MONTEGO BAY, St James — President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Robin Russell has welcomed Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s proposed growth agenda.

During a speech on Tuesday, Prime Minister Holness stated that Jamaica had achieved economic stability and it was now time to enter a new phase of inclusive growth in which every Jamaican can realise his/her dreams and aspirations.

The prime minister revealed what he referred to as the next chapter of Jamaica’s economic transformation by outlining six key pillars of the Governments growth strategy that, he said, will move beyond plans and policies and deliver tangible results for the Jamaican people.

“I think it has been a long time in coming. The business community has been asking when will the Government transition its policy to a growth policy. So we welcome that initiative where you are now looking at growing the economy and creating wealth,” the JHTA head told the Jamaica Observer.

He was particularly impressed with the prime minister’s proposal of removing taxes on tips in the hospitality and service industries.

“There is one thing that stands out in the eyes of tourism and hospitality workers where there is a proposal that tips not be taxed. We welcome that wholeheartedly. We support that. We will do whatever in our power to see that happens, because this just really means more money in the hands of our hotel and hospitality workers,” Russell said.

The prime minister’s plan to focus on areas for which Jamaica has unique comparative advantages, including the link between the agriculture and tourism sectors to reduce imports, was also music to the ears of the JHTA boss.

“I have always been a big advocate of linkages where we grow and eat in Jamaica; we grow and we sell in Jamaica. So there is no growth if every single sector in the society does not grow, and with our number one industry being tourism, it has to come through tourism. Our tourism sector has to drive that growth through inclusivity. So whether it’s agriculture, whether it’s craft, whether it’s supporting the local restaurant…all of the manufacturing, it has to come through tourism. Tourism is where it is right now and we have to utilise that to drive the economy,” Russell argued.

During his address, Holness underscored that his Administration will give priority to literacy, numeracy, early childhood education, and computer literacy.

Hotelier and former president of Negril Chamber of Commerce Daniel Grizzle, meanwhile, welcomed the prime minister’s plans to give greater attention to early childhood education.

Grizzle argued that the hospitality sector and the country stands to benefit from the prioritisation of early childhood education.

“I completely agree with him, because it’s one thing having someone who isn’t trained, but you do need someone who is trainable. And we have to step up on our children’s education. We have to make it available not just for those who are privileged who can afford private education but for all our children. But I didn’t hear much of his speech, unfortunately,” the Negril hotelier said.

He, however, expressed disappointment at not hearing the prime minister mention the need for the learning of a second language, especially Spanish.

“I don’t know if he said it, and if he did, I didn’t hear, the need for us to have a second language. All our immediate neighbours are Spanish-speaking and most of them, their population are far better at speaking English than we are at speaking Spanish,” Grizzle said.

“Our industry could do well with an influx of Spanish-speaking people, because in South America their winter is our summer and that’s when we would need to boost up our occupancy. But because we can’t communicate effectively, and they like to talk, we are losing out and they are all going to Dom Rep [Dominica Republic] and Cuba and we are not able to be really forceful and active in that market.

“ I was listening to see if he was going to mention the need for having a second language, and that second language naturally should be Spanish. Spanish should be compulsory in our schools, starting from primary,” he said.