PRIME Minister Andrew Holness says the Government remains focused on developing sound economic growth policies aimed at reducing Jamaica’s dependence on borrowed funds.

While acknowledging that “we still borrow”, he argued that this is being done more responsibly.

Holness further said that the Administration is also endeavouring to reduce Jamaica’s debt “as much… and as rapidly as we can”, adding that they intend to be “far more frugal and wiser in how we use public resources”.

The prime minister was speaking during an interview with World INvestment NEws (WINNE) for Harvard Business Review’s Special Promotion Section, at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Holness said the Administration is committed to fulfilling the remaining targets under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement, and maintaining prudent fiscal discipline.

While noting that the IMF’s targets were challenging, Holness contended that “we must meet (them)”.

While welcoming the reduction in the IMF’s primary surplus from 7.5 per cent to 7.25 per cent, Holness contended that it remained a challenging target. He, however, maintained that his administration would endeavour to fulfil it.

Jamaica is currently in the final year of the 48-month IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) which concludes in March 2017.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said Jamaica was at a stage where its governance structure was evolving to incorporate fiscal responsibility as part of the public management framework.

This, he added, requires development of “a solid set of policies for fiscal management”.