Fairness First: Prime Minister Says Reducing Inequality Must Guide Every Policy Decision
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is reaffirming the commitment of the Government of Jamaica to designing policies that expand opportunity, promote fairness, and reduce income inequality across the country.
Speaking to the importance of equity in governance, the Prime Minister emphasized that no Jamaican should feel left out of national progress.
“Every policy we implement must be measured by how it affects the average citizen,” the Prime Minister said. “Who benefits? Who is left behind? These are the questions we must ask ourselves every single time.”
Dr. Holness noted that while some proposals may seem attractive on the surface, they can create deeper divides if they only reach a small number of people while leaving the majority excluded.
“There are policies that sound good but end up helping only a handful of Jamaicans,” Dr. Holness explained. “That creates frustration, especially when others are looking on and wondering where their share is.”
The Prime Minister cautioned against the rise of inequitable promises that target narrow interest groups for short-term gain, especially in critical sectors like housing and employment.
“Our job is not to govern for applause or popularity,” the Prime Minister said. “Our job is to ensure that government serves all Jamaicans fairly and consistently.”
Dr. Holness stressed that true progress cannot exist without inclusion.
“It is not enough to grow the economy if people do not feel that they are part of that growth,” the Prime Minister said. “Justice means that prosperity must be broad-based, not concentrated. That is how you build a peaceful and united society.”
Dr. Holness also explained that a fair society is one in which policies are not just reactive but strategic, noting that they must remove long-standing barriers that prevent Jamaicans from accessing opportunities, whether those barriers are financial, geographic, bureaucratic, or emotional.
“When someone is trying to rise but keeps being met with roadblocks, that is not just an individual problem. That is a systemic problem,” the Prime Minister said. “And it is the responsibility of leadership to correct it.”
The Prime Minister reiterated that equity is not a slogan. It is a principle that must guide every budget, every programme, and every law.
“Our approach is not about benefitting the few. It is about lifting the many,” he said. “We are working every day to ensure that our policies bring dignity, access, and opportunity to those who have long been underserved.”