Improved Performance in Vision 2030 National Outcome Indicators

Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, says the country’s performance regarding Vision 2030 national outcome indicators and targets, has shown significant improvement up to 2017.

Speaking at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Heritage Awards Ceremony on November 27 at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge, in St. Andrew, Dr. Henry said a recent summary of the progress made indicated that of a total of 67 national outcome indicators monitored under Vision 2030 Jamaica, 67.2 per cent have shown improvement over the baseline year 2007, based on data up to 2017.

“A summary of performance by National Goals shows that the largest development gain was under goal one: ‘Jamaicans are empowered to achieve their fullest potential’, followed by goal three: ‘Jamaica’s economy is prosperous’. Under goal three, 46 per cent of the targets were either met for 2016/2017 or moving towards being met,” Dr. Henry said.

“The greatest gains under this goal were realised in the macroeconomy, in particular as it relates to annual inflation rate; debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio; and nominal GDP per capita.

The tourism, energy and agricultural industries also realised development gains, with targets either being met or moving towards meeting the target,” he added.

In the area of Governance, the majority of the indicators have shown improvement over the baseline year of 2007 and moving towards the target. These include Voice and Accountability Index, Government Effectiveness Index and Control of Corruption Index.

Dr. Henry said he believes Jamaica’s national goals relating to Vision 2030 can be achieved if each Jamaican takes the objectives of Jamaica’s strategic road map on a personal level.

He told participants at the ceremony that their vision needs to be in keeping with Vision 2030, so that “we can make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”.

“Vision is the mental picture of the future. It is an idea of what the future can hold, but has not yet happened. Vision will pull you through dark days of depression; vision will motivate you through the mire of mediocrity [and] vision will demand you move forward, despite the deafening decibels of discouragement,” Dr. Henry said.

Some 21 students were awarded for their essays, posters and photographs submitted, with three emerging overall winners in the categories of the competition. They were Jaida Lalor from George Headley Primary School in Kingston (Essay); Akeem Plummer from Belair High School in Manchester (Poster); and Sarah-Fay Buckland, University of the West Indies, Mona (Photography).