Holness suggests managed labour movement

Holness made this suggestion during a panel discussion at the 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum, hosted by the Government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain. Recalling the talks he and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had in Jamaica in July, Holness said this was one of the issues they discussed.

Noting there is a need for labour in different Caricom countries, Holness said, “I think it is well within our capacity to structure a managed immigration between our countries.” Identifying trade as another issue he and Rowley discussed in July, Holness said apart from air transport, sea transport was also important in terms of trade. He added, “There may be a role for government to become a market shaper in this regard.” Holness said that in light of the current economic challenges facing the region, it was important for leaders to, “explain your policies to your electorate.”As he outlined Jamaica’s recent experience with the IMF, Holness observed that for too long development within the region has been funded by debt and not by growth.

He said his administration has established an economic growth council that is chaired by a leading member of Jamaica’s private sector and is seeking to have 30 percent of all of Jamaica’s energy coming from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, by 2020.

Caribbean Development Bank president Warren Smith agreed with Holness about the need to manage the free movement of labour in the region. On Tuesday, IMF officials indicated that a team from the Fund was in TT last week to discuss tax matters with the Government.

They also indicated that the Government’s proposed Revenue Authority was a possibility but was not necessarily a panacea to for certain economic challenges