JMEA Calls for Vision, Action, and Realistic Commitments Amidst Election Season

As Jamaica prepares to go to the polls, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association
(JMEA) is calling on both political parties to remain sober, responsible, and grounded in reality.
While the manifestos of both parties highlight important areas of national development, the
campaign trail has been overwhelmed by rhetoric and promises that far exceed Jamaica’s economic
capacity.
Over recent weeks, Jamaicans have heard pledges to cut income tax to 15%, raise the tax threshold
to $3.5 million, and double the minimum wage to $32,000. While the JMEA supports the principle
of better wages and improved living standards, what is missing is a credible roadmap to grow the
economy at a pace that makes such commitments sustainable.
Executive Director of the JMEA, Kamesha Blake, stated that “Jamaica has wrestled for
decades with stagnant productivity, weak growth, and the drag of a large informal economy. Too
many of our citizens lack the skills and opportunities to participate fully in nation-building, while
our education system continues to fall short of delivering practical, industry-ready training. At the
same time, government-held lands remain idle, even as the private sector struggles to find space
to expand and create jobs. Unless we fix the fundamentals—skills, competitiveness, infrastructure,
energy costs, and public sector efficiency—grand promises will remain empty words. What the
country needs now is a clear vision and action, not wild promises.”
President of the JMEA, Kathryn Silvera, highlighted the potential impact on MSME
manufacturers and exporters “Labour is one of the largest cost factors in manufacturing, and
with a 100% increase in the minimum wage being proposed over just a few years, micro and small
enterprises —the backbone of Jamaica’s economy—are especially vulnerable. Without parallel
strategies to boost productivity and growth, these small businesses will be forced into impossible
choices: raising prices and pushing the cost of living even higher, or cutting expenses that may
unfortunately include jobs. What is intended as a benefit to workers could instead backfire, hurting
both businesses and the very people such policies aim to protect. We must approach wage policies
with balance and realism to safeguard livelihoods and ensure sustainable growth.”
Deputy President of the JMEA, Cecil Foster, emphasized the need for sobriety and
responsibility, “Elections are not the time for empty promises. We urge our political leaders to
ground their commitments in fiscal discipline, data-driven policies, and genuine stakeholder
consultation. Jamaica needs policies that drive stability, create jobs, and secure long-term
growth—not short-term giveaways that undermine development. The nation needs to hear concrete
plans to reduce the cost of energy, strengthen skills training, incentivize business innovation, and
maintain public sector wages below 12% of GDP. These are the vital benchmarks to safeguard
fiscal stability and free resources to fuel growth.”
Jamaica’s Medium-Term Priorities Must Be Clear and Achievable

• Growth: Achieve sustained 4–5% GDP growth through productivity and export
  expansion.
• Energy: Lower electricity costs and accelerate renewable transition to strengthen
  competitiveness.
• Crime & Security: Reduce crime and corruption to build a secure, transparent
  investment climate.
• Debt & Stability: Maintain fiscal discipline and reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio below
  60% by FY2027/28.
• Industrial Infrastructure: Expand highways, ports, SEZs, agro-parks, and broadband
  to support industry.
• Skills Development: Align HEART/NSTA and tertiary training with Industry 4.0 sectors
  to future-proof the workforce.
• Public Sector Efficiency: Deliver modernized, efficient services to support business
  growth and ensure public sector wages remain below 12% of GDP.

The JMEA calls on both political parties to consult with stakeholders, especially MSMEs and the
wider productive sector, in crafting realistic policies. Decisions of this magnitude must not be
made in isolation; they require a true partnership approach between government and the private
sector to ensure policies are not only aspirational but also practical, sustainable, and beneficial for
all Jamaicans. Our country has long moved past the era of wild promises. It is time for sober
leadership, consensus on the medium- and long-term goals of the nation, and a collective
commitment to charting a credible path to progress and prosperity.
Let good sense prevail.