challenges associated with the community’s unregistered status.

Although the supply to the area in which the Ettingdon Well served was fairly adequate, many residents of Spicy Hill are unregistered.  This resulted in several challenges including large areas being underserved due to unknown demand levels because of unplanned growth in the area, and water losses due to unreported leaks and poor connections.

The new pipeline spans 2.5 kilometres and comprises 1.3 kilometres of 2-inch galvanised pipeline; 600 metres of 1-inch galvanised pipeline; 600 meters of 2-inch PVC pipeline as well as service laterals.

The new pipelines will formally integrate more households into the NWC’s water supply system, thereby addressing the challenges of underserved areas and enabling better water management.

Minister Samuda urged the residents to take advantage of the offer of a 50 per cent reduction on their first bill and encouraged them to reach out to others about the recently announced amnesty being given to customers of the NWC for legacy water bills.

“We are going to be able to provide up to J$30 billions of relief to citizens so it’s nothing to scoff at.  It’s a major investment in your care, in your comfort and in your way of life for those who are suffering.  I encourage you to reach out to your friends, family and business associates, to remind them to come in so that we can help them to clean up their household accounts, while we clean up our books as well.  It’s an effort at returning dignity, it’s an effort at returning comfort to over 100,000 citizens that have the opportunity to benefit”, he explained.

Minister Samuda encouraged persons to call the NWC hotlines and set up meeting times so that the Agency can better accommodate the flow of citizens to its offices.

 

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The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), in collaboration with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), tabled amendments to the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act (NRCA) and the Wildlife Protection Act in Parliament yesterday (December 10).

The proposed amendments aim to increase fines, update related custodial sentences and modernise the legal framework for environmental management in Jamaica. The maximum fine for offences under both the NRCA Act and the Wild Life Protection Act has been significantly increased to J$5 million. Furthermore, the amendments introduce distinctions between offences committed by individuals and body corporates, with the latter now subject to judgments in the Circuit Court. This change allows for the imposition of penalties based on the severity of the environmental crime.

Minister without Portfolio in the MEGJC, Hon. Matthew Samuda, stated:

“We are continuing to focus on the full overhaul of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act and the Wildlife Protection Act as well as the repeal and replacement of the Forest Act, which we aim to complete early in the Financial Year 2025/26. These efforts underscore the Government’s continued commitment to strengthening environmental governance and ensuring that offenders face penalties commensurate with the severity of their actions”.

The amendments reflect the Government’s proactive approach to addressing non-compliance with environmental laws. Minister Samuda added:

“The ministry will also be conducting a review of the enforcement capacity of all our environmental management agencies with regulatory authority, including the National Environment and Planning Agency, the Forestry Department, and the Water Resources Authority. This review will ensure a robust enforcement framework to protect our natural resources.”

These updates are part of the Government’s broader strategy to promote sustainable development while fostering a culture of compliance with environmental regulations.

The tabled bill can be found on the Houses of Parliament website at https://japarliament.gov.jm.

The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) is intensifying efforts to ensure access to adequate, affordable, and safe housing solutions for all Jamaicans, recognising that housing is a critical pillar of national development.

Speaking on the Ministry’s latest episode of MEGJC 360, Senior Director of the Housing Policy, Research, and Monitoring Branch, Paula Parkes, says the “strategic objective is to develop and refine suitable policy and legislative instruments to achieve Vision 2030’s goal of safe, sanitary, and affordable shelter for all citizens”.

Among the Ministry and its Agencies’ significant achievements is the promulgation of Jamaica’s first National Housing Policy and Implementation Plan, finalised post-independence. This landmark policy addresses critical housing issues such as affordability, emergency housing, and housing finance. It also outlines actionable recommendations to expand access to safe, legal, and affordable housing solutions.

“This policy is a milestone for Jamaica. It provides a roadmap to tackle the various housing challenges faced by different segments of society, ensuring that everyone- from vulnerable populations to middle-income families-has access to shelter”, Ms. Parkes explained.

Ms. Parkes added that the Ministry is also advancing innovative initiatives like the Housing Public-Private Partnership Policy, designed to facilitate partnerships between the government and developers to deliver affordable housing solutions. One notable success is the development of Catherine Estates, which provides Jamaicans with cost-effective housing options while ensuring quality.

In addition to policy advancements, the Housing Policy, Research, and Monitoring Branch conducts socioeconomic surveys in informal and disaster-affected communities. These surveys inform government interventions such as relocation, regularisation, and infrastructure development, directly improving the quality of life of residents.

The Ministry is also strengthening its monitoring and evaluation framework to track the progress of housing policies and ensure alignment with the National Development Plan. Legislative advancements, such as the draft bill for Quantity Surveyors, are also being prioritised to promote accountability and professionalism in housing development.