MONTEGO BAY, St James — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness last Thursday called for a major shift in national thinking as he urged Jamaicans to see themselves as active competitors in a rapidly changing global landscape, arguing that such a transformation is critical if the country is to maximise the full economic benefits of tourism and investment.

Speaking during RIU Hotels & Resorts 25th Anniversary Gala at RIU Montego Bay, Holness said the nation must abandon the notion that small states are unable to compete internationally, and instead embrace a more ambitious outlook.

“There is sometimes a mindset, especially for small nations, that we can’t compete in the global world. I say to every Jamaican, ‘We have to change that mindset and see ourselves as competitors on the global football field,’ ” the prime minister urged.