Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is doubling down on his aspiration to transform Jamaica in such a way that sustained economic growth, low crime rates, affordable housing, and first world infrastructure are the order of the day.

Holness reiterated his vision for Jamaica, insisting that he was not concerned about his own legacy, as he addressed the new Parliament on Thursday, shortly after all 63 members of the House of Representatives were sworn-in to mark the start of the new parliamentary term.

Holness, who led the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to a hard-fought and historic third-straight win over the People’s National Party in the September 3 General Election, believes the lowering of the country’s crime rate to levels not seen in 30 years, including a more than 40 per cent reduction in murders, is a critical first step on this journey.

“For the first time in decades, Jamaica is no longer the most homicidal country in the Latin America and Caribbean region. This is progress, but it must not be a passing phase,” Holness told the House.

“The decline must be sustained as we not only root out the gangs but also transform the communities where they once had safe havens. By removing their habitat and changing the conditions, volatile communities and all of Jamaica can become safer, more prosperous places,” he insisted.

He said it was to signal the priority of violence reduction that the Ministry of National Security was renamed the Ministry of National Security and Peace.

“This reflects our conviction that the task before us is not simply to enforce law and order but to build the conditions for lasting peace,” said Holness.

He noted that while homicides have fallen to levels not seen in decades, the country must address the enabling environment that allows gangs to thrive.

The prime minister also told the House that land titling and housing will be big priorities for his Administration during its third term. In particular, the Government will be striving to root out informal settlements where up to an estimated 700,000 Jamaicans, of a population of 2.7 million people, live.

“For too long Jamaica has struggled with the legacy of insecure land tenure and informal settlements. Generations of Jamaicans have lived, farmed, and built on land without the security of a title — limiting their ability to access credit, pass on wealth, or invest with confidence. Informal settlements have multiplied, often without proper infrastructure or services, creating conditions of disorder and vulnerability.

“This is why I have appointed a minister without portfolio [Robert Montague] within the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, with specific responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements,” the prime minister said.

He argued that land titling is not simply about paperwork; it is about reducing urban blight, enabling community upgrading, and ensuring that every new home rests on the firm ground of legality and security.

“Formalisation also has a deeper meaning: communities without clear ownership are more prone to criminal exploitation, while communities with secure tenure are more invested in order, stability, and prosperity,” Holness added.

He said housing naturally flows from this foundation as housing is about stability and the opportunity to build wealth across generations.

“That is why we are building more homes so that supply meets demand. Already, 70,000 houses are in train for delivery over the next three to five years, and we will place an additional 60,000 on top of that. This is the most ambitious housing programme in Jamaica’s history,” he boasted.

Making the link between proper housing and crime reduction, the prime minister said: “Communities where residents live without formal ownership are more likely to become havens for gangs, because disorder and uncertainty create spaces for criminals to operate. Formalisation through land titling strengthens the rule of law at the community level, giving residents a stake in order, and reducing the likelihood of their community being used as a safe haven for gangs. In this way, housing and land titling are not just economic policies; they are violence-reduction strategies.”

In his prepared text, the prime minister also said “Violence is not inevitable; it is preventable”. He urged the Parliament to unite around the imperative of building peace, and said a critical aspect of making Jamaica a more peaceful place is how we raise our children, how we parent them, and how the State looks after children in need of protection.

“The work of crime reduction is not only about saving lives; it is about changing the entire trajectory of our country. Every murder prevented is not just a life saved but a community stabilised, an investor reassured, a professional encouraged to stay, a business able to expand,” he said.

Holness told the House that as the country succeeds in driving murders down, “we are looking to reap several peace dividends”.

These include:

* Increased investment as capital flows to a safer, more predictable environment.

* Higher profits for businesses no longer burdened by extortion and security costs.

* Reduced brain drain, as more of our brightest minds choose to build their lives here rather than abroad.

“This Parliament must therefore see violence reduction as central to our economic future. It is not a matter of security policy alone, it is the key that unlocks prosperity,” Holness said.

To boost economic growth, the head of Government said his Administration will be looking to build on key parameters such as debt reduction, stable inflation, strong reserves “and our fiscal accounts being among the most disciplined in the world”.

“With stability secured, the next step is growth. In this new term, the Government will be engaged in crafting a new medium-term economic plan — one designed not just to preserve discipline, but to unlock opportunity. This plan will focus on boosting long-term growth and productivity, deepening financial inclusion and resilience, and strengthening social protection for vulnerable households,” he said.

The prime minister advised that the approach will seek the right balance: fiscal responsibility alongside catalytic investments in infrastructure, human capital, and innovation.

“The truth is, our economy cannot grow to its full potential unless we significantly accelerate our rate of economic growth — growth that lifts every household out of absolute poverty, that allows every child to dream, that provides every farmer with markets, every entrepreneur with opportunity, and every worker with dignity of pay and security of work.

“This Parliament must therefore continue to support investments in education, innovation, and technology to increase national productivity. Our creative and ambitious young people must be equipped to thrive in the digital economy. Our systems of Government must work faster and more transparently. Through the SPEED programme, we will reduce red tape, digitise processes, and eliminate the inefficiencies that frustrate growth and breed corruption,” Holness said.

He insisted that the third term is not about legacy; rather, it is about destiny. “It is not about what I will leave behind, but what Jamaica must achieve. And what Jamaica must achieve is nothing less than greatness.

He insisted that Jamaica must end absolute poverty, stating, “We can build a Jamaica where every family has access to housing and every owner has secure land title. We can build a Jamaica where infrastructure opens up opportunities for all parishes. We can build a Jamaica where bureaucracy no longer frustrates enterprise. We can build a Jamaica where peace replaces violence, and order replaces disorder. We can build a Jamaica that takes its rightful place among the leading small nations of the world.”