Announcements without achievements, says Robinson in criticism of gov’t’s growth initiatives

ASPIRE Jamaica, the Government's six-pillar strategy to guide economic growth, is nothing more than "5 in 4 repackaged and rebranded", the parliamentary opposition has charged.

Five-in-four refers to the Economic Growth Council established by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness in 2016 and tasked with growing the economy by five per cent in four years.

The council fizzled without achieving the target.

ASPIRE Jamaica was announced last year to focus on "achieving economic independence by leveraging Jamaica's own resources to generate opportunities for Jamaicans.

But, speaking in the Budget debate on Thursday, Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson mocked the initiatives, saying the Government has "mastered the art of making grand announcements, but does not deliver on the commitments"

He noted, as an example, that Jamaica experienced "a measly" 1.25 per cent economic growth over the four years after the growth council was appointed.

"The highest growth figure in the four years was less than two per cent. It was 1.8 per cent," said Robinson.

He said the Jamaica Labour Party-led Government has been in office for nine years with record-high tax revenues and macroeconomic stability "yet they have failed to make the necessary meaningful investments to create a new economic model to spur growth."

- Livern Barrett

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