Our talks reflected JamaicaвЂ™s long and productive relationship with the United States and signaled the importance of the strong and vibrant partnership that exists between our two countries. Secretary Tillerson and I have engaged in critical discussions on issues of mutual interest to Jamaica and the United States, as well as the region, with a focus on promoting a peaceful, prosperous, energy-secure, and democratic hemisphere.ДЄmong the specific matters discussed were strengthening security cooperation in order to more effectively combat transnational organized crime boosting the U.S.-Jamaica economic partnership exploring opportunities to broaden U.S.-CARICOM engagement energy security the economic vulnerability of middle-income countries, including climatic events de-risking and correspondent banking issues and of course, the situation in Venezuela. It was my great pleasure to welcome Secretary of State Tillerson to Jamaica and to host him and his delegation on this brief but historic working visit to Jamaica. PRIME MINISTER HOLNESS:В Members of the media, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. The Prime Minister will make some remarks, followed by Secretary Tillerson.Prime Minister. Thank you so much for joining us, everyone, on this working visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, the Honorable Rex Tillerson. misleading your flock, and I would encourage all leaders, especially those who stand on a religious platform, to ensure that they are genuinely and truly preaching a message that is going to elevate, uplift and give knowledge to your flock, so that your flock can survive,' he advised.MODERATOR:В (In progress) as well as the U.S. 'If you are a leader and you mislead your flock, it is a greater sin on you for. Spirituality and being involved in a religious group always comes down to a personal choice,' Holness contended.ДЇurther, he claimed that there are some clergymen and women who are 'very jealous of their right to preach their doctrines and their perspectives'.ДЄmong it all, the prime minister suggested that religious leaders should seek to preach messages that will, among other things, elevate their church members. It should (instead) be a conversation that, вЂHere is the religious positionвЂ™. 'You can have your religious belief, but it is not fair to impose that religious belief on the people who you are preaching to, because we are seeing and getting reports of persons saying, 'You know, if they take the vaccine they are betraying their pastor',' he argued. Holness deemed it 'unfair' for religious leaders to impose their own beliefs on churchgoers who may want to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. The prime minister aired his views on the matter of religious influence on the vaccination process during a COVID-19 vaccination tour in Northern Clarendon on Thursday. Don't stop persons or make persons feel that they would betray the faith if they decide to take the vaccines,' he added. 'It is all good and well to stand on your pulpit and preach, but don't go further than that. 'I would appeal to those persons who hold religious objections (to taking the vaccines), not to seek to impose them on the people who you lead,' Holness suggested.

Holness said church leaders should instead respect the personal choices of individuals who wish to get inoculated with the life-saving drugs.

With some church leaders insisting that their congregants should refrain from taking the COVID-19 vaccines, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged the preachers to desist from engaging in that practice.

Andrew holness jamaica prime minister