Prime Minister Andrew Holness has charged that Jamaica has vastly improved beyond what it was ten years ago, while noting that the country is currently on a path towards greater resilience.

Holness said today, Jamaica is stronger, more stable, and more focused. “The numbers confirm it,” he said.

He also revealed a sharp decline in poverty, which he praised as a positive indicator for economic growth and improvement of quality of life.

“The absolute measure of poverty is that if you earn about $290 thousand a year, you are considered to be absolutely poor. In 2023, 16 per cent of Jamaican adults lived in absolute poverty. The latest statistics show that now only 8 per cent of Jamaican adults are considered absolutely poor. Under this administration, absolute poverty has been cut in half,” he said.

However, he detailed that while this is a tremendous accomplishment, there is still more work to be done. “Now, as I put all of this on the table, I am the first to say we have accomplished a lot, but we still have a lot more to do. I know the pressures of government more than anybody else. Government is not easy; there is a lot of balance you have to do, and like every organisation, you have to manage the people and be able to judge whether or not the people you are managing are losing steam. Whether or not they are departing from the mission and the vision, you have to ask yourself, can they carry out the job? And every leader has to confront that, and leaders who don’t do that usually get surprised.

“So when I have this organisation called the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and another called the Government of Jamaica, I must ensure that the party is aligned to the vision, that the party isn’t pulling for the individual and itself and that the workers understand what our mission is in this long struggle. You are not just here for what you can get, but you are here to support this mission of building Jamaica; you are here because you choose Jamaica,” he continued.

Holness further emphasised that poverty reduction is a reflection of a country that is steadily moving forward, even in the face of global pressure and real challenges.

“Progress is not a one-time event. It is the result of consistent leadership, disciplined focus, and alignment around a national vision. We must keep that alignment, that focus and that discipline. Because this is not just about individual needs, it is about national transformation,” he said.

Holness urged every institution, agency, and supporter to understand the weight of the moment the state is in. “The mission is clear, and the responsibility is shared. Jamaica is on the path. We are building something better, and we must stay the course.”