Anthony Hylton urges growth plan beyond Jamaica’s fiscal gains

Anthony Hylton MP used his Sectoral Debate contribution on the 2026/27 budget to argue that Jamaica’s macroeconomic achievements must now translate into visible improvements in daily life for citizens.

Hylton said fiscal order and economic discipline remain important, but he warned that Jamaicans are facing rising food and fuel costs, wages that are not matching the cost of living, and fewer clear routes to social and economic advancement. He said young professionals are increasingly unsure whether Jamaica offers a future in which they should invest, while many families are focused on simply keeping their households steady.

The issue before the House, he said, should not stop at whether the Government can keep the public accounts in line. In his view, the bigger test is whether the economy is creating prosperity that people can experience in practical ways. Hylton said Jamaicans “cannot eat fiscal credibility”, nor can they meet mortgage obligations with macroeconomic indicators or build enterprises from Government statements.

He called for a more ambitious national growth agenda aimed at strengthening resilience, opening opportunities, improving productivity and securing long-term prosperity.

Referring to the business parable Who Moved My Cheese, Hylton said change is unavoidable and countries that fail to adjust will be left behind. He asked the Government to show where its plan is to respond to the changes already taking place.

Hylton acknowledged that Jamaica has made major progress on fiscal consolidation over the past decade. He said debt-to-GDP levels have fallen, primary surpluses have continued, inflation management has improved, and macroeconomic stability has been achieved through hard choices.

He also said both administrations deserve measured credit for maintaining that discipline, noting that the sacrifices were significant and were borne by the Jamaican people. However, he argued that stability is only a base for development, not development itself, and said the structural transformation Jamaica needs has still not appeared after 10 years.