Dear Editor,

I decided to write this piece for two main reasons. First, there is a fundamental misunderstanding of bureaucracy globally. Second, I worry about what happens when a country’s bureaucracy is not innovated and protected, but instead demonised and dismantled, the effects of which can be dangerous.

In Jamaica, the bureaucracy is often cast as the villain. Many in the private sector and the wider public see administrators as red tape strangling growth. And, yes, inefficiency is real. The public sector wage bill, at around 10 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), is arguably high (to some), and services often fail to meet the needs of citizens. But here’s the truth: No country can sustain economic or social development without a capable bureaucracy. It is the machinery that must foster innovation, deliver essential services, and protect the social fabric. To achieve green, inclusive growth, Jamaica must refashion and respect its bureaucracy.

Jamaica’s productivity challenge is not solely a failure of Government or business, it is the product of both sectors misunderstanding their shared responsibility. Productivity is multi-dimensional, it depends on human capital, innovation, investment, governance, and strong institutions. This requires joint effort. For example, when the Government invests in skills and education, the private sector reaps the benefits through a more capable workforce. When companies pay fair wages and upskill workers they fuel industry innovation and expand the tax base. Productivity, therefore, is not a zero-sum game; it’s a partnership.

Cutting red tape alone will not solve Jamaica’s productivity crisis. What we also need is a strategic, ethical, forward-thinking bureaucracy. This means investing in skills training for civil servants, driving cultural change, building digital infrastructure for efficiency, and ensuring the public service can attract and retain talent. In the age of artificial intelligence, climate change, and complex global challenges, Jamaica cannot afford to hollow out its public sector. But strengthening capacity must go hand in hand with strengthening accountability.

Accountability cannot stop at audits and reports. It must mean transparent decision-making, wherein policies are clearly explained; efficient service delivery that meets people’s needs; and mechanisms for feedback that keep institutions responsive to citizens. It also requires acknowledging and correcting failures. At its core, accountability ensures the public sector consistently serves the national interest with integrity, responsiveness, and fairness.

We often talk about “becoming the Singapore of the Caribbean”. But Singapore’s rise did not come from shrinking its bureaucracy. It came from bold public investment in people, institutions, and infrastructure. Roads, schools, and ports were treated as long-term assets, not costs. The result was a skilled workforce, efficient services, and the stability that drew private capital. Singapore proves that betting on the public sector when it is capable and accountable is one of the surest ways to growth and development.

Those who argue for slashing bureaucracy, especially wages, should be careful what they wish for. Jamaica already struggles to deliver key services. Further cuts could deepen inefficiency rather than fix it. Who will design the innovative policies we need? Who will deliver the services citizens depend on? Who will craft the regulations to build resilient industries?

Jamaica stands at a crossroads. Our future productivity depends not on gutting the bureaucracy but on reimagining it through innovation, investment, creativity, and accountability. Weakening it now would diminish our prospects tomorrow.

Kimberly O Roach

Policy and innovation expert

kimberlyoroach@gmail.com