PRIME Minister Andrew Holness says that, as an independent nation, Jamaica has to be able to withstand external shocks and deal with crises without relying on the resources of other countries.

Holness said his Administration has been working hard to build resilience in the Jamaican Government by structuring its financial, economic, security, and civil preparedness affairs to be able to withstand shocks, recover faster, and rebuild stronger from crises.

“We have built a new system of government that is more robust, self-reliant, and strategic. In fact, that is what it means to be independent — the ability to withstand shocks and deal with crises without having to rely or be dependent on the resources of others or be indebted to others,” the prime minister said in his Independence Day message.

“At 62, Jamaica must be able to stand on its own two feet and face the challenges and uncertainties of this era of globalised world and the changing climate,” he added.

Holness contended that the greatest danger for Jamaica is the increased frequency of severe weather events like hurricanes having serious physical and economic impacts even when they do not hit directly.

Last month, Hurricane Beryl brushed Jamaica’s south coast causing extensive damage from which some Jamaicans are still recovering.

“Almost every year for the last eight years we have been faced with global crises, including a pandemic, and extreme weather events that have seriously affected our island. We must all develop the understanding that we live in an era where governments must deal with multiple crises, which overlap and occur frequently,” he said.

He noted that these crises have the potential to displace communities, disrupt growth, compound debt, and increase poverty. He pointed out, for example, that in 2009 Jamaica was impacted by a global recession, which impacted the country’s growth and employment, and increased its debt. “It took us 10 years to recover our GDP [gross domestic product] to 2009 levels,” he said.

“In 2020, Jamaica was impacted by a global pandemic which derailed our growth and employment and increased our debt. Within two years, Jamaica had recovered its growth and employment and was back on track with reducing its debt. This is not by accident,” he said, as he again pointed to deliberate strategies the Government has put in place to achieve this.

Holness said that in the past the Government would have diverted resources and borrowed funds to deal with the impact of external shocks, whether economic, political or weather-related.

In the meantime, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, in his Independence Day message, said that in reflecting on that historic moment of August 6, 1962, when Jamaica gained Independence, the country honours the vision and sacrifices of those who laboured before.

“Their enduring dreams outlived their lifetimes and laid the foundation for subsequent generations. Our nation stands as a testament to those dreams and aspirations, evidenced by our thriving industries, advancements in education and health care, and the continuous flourishing of our cultural heritage. These accomplishments are the fruits of their labour and dreams realised,” he said.

The governor general further noted that the world is evolving, providing opportunities for Jamaica to develop even further. He stressed that the nation must embrace the possibilities of technology, sustainable development, and global partnerships “with the same fervour and determination that marked our Independence in 1962. Our priority must be to innovate, educate, and build a society where every citizen can thrive”.

Said Sir Patrick: “Together, let us forge forward in a way that honours our past and capitalises on the possibilities available to us. Let us continue to build a strong nation that remains a beacon of hope, progress, and unity for all.”

Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding, meanwhile, used his message to continue the call for doing away with the British monarchy to achieve true independence.

Laying out the history of Jamaica’s Independence, Golding claimed that “our journey to independence is incomplete”.

“Our head of state is the King of England and our final court, the UK Privy Council, a colonial institution in England that makes orders in the name of the King and is inaccessible to ordinary Jamaicans. It is time to reaffirm our national identity and assert the confidence to shape our own destiny.

“Time come to sever ties with the British Monarchy and become a fully sovereign nation, with the executive and judicial branches of our State being institutions of our own creation, in keeping with our vision of the future as a proud and independent people,” he said.