Artificial intelligence, digital government and faster decision-making—not oil alone—will determine which Caribbean economies emerge as regional leaders over the next decade.
That was the message from Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, who used his address at the opening of the International Building Expo 2026 to argue that governments must radically rethink how they deliver projects in an era where technology is reshaping every aspect of development.
Holness said the Caribbean can no longer afford bureaucratic systems designed for another generation, warning that governments must move as quickly as technological innovation itself.
"This is the era of getting things done at the speed of thought," he declared.
The Jamaican leader pointed to artificial intelligence as one of the biggest disruptors of public administration and infrastructure development, saying AI is compressing timelines that once took years.
"Artificial intelligence is narrowing and compacting the time to deliver. New materials are being developed that change the process of construction, and we must move with speed and intent to ensure that we are not left behind by the changes in technology and that we don't miss out on the opportunities created."
For Holness, the challenge facing Caribbean governments is no longer simply attracting investment—it is ensuring that institutions can keep pace with rapidly evolving technology.
He criticized what he described as a longstanding culture within public administration where lengthy approval processes are often mistaken for better governance.
"There is a culture... that if it didn't take long, it wasn't well done," he said, arguing that this mindset is becoming incompatible with today's investment environment.
Instead, Holness called for governments to embrace digital transformation, modern approval systems and technology-enabled public services capable of supporting fast-growing economies.
The Jamaican Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of innovation across supply chains, engineering and workforce development, noting that the region will increasingly require technical skills capable of working with advanced building materials, automation and emerging technologies.
Although speaking at a building expo, Holness' broader message centred on economic competitiveness in the digital age.
His remarks come as Caribbean economies—including Guyana—are investing heavily in new infrastructure while simultaneously seeking to diversify through technology, digital services and energy-driven industrial expansion.
Holness suggested that the countries best positioned for long-term success will be those willing to modernise not only their infrastructure, but the way governments function.
"The time that we waste trying to perfect processes that are outdated," he warned, is time the region can no longer afford to lose.
Rather than simply digitising existing bureaucracy, Holness argued that governments must fundamentally rethink how decisions are made, approvals are granted and projects are delivered in an age increasingly defined by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change.
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