PNP tackles gov't on economy

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says it is concerned about Jamaica's under-performing economy.

In a statement, the PNP said it has taken note of a recent report from the Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC) which indicates that foreign direct investment (FDI) into Jamaica declined for two successive years, in 2016 and 2017, with the decrease being 17.8% last year.

The party further notes that in contrast, FDI in the Caribbean region as a whole grew by 20% in 2017.

It argued that this highlights that Jamaica is trending in the wrong direction where FDI is concerned. 
 
"The FDI report is consistent with another recent report from STATIN which shows that growth in the Jamaican economy for the first quarter of 2018 (1.4%) was a decline of 0.4% on the previous quarter, and continues to track disappointingly below the average of 2.2% projected by ECLAC for the Caribbean region for 2018,".

Continuing,"Significantly, a 25.9% increase in Mining and Quarrying could only contribute to an overall 1.4% growth in GDP in the first quarter of 2018. Agriculture (0.6%) and manufacturing (0.8%) continue to disappoint, despite the return of favourable weather conditions, while manufacturing (1.1%) remains sluggish."
 
Shadow Minister for Finance & Planning Mark Golding stated, “These reports provide independent proof that this Government’s strategy is not working, has not worked and will not work. Jamaica’s growth model must be built on the upliftment of the people, strengthening social cohesion and addressing the root causes of violence. In other words, a sustainable socio-economic model that works for all,”.

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