Economy not delivering for the people, says Golding

While noting that Jamaica’s public debt has declined and murders are down, Opposition Leader Mark Golding says the government has failed to translate those gains into meaningful economic growth.

“Having solved our chronic public debt problem, and with the murder rate falling significantly over the past two years, we remain disappointed that there are no signs of a strategic plan to deliver a strong, rapidly growing economy that creates abundant opportunities for our people,” Golding said during his contribution to the Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

He argued that the economy is not delivering for Jamaicans, pointing to an estimated GDP per capita of US$7,000, compared to US$19,000 in Trinidad and Tobago and US$26,000 in Barbados.

Golding described Jamaica’s real GDP growth as sluggish, averaging just 0.8 per cent over the past decade.

“Economic underperformance narrows fiscal space, so that despite the relatively low debt-to-GDP ratio in the 60 per cent range — achieved with immense sacrifice over the past 14 years — we are only able to deliver budgets with central government capital expenditure of 2 to 3 percent of GDP,” he said.

He argued that a significant portion of those funds remains unspent each year due to bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Golding cited Jamaica’s deteriorating road network, an ailing health sector, and a struggling education and training system as key factors behind the weak economic performance.

He also criticised what he described as the “mismanagement” of the HEART/NSTA Trust, which he said recorded a $5.5 billion deficit over the past two fiscal years.

HEART is the government’s main national training institution.

He further argued that free healthcare remains out of reach for many Jamaicans.

“Many Jamaicans overseas who would otherwise wish to return home to build Jamaica are unwilling to do so because of repeated horror stories about the conditions in our public health system,” he said, citing reports of patients sleeping in corridors and in wheelchairs.

Golding also warned of increasing migration, as Jamaicans struggle to make ends meet while facing worsening climate conditions.

“These hardships contribute to gender-based violence, school absenteeism, and other social challenges,” he said.

He said stronger leadership and integrity in public office are critical to lifting the country out of what he described as “economic lethargy”.

“As leaders, we must hold ourselves to a high standard and be quick to do the right thing when transgressions come to light,” he said.

“In Jamaica today, the reverse too often prevails. Impunity rules the roost, as persons in positions of responsibility become serial transgressors without consequence. We cannot build a nation on such weak ethical foundations.”

- Corey Robinson

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