Jamaica poised to achieve SDGs although it will miss Vision 2030 target

  

Jamaica is poised to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out by the United Nations despite a concession by Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness that the country's own Vision 2030 will not become a reality.

 

He says, of all the countries across the Caribbean, the island is most likely to hit the SDGs.

 

"For most countries, they are only achieving 16 per cent of the targets that they had set under the SDG, and that's really a challenge. Jamaica is doing much better than the rest of the world, and in fact Jamaica is the leading country in the Caribbean for meeting the SDG goal based upon our national development plan. In fact we're about 60 per cent of the way there," he noted. 

 

Prime Minister Holness said with additional efforts and renewed commitment, Jamaica can achieve developed country status. 

 

"There have been setbacks, no doubt. Sometimes the national conversation forgot that the world was struck by Covid, and for two years, there was barely any investment that could be made in social development. We had a massive supply side shock, growth fell off and inflation went up. But government is recommitting itself to redoubling its effort so that Jamaica achieves the developed country status," he vowed. 

 

The Prime Minister was speaking at the contract signing and groundbreaking for the Spicy Grove Infrastructure Works project in Oracabessa, St. Mary, on Wednesday.

 

The project aims to build out road networks, infrastructure and formalise land tenure for residents.

 

The 17 SDGs are part of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and coincide with aspects of Jamaica's first long-term strategic development plan, Vision 2030.

 

Among the goals are the eradication of poverty, quality education, climate action, decent work and economic growth.