Opposition spokesman on investment, trade and global logistics Anthony Hylton in a broadside has asked Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill to prove his successful leadership of the portfolio ministry he was tasked with since January 2022.

The Opposition spokesman is also demanding evidence of a return on investment from Minister Hill’s trade missions to various countries.  

In a call on the minister “for greater accountability”, Hylton said that Hill, instead of addressing the real concerns raised about his stewardship of the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce (MIIC), has resorted to personal attacks and unsubstantiated claims, deflecting from the critical issue of Jamaica’s economic stagnation.

“It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that instead of engaging with the facts, Minister Hill chose to respond with ad hominem attacks. My objective critique of his ministry’s lack of vision and failure to deliver meaningful results was met with a long-winded diatribe filled with irrelevant personal slights rather than any substantive economic data,” Hylton stated.

“I am searching for answers, Minister Hill — not relevance,” he added.

According to Hylton, the minister keeps repeating outdated talking points, referring to Hill’s continuous call for an export-focused economy, while his actions have failed to yield meaningful results. While arguing that there is “nothing new” about Hill’s pronouncements, Hylton said that the portfolio minister is only outlining “the policies already put in place by our Administration and supported by multilateral institutions”.

In highlighting the Logistics Hub Initiative crafted by the Portia Simpson Miller Administration, Hylton pointed out the immense potential of the project which, he said, “has languished under Minister Hill’s leadership, with little to no concrete steps to advance any of its goals. The World Bank-endorsed initiative can potentially attract US$30 billion in investments, build three new towns, and generate over 100,000 direct jobs and 400,000 indirect jobs.

Hylton also called for greater transparency regarding the costs to Jamaican taxpayers incurred by the Minister’s numerous overseas trips, questioning their tangible benefits.

“What specific investments have been attracted, and what policies have been developed to enhance local production and exports? Where is the evidence that the minister’s jet-setting is contributing to any new markets opening or economic growth?” Hylton demanded.

The Opposition spokesman also finds concerning Minister Hill’s boast of his frequent foreign trips with 189 business people from 126 companies, considering “only three businesses secured new contracts or business opportunities as a result of these trips”.

He also accused Hill of boasting of the success of some ICT companies without providing any concrete figures or evidence of significant impact.

“If we measure the success of Minister Hill’s efforts based on the number of companies and businesspeople that travelled, against the total cost to taxpayers as well as the private sector businesses that have not yielded success, the figures raise serious questions about the effectiveness and value of the resources spent on these missions. What happened to the rest of the citizens, industries, and businesses that were promised benefits from these engagements?,” Hylton questioned.

“Where are the policies and strategies that should have attracted real investments, boosted industry, and advanced commerce across the country?” he asked further

Hylton argued that rather than claiming success in isolated situations, the Government needs to  produce meaningful results for the entire country and not just a select few businesses or industries.

“Public resources must be used transparently, with real returns delivered to the Jamaican people,” he concluded.