Holness urges diaspora to back Jamaica recovery, efficiency drive at 11th biennial conference

Prime Minister Andrew Holness delivered the keynote address at the ceremonial opening of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference 2026, outlining Jamaica’s economic gains, hurricane recovery priorities, and a push for greater national efficiency.

Holness said foreign exchange reserves have reached their highest levels on record, surpassing the benchmark of 13 weeks of coverage that signals a country’s ability to pay for essential imports. He described those reserves as the “rent money” that keeps the country running, echoing language used by the finance minister.

Following Hurricane Melissa, all three major international credit rating agencies reaffirmed Jamaica’s standing, with Moody’s upgrading the country’s rating. Holness noted that those assessments weigh economics, social conditions, governance, safety, peace, and democracy—not finances alone. While welcoming the ratings, he said the government must still translate those gains into tangible benefits for ordinary Jamaicans and acknowledged that much work remains.

Holness contrasted Jamaica’s past reputation as a “basket case” with its current standing as a “case study” in disciplined performance. That credibility, he said, helped mobilise US$6 billion in reconstruction financing. He agreed with the opposition leader that recovery must focus on families still struggling after Melissa, restoring their economic independence as quickly as possible.

The prime minister highlighted the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NAR), led by Ambassador Major General Tony Anderson, and its FAST programme—Facilitated Acceleration of Strategic Transformation—for private projects of US$15 million or more that align with reconstruction and resilience goals. He said the Jamrock oversight board would be announced soon, with an executive director already appointed and a target of roughly three months to become fully operational.

On public safety, Holness reported that homicides fell 8% in 2023, 19% in 2024, and 42% in 2025, with murders down a further 22.5% through May 2026 compared with the same period last year—a 67% decline over four years. He credited reforms within the Jamaica Constabulary Force, increased transnational cooperation—including with the United States on lottery scamming and illegal weapons—and nearly tripled national security spending over the past decade. The JCF has reached its established strength of more than 14,000 officers, while the Jamaica Defence Force has nearly doubled in size. The government aims to bring the murder rate to the regional average of 15 per 100,000, roughly 500 killings or fewer per year.

Holness also pointed to healthcare investments under NAR, including rebuilding four hospitals and modernising Kingston Public Hospital, alongside the upcoming opening of the refurbished Cornwall Regional Hospital and the Northwest Children and Adolescent Hospital in Montego Bay. He encouraged diaspora members to invest in Jamaica’s expanding private housing market, which he said would help the National Housing Trust refocus on affordable homes for lower-income Jamaicans.

Throughout the address, Holness called for a “cultural revolution” in efficiency and productivity, urging diaspora members to help shift attitudes toward faster, more accountable ways of doing business. “We must move from victimhood to agency,” he said, adding that Jamaica possesses the assets to pursue ambitions comparable to global hubs such as Dubai or Singapore if its value system embraces production, innovation, and service.