A thriving economy takes shape

Jamaica's economic transformation under Prime Minister Andrew Holness has received widespread international interest. Here, he discusses the strategies behind the nation's turnaround and his plan for continued growth.

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Andrew Holness has served as Jamaica's prime minister since 2016, most recently recording a landslide re-election victory in 2020.

First appointed in 2011 at the age of 39, he is the youngest person ever to hold the office, a distinction reflected in his vision for a country reimagined and reinvigorated. “Jamaica has an incredibly well-recognised brand globally for our music and culture. However, we want to be known as a destination for investment,” he explains.

To that end, Holness has set in motion ambitious plans for economic development, targeting expansion in Jamaica's traditional powerhouse sectors such as tourism, while nurturing growth in areas as varied as renewable energy and film production—all of it underpinned by an unwavering commitment to fiscal discipline.

Q: How does your administration symbolise a new chapter for Jamaica?

As the first prime minister born post-independence, I see myself as a bridge from the past into the future. My role ensures that what the founders of our nation struggled for is achieved, including the freedom and independence and the prosperity and dignity of our people. Jamaica has been doing this to ensure that we remain a strong and vibrant democracy where our people are free but also have a prosperous economy in which our people can thrive, and from a practical point of view, to reduce poverty, alienation, suffering and provide hope for our people.

My job as prime minister is to create an environment in which citizens and business enterprises can flourish and grow. We have been working hard to do so, and our mission is to make Jamaica the place of choice for people to live, work, invest, do business, raise their families and retire in paradise.

Q: What strategies have engineered Jamaica's economic turnaround?