Dear Editor,

The Jamaica I grew up in promised that if you studied hard, worked honestly, and stayed out of trouble, your life would steadily improve. My grandmother and parents riveted that in my head. At 45, I find myself asking some questions, one of them being: Have we built an economy that rewards productivity, or merely one that rewards survival?

There is no denying that our island has come a long way over the past decade. We hear encouraging reports of declining debt, improved credit ratings, increased investor confidence, and a level of macroeconomic stability that many once thought impossible. These achievements deserve recognition, for economic discipline is no small feat in a country that has weathered global crises, natural disasters, and a pandemic.

There remains, however, an uncomfortable question that many ordinary Jamaicans continue to ask at the supermarket checkout, the gas station, and around the dinner table: If the economy is doing so well, why does daily life still feel so difficult? The issue is not simply the price of bread or electricity, it is the shrinking distance between effort and reward.

We have become an economy in which people celebrate stability because the much PR-ed prosperity seems perpetually just beyond reach. Economic growth is meaningful only when it is reflected in the lived experiences of the people. A family should not have to choose between buying groceries and paying the light bill. A young professional should not have to wonder whether owning a home will forever remain out of reach. Pensioners should not have to watch their purchasing power eroded while being told that the economy has never looked stronger.

Young entrepreneurs struggle to access capital, creative professionals compete in global markets with limited support, small businesses drown in bureaucracy, while multinational firms navigate the system with relative ease. Too many talented Jamaicans spend their energy figuring out how to survive instead of how to innovate.

Economic success should be measured not only by balanced budgets but by whether an ordinary citizen with a good idea can realistically turn that idea into a thriving enterprise.

The next phase of Jamaica’s development must focus on increasing productivity, raising wages through higher-value industries, expanding affordable housing, supporting entrepreneurs, strengthening agriculture, and embracing technology that creates opportunities rather than widening inequality.

That is the Jamaica I want to see — not merely a country with impressive statistics, but one where ingenuity is rewarded; risk is encouraged; and ambition is not quietly punished by red tape, limited financing, and stagnant opportunities. The greatest wealth of this nation has never been bauxite, tourism or remittances, it has always been the imagination of its people.

The question before us is whether our economy is finally prepared to invest in that resource. As a nation we should begin measuring our success not only by gross domestic product (GDP) growth, debt-to-GDP ratios, or international commendations, but also by simpler questions. Can more Jamaicans afford nutritious food? Can they save consistently? Can young people build wealth? Can parents provide a better future for their children without working two or three jobs?

These are the indicators that people experience every day. Jamaica has every reason to celebrate its economic progress. But we should never confuse stability with prosperity. One keeps the lights on; the other improves lives.

As we continue on this path, let us ensure that economic success is something Jamaicans not only read about in reports but also feel in their wallets, their homes, and their hopes for the future.

Yannick Pessoa

Montegonian

yannickpessoa@yahoo.com