MONTEGO BAY, St James — State minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Delano Seiveright on Wednesday cautioned that unflattering global perceptions following Hurricane Melissa could undermine investor confidence, and urged a more aggressive push to correct what he saw as a misleading international narrative about Jamaica’s economic condition.

Speaking during the JMMB Group Thought Leadership Breakfast at S Hotel Montego Bay, Seiveright said images broadcast worldwide gave a false impression that the hurricane destroyed all of Jamaica.

“Unfortunately, the images that went out globally following the impact of Hurricane Melissa — and frankly it’s expected, I have no issue with it — but the images that went out gave the impression that the entire country was destroyed by this Category 5 hurricane,” he said.

“Of course there was quite a bit of destruction in some parishes, especially western Jamaica, but it spread a narrative… even beyond tourism circles but in business circles, that the country was completely offline and utterly destroyed by this Category 5 hurricane,” added Seiveright.

The minister argued that it is therefore critical for Jamaica to reassure the international business community that the country remains economically stable.

“It was important to get out into the international market so that people know that our economy is fine and things are not as bad as it may appear,” he said.

Seiveright welcomed the decision by major credit rating agencies to maintain Jamaica’s ratings with stable outlooks.

“We were delighted at the fact that Moody’s and other critical rating agencies like S&P and Fitch essentially reaffirmed Jamaica’s ratings with stable outlook. That was important to get out into the international market so that people know that our economy is fine and things are not as bad as it may appear,” Seiveright noted.

“These actions of course reflect strengthened institutions, fiscal discipline, improved policy credibility, and substantial reductions in the public debt over the years…from as high as 140 per cent now to around, give or take, 70 per cent debt-to-GDP ratio. So it signals lower risks, it signals stronger resilience and growing macroeconomic confidence,” the state minister added.

However, he stressed that the ratings must be seen as functional tools rather than symbolic achievements.

“These ratings are tools, they are not trophies that create improved conditions for growth once we execute. So it’s important that the international market is aware of the fact that Jamaica is open for business and that the largest rating agencies in the world are of the view that Jamaica is stable and has a positive outlook,” Seiveright noted.

He said Jamaica remains just below investment grade but is still firmly on track despite the blow suffered by Hurricane Melissa.

Beyond economic indicators, Seiveright said public safety was also central to maintaining business confidence.

“We have had consistent declines in murders over the last several years. In 2023 we were down eight per cent vis-a-vis 2022; in 2024 murders were down 19 per cent vis-a-vis 2023, which already saw reductions; of course last year, 2025 registered a 42 per cent reduction in murders vis-a-vis 2024,” he said.

“January, this month, so far, we are facing just about 50 per cent fewer murders than we did for the same month last year,” he added.

While acknowledging the progress, Seiveright warned against complacency.

“To be able to cut murders in half is a phenomenal achievement, but we still have a long way to go to get to levels that would be considered normal,” he said.

“We have gotten so accustomed to 1,400 or 1,500 murders per year that we don’t realise that that is absolutely horrendous.”

He said the country’s improving security climate has helped shift international perceptions.

“We have seen the positive developments as it relates to the US travel advisory, which has moved from level three to level two,” said Seiveright, adding that this was due to “yeoman work” by both Government and private sector stakeholders.

He pointed out that significant resources have been invested to support crime reduction.

“The Sandals team and others played a critical role in really getting the narrative out there…the factual narrative that we are on top of the crime situation and we are bringing down murders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Seiveright argued that Jamaica’s swift, coordinated and well-financed response to Hurricane Melissa has reinforced the country’s reputation as a resilient, investment-ready and well-governed economy, while safeguarding business continuity and national confidence.

Seiveright added that Jamaica’s post-storm performance reflects years of deliberate policy planning, institutional strengthening and disciplined fiscal management under the leadership of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

The JMMB Group Thought Leadership Breakfast was held under the theme ‘The Way Forward: Economic Renewal, Business Confidence & Growth Opportunities’.

Alwayne Cousins (left) of JMMB has the full attention of Christopher Jarrett, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, at the JMMB Group Thought Leadership Breakfast at S Hotel Montego Bay on Wednesday. (Photo: Horace Hines)