KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has called for bold and innovative solutions to Jamaica’s energy challenges, pointing to nuclear energy as a transformative long-term option to drive economic diversification and manufacturing growth.

Speaking at the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Regional Conference on Investments and Capital Markets on Tuesday, Holness emphasised that the country must prepare now to adopt emerging technologies, including small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).

“Some people hear me talk about nuclear and ask, ‘why are we thinking about this?’ But we must think differently,” the prime minister said. “SMRs are receiving greater interest and investment globally, and we need to prepare ourselves to adopt this technology when the time comes.”

While acknowledging that SMRs are still in development, Holness stressed the importance of building human resource capacity over the next 10 to 20 years.

“We cannot think small and assume we can’t do it. We’ve had a small nuclear reactor at the University of the West Indies for over 30 years, and we are building a nucleus of scientists who can manage it,” he said.

The prime minister revealed that the government has already begun forming partnerships with Canada to train Jamaicans in nuclear technical skills. He reasoned that even without immediate implementation, such skills would strengthen the economy and open new opportunities in science and industry.

Holness framed nuclear energy as a key component of addressing Jamaica’s high energy costs, which he identified as a barrier to expanding the manufacturing sector.

“We are a service-based economy largely because the cost of energy is high. We have to figure out how to get the cost of energy low in Jamaica so that we can build out more manufacturing,” he said.

Beyond energy, he highlighted the need to leverage Jamaica’s greatest asset—its people.

“Other countries have oil, they have gold, they have ports and canals. Jamaica has people—that’s our gold,” he stated.

However, he acknowledged the paradox of high unemployment in some communities coexisting with a shortage of skilled workers.

“We face a problem here in Jamaica where, when I say we have a labour shortage, people are shocked,” Holness said. “Around their communities, they see young men digging out their hand middle, doing nothing, and young women unemployed or underemployed. That’s exactly why we have a labour shortage—because we need skilled, trained labour in the workforce.”

The prime minister explained that the next phase of economic development would focus on upskilling the labour force.

“This next chapter must focus on training our people—not just for low-level services, but to deliver high-level services that can truly grow the economy,” he said.

Holness closed his remarks with a call for Jamaicans to embrace innovation and think differently about the country’s future.

“Yes, there are challenges, but let us not close the door on opportunities. By addressing our energy issues and investing in our people, we can transform this economy,” he said.

His speech set a visionary tone for the JSE conference, which brings together regional and international stakeholders to explore innovative strategies for growth.

— Karena Bennett