As someone who has spent half my life in construction, pouring concrete, setting rebar, and reading the ground before raising the steel, I’ve learned a simple truth: a building is only as strong as its foundation.

 In much the same way, a nation must be built on policies that hold under pressure, leaders who check the levels, and plans that go deeper than paint and plaster.

Jamaica today is not yet a finished structure, but we are undeniably standing on sturdier ground. That is not an opinion; it is measurable progress. And while no administration is without cracks or criticisms, I believe the current one has shown it can read the blueprint and get the work done.

The numbers do not lie. As of 2023, Jamaica’s national poverty rate fell to 8.2 per cent, down from 16.7 per cent in 2021. That is the lowest figure recorded in over three decades. Food poverty, the most severe form, also dropped from 5.8 per cent to 2.8 per cent. These are not abstract percentages. They reflect a roof over someone’s head, food on a table, and children in uniforms instead of unemployment lines.

For lower-income families like the ones I have worked beside on job sites, this shift is felt in quieter stress levels and the simple dignity of provision.

Unemployment has also reached historic lows. In the first quarter of 2025, the rate stood at 3.7 per cent, a significant improvement from 5.4 per cent in the same period last year. These figures mean more Jamaicans showing up for a day’s work, more opportunities for young men and women in communities often left waiting at the gates of promise.

Then there is HEART/NSTA Trust. Since April 2023, tuition and administrative fees have been removed for all levels up to associate degrees. Enrollment has jumped by 15 per cent, with over 120,000 students now registered. That is rebar in the social framework, providing structure, skills, and forward motion for individuals who have long needed a firm footing.

Under the current administration, the national minimum wage was increased from J$15,000 to J$16,000 in June 2025. This 6.7 per cent rise may appear modest on the surface, but it forms part of a broader elevation. Since 2016, the wage has risen from J$6,200, an increase of more than 150 per cent. For domestic workers, security guards, and entry-level employees, this means a stronger footing and fewer cracks in their monthly budgets.

Fiscal management has also been deliberate and disciplined. Jamaica’s debt-to-GDP ratio has steadily declined, credit ratings have improved, and the country now enjoys greater borrowing power at lower interest rates. These are the things that allow us to fix the leaks without breaking the bank.

Utility costs for the most vulnerable have also been softened in meaningful ways. As of May 2025, the general consumption tax on electricity was cut from 15 per cent to seven per cent for residential customers. Low-use households consuming under 250 kilowatt-hours now receive automatic rebates on their bills. This applies to both prepaid and postpaid users and offers real insulation against rising energy costs, especially for pensioners, single-income families, and home-based entrepreneurs like dressmakers, welders, and craft vendors.

In addition, the National Water Commission (NWC) extended a targeted debt forgiveness programme through May 31. The amnesty includes a 50 per cent write-off for accounts that have been disconnected for more than six months, and in some cases, a full write-off of arrears owed by pensioners, PATH recipients, and persons with disabilities. These measures have provided critical relief to more than 30,000 households, people who were at risk of slipping through the floorboards in the face of economic pressure.

At a time when global inflation is still felt at the supermarket, gas pump, and light switch, these localised interventions have acted like weatherproofing on a modest house, protecting everyday Jamaicans from further financial leaks.

There is also a noticeable shift in the national conversation around public safety. As of May 2025, homicides were down nearly 39 per cent compared to the same period last year.

April alone recorded a 36 per cent reduction in murders. Shootings have dropped by 28 per cent, and rapes by over 50 per cent. These improvements are not just about enforcement. They represent peace returning to inner-city lanes, late-night shopkeepers working with less fear, and children walking home from school in greater safety.

And speaking of school, the rural school bus initiative, while still in its early phases, is a commendable beam in the broader build. Several parishes now benefit from designated buses that serve students in remote districts, ensuring they are not priced out of their education. It is another example of a government pouring concrete where the road was once gravel.

Are there any issues? Absolutely. Crime, while down, is not defeated. Public transportation still requires a comprehensive upgrade. Housing remains out of reach for too many. But tell me this. Do you pull the builders off-site just because the windows haven’t been installed?

Governance is a long game, a phased build. This team has shown that it can pour, frame, and finish key sections. It is only fair to let them complete what they have started.

I am not blind to flaws, nor am I shouting slogans. But from where I stand, on a scaffold of hard work and community observation, I see signs of a strengthened foundation and a structure that is finally reaching upward.

We are not finished, but we are firmly in motion. And that deserves continuity, not demolition.

Rohan Grant is the founder and CEO of GARCO Construction. Send feedback and comments to [email protected].