PSOJ calls for feedback to its proposal for consolidated 'Emancipendence' holiday

By Kimone Witter    

 

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is calling for constructive stakeholder engagement to its lobby for the Emancipation and Independence celebrations to be clustered in a single, extended weekend holiday.

 

The PSOJ says the period could be over four days, beginning on a Friday through to Monday.

 

The proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

 

The private sector grouping says to gauge public sentiment on the idea, it conducted a survey in August this year, which revealed that 67 per cent of respondents support the concept of a consolidated holiday period.

 

The PSOJ asserts that as an organisation committed to Jamaica's socio-economic development, it must consider the challenges faced by businesses in a developing economy.

 

It says the current arrangement of having two major holidays in such close proximity often results in extended periods of reduced productivity, as many workers and businesses tend to bridge the gap between these dates with additional time off.

 

The PSOJ argues that this phenomenon, sometimes referred to as a "holiday hangover", can disrupt economic momentum, particularly in key sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture.

 

Speaking Friday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica, PSOJ President Metry Seaga said the results of an internal poll has cemented its position on the proposed consolidation of the two national holidays. 

 

"So we polled our members and we asked them to take internal polls within their organisation, which they did, and that result came back at more than 85 per cent of them saying, yes, this would work for us better. So it's a productivity issue," he stressed, adding that the PSOJ considers Emancipation Day and Independence Day as "two of the most important holidays that we have in Jamaica".