Anthony Hylton, Opposition Spokesman on Funding, Commerce and World Logistics, has issued a stern warning, stating that Jamaica is at a essential juncture in its nationwide growth.
The spokesman was making his contribution to the 2025 Sectoral Debate in Parliament final Wednesday when he commented, bluntly stating that corruption stays the one biggest risk to the nation’s progress. “Jamaica is at a precipice, not a crossroad.”
He argued that the nation should now select between clinging to the established order and getting into a brand new period of fine governance, regional solidarity, and innovation.
Hylton ignited his forceful phrases with condemnation: “It is a disaster that erodes investor confidence, undermines public belief, and stalls actual progress and growth. If we’re to actually pivot our nation and unleash our full potential, we should first restore credibility, accountability, and good governance on the very high,” Hylton said.
The opposition spokesman pointed to rising world instability and financial uncertainty, arguing that Jamaica should reply swiftly by increasing its entry to worldwide markets. With world powers strengthen in connectivity to make sure resilient provide chains.
Hylton stated Jamaica dangers falling behind except it adapts. “Jamaica has little time to diversify its path to new markets—each for securing essential provides and growing exports to earn very important overseas alternate,” he warned. Wait and see. It’s not a method. It’s merely condemning the Jamaican folks to additional struggling.”
He cited the necessity to safe an exemption from the ten % tariff imposed by the US underneath the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). He pressured that this effort have to be coordinated by CARICOM, highlighting the strategic significance of regional unity in advancing Jamaica’s commerce and growth pursuits.
Hylton stated CARICOM’s cooperation is logical for the problems, “which at instances escapes the present administration – is inescapable on this and different issues affecting the area,” he famous.
He identified that the Folks’s Nationwide Get together (PNP), with its long-standing management in regional affairs, is finest positioned to construct consensus and advance strategic priorities inside CARICOM.
The Opposition Spokesman on Funding stated that to confront each home and exterior challenges, Hylton proposed a transformative nationwide technique titled Jamaica 4.0. Drawing on rules from the trade 4.0 technological revolution, the initiative goals to reshape the nation’s financial structure round innovation, digital integration, and sustainable growth.
Hylton stated, “Jamaica 4.0 is designed to align a whole-of-nation technique with the developments of the technological revolution. By prioritizing innovation, leveraging cutting-edge digital applied sciences, championing sustainable growth, Jamaica 4.0 will speed up financial progress and redefine the nation’s position on the worldwide stage.”
He envisioned Jamaica turning into the fourth node within the world buying and selling system – a premier hub for commerce, logistics, and funding flows inside the Americas.
“The time for hesitation has handed,” he concluded. “We should rise with objective, anchored in integrity and pushed by innovation, to safe a affluent future for all Jamaicans.”
