Outgoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative, Dr Constant Lonkeng Ngouana, says his three-year tenure in Jamaica has been “very rewarding”.

Dr Lonkeng Ngouana, whose stint ends on August 31, took up the Resident Representative post in July 2016 at the time of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and continued through the current precautionary Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).

The IMF

Representative points out that “talking with policymakers, farmers, private-sector

representatives and students, and getting wide-ranging perspectives have been among

the main highlights of my tenure”.

Dr Lonkeng Ngouana says the feedback from these interactions suggests that a significant number of Jamaicans appreciate the economic progress achieved over the last six and a half years.

He notes that

while the country is “not out of the woods yet… the fact that the Jamaican

people are plugged in and engaged in the policy discussions will contribute to

safeguarding the sound economic policies being developed and instituted by the

Government”.

Meanwhile, Dr Lonkeng Ngouana remains confident in Jamaica’s ability to manage its economic affairs in the post-IMF era, following the conclusion of the current SBA in November.

The IMF

Representative maintains that while growth is “not where we all want it to be”,

Jamaica can, over time, achieve higher levels of sustainable inclusive growth

through an aggressive structural reform agenda.

“We believe that if structural impediments relating to crime, weak resilience in agriculture, and private sector access to credit were to be resolved, or partially resolved, growth could be much higher in Jamaica,” he adds, noting that steps by the Government to address these are underway.

Dr Lonkeng Ngouana is encouraging persons at all levels to remain steadfast on the journey embarked on under the Economic Reform Programme.

He says the

sacrifices made by all Jamaicans to turn the country’s economic fortunes around

have been “far-reaching”, adding that “Jamaica has come too far to allow for

any reversal on the progress made thus far”.

Dr Lonkeng Ngouana further reiterates that the Jamaican economy has undergone a remarkable transformation and turnaround, based on achievements recorded over the last six and half years under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility and precautionary Stand-By Arrangement programmes.