‘We need to work smarter’

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has emphasised the importance of productivity as a solution to inflation, urging Jamaicans to adopt smarter work strategies to drive economic growth.

Speaking at the inauguration of the CB Group’s state-of-the-art $15-billion processing plant in St Catherine yesterday, Holness challenged the notion that wage increases alone can combat rising costs, describing this approach as a “cycle” that must be broken.

Acknowledging the persistent rise in basic food prices, Holness said, “The solution to inflation is to increase productivity, which is the next chapter in Jamaica’s development.” He added that the Government had already addressed fiscal challenges and implemented significant wage increases.

However, the prime minister cautioned, “The wage increases will be wiped out if there is not a consummate increase in productivity.”

Shift in perspective

He argued that productivity is often misunderstood, saying, “We are shy in that regard about productivity because whenever the question of productivity is raised, somehow it is in an accusatory way – someone is not working hard enough or someone is lazy.”

Holness urged a shift in perspective, stressing: “We need to move away from this thinking and start to embrace the notion that we as Jamaicans can increase our productivity. It is in us to do it.”

He clarified that productivity was not solely about hard work but also about efficiency.

“You don’t have to work hard. Working hard is a part of productivity, but it is not productivity itself. What I am saying is we need to work smarter.”

Holness highlighted the role of management in fostering productivity, emphasising that it is not solely the responsibility of workers.

“The cause of the lack of productivity is not just the worker themselves but also how management structures the environment to create the worker to be more efficient,” he said.

Addressing concerns about taxation, Holness warned against policies that could negatively impact consumers. He cited a withdrawn proposal to tax certain imports to fund agricultural efficiency, stating, “Any such tax will add to price increases for consumers.”

Responding to CB Group CEO Matthew Lyn’s request to repair the road leading to the processing plant, Holness pledged swift action.

“The road deserves to be fixed. The road should be fixed. The Government will fix the road,” he said. “By all measures, the road will be fixed by the Government … before the end of the year, within the new budget.”

The CB Group’s goal of becoming a net exporter of poultry and agricultural produce aligns with the Government’s vision of leveraging Jamaica’s competitive advantages. Holness commended the company’s initiative, which includes a school tour feature designed to inspire the next generation of Jamaicans.

“The CB Group’s efforts fit perfectly into our national objectives,” Holness said, underscoring the importance of partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

ruddy.mathison@gleanerjm.com