Holness urges business sector to help drive Jamaica’s reconstruction and productivity agenda

Prime Minister Andrew Holness used the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce’s 41st annual awards banquet in 2026 to call for faster national reconstruction, deeper business-government partnership and a stronger focus on productivity as Jamaica recovers from Hurricane Melissa and other recent shocks.

Holness said the chamber, founded in 1779, had endured colonial rule, independence, crises and renewal, making it an example of institutional discipline. He argued that Jamaica’s economy is ultimately expanded by businesses, not government, and said enterprise, profit-making and entrepreneurship should be encouraged as central to national development.

The prime minister acknowledged that the past several months had been difficult, with real GDP falling 7.1 per cent in the December quarter, higher energy costs linked to Middle East conflict, increased grain prices and elevated shipping costs. Still, he pointed to record-low unemployment, inflation within the Bank of Jamaica’s target range, US$6.5 billion in reserves and a stable exchange rate as evidence that the country’s macroeconomic base remains strong.

He said Jamaica’s credibility helped it secure US$6 billion in reconstruction financing after Melissa, describing it as the largest development financing package in the country’s history. He also said the Government was able to provide US$150 million to the Jamaica Public Service Company to speed up electricity restoration.

Holness said the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority is intended to move Jamaica beyond simple repairs. Roads, bridges, water systems, energy infrastructure and procurement, he said, must be rebuilt to reduce future vulnerability and support agriculture, tourism, industry and commerce.

The prime minister also highlighted falling murders, saying homicides declined 42 per cent in 2025, were down a further 22.5 per cent year to date, and had fallen 67 per cent over four years.

He urged firms to invest in engineering, project management, technology, training, export readiness and energy efficiency. Holness also said Jamaica must confront weak productivity, labour-market constraints and high electricity costs, including through alternative energy and preparation for possible nuclear technology.

Closing his address, Holness told businesses to keep investing, training, exporting and holding government accountable while also strengthening their own performance.