KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has positioned economic self-sufficiency as the cornerstone of national sovereignty, declaring that political independence remains incomplete without financial autonomy. The Jamaican leader articulated this governing philosophy during his keynote address at the 21st Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on January 20, 2026.
Holness drew a clear distinction between political and economic independence, emphasizing that the latter provides the substantive foundation for the former. “A generation persists in prioritizing political independence,” Holness observed. “My administration’s struggle is for Jamaica’s economic independence—the tangible capacity to underpin political sovereignty with financial strength.”
The Prime Minister criticized historical ideological approaches that led Jamaica through “wilderness of economic despair,” pledging his government would not repeat these patterns. He outlined how responsible fiscal management has enhanced Jamaica’s international credibility, particularly evident in the rapid recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa.
This credibility, Holness revealed, enabled Jamaica to secure US$6.7 billion in financing with favorable terms. “We’ve demonstrated ourselves as a responsible nation with robust institutions,” he stated. “The crucial achievement isn’t merely obtaining loans and grants, but accessing low-cost financing with minimal conditionalities.”
Holness expanded the conventional definition of private sector participation, highlighting that economic independence encompasses both corporate entities and informal micro-enterprises. “Our private sector includes not only National Commercial Bank,” he noted, “but also the woman frying fish in Border. Indeed, she represents the essence of our private sector.”
The Prime Minister committed to policies enabling such entrepreneurs to sell their products to both local and international tourists, thereby funding their children’s education and preserving human dignity. He expressly urged this unscripted message to “percolate and filter throughout the audience,” emphasizing his administration’s dedication to grassroots economic empowerment.
Holness concluded by noting that even small nations possess significant influence when understanding “new statecraft”—the strategic exercise of economic and diplomatic power on the global stage.