MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has called on students to utilise their talents and focus on excellence to become more productive citizens.

Holness was addressing a rap session at Rusea’s High School in Lucea, Hanover on Friday where he emphasised the critical need for a productivity boost in Jamaica to propel the nation towards Vision 2030.

The Prime Minister said studies show that while Jamaica’s productivity is declining or flat, the country’s international counterparts are making significant strides forward, which he credited to the work ethic of citizens in those countries.

He went on to say Jamaicans, particularly students, must adopt a similar approach in their pursuits.

“I want each and every one of you to believe that the God-given talents that you have, which we call your labour, creativity, enterprise and industry, that you can do much more with it than you currently are doing,” Holness said.

“Each and every one of you must set a standard of excellence; not a transactional standard of pay me and I do more. It’s a moral standard where I do more because I can do more and because doing more benefits everyone,” he noted.

He further expressed that “excellence needs to return to our society. Let us set high standards for ourselves and see who can be the greatest, the most efficient.”