Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has called for a fundamental cultural shift in Jamaica, arguing that the country's next stage of development depends not only on economic policies and investment but on transforming national attitudes toward efficiency, productivity, and accountability.Addressing hundreds of delegates at the opening of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay, St James on Tuesday, Holness said Jamaica must undergo what he described as a "cultural revolution" if it is to fully capitalise on its economic gains and compete with some of the world's most successful economies."I was having a conversation recently with a Jamaican businessman. His view is that Jamaica needs a cultural revolution for efficiency and productivity,” Holness told the conference. The Prime Minister said the issue goes beyond government and business and touches every aspect of Jamaican society."We are therefore fighting a battle here of culture, and we are going to need your help in guiding the conversations about the changes that are needed at every level of the society to become a more efficient player on the global stage," he said.Drawing comparisons with countries known for rapid development and high productivity, Holness reiterated his belief that Jamaica has the potential to emulate global success stories."Jamaica could become like Dubai or Singapore. Maybe it is just the exceptional ambition of being a Jamaican, but I truly believe we have all the characteristics and assets to achieve that ambition," he said.However, he argued that achieving such a transformation would require changes in deeply rooted attitudes and behaviours."Our value system must change. We must move from seeing work and service as servitude. We must move from victimhood to agency. We must believe that we have it in ourselves to take charge of our destiny and chart our course and achieve for ourselves."Holness also challenged Jamaicans to shift from what he described as a consumer mindset to one focused on innovation and production."We must move from the consumer mentality to the producer-innovator mentality," he said.The Prime Minister urged members of the diaspora, many of whom live in countries where efficiency and accountability are central to economic success, to help drive the conversation."You have experienced this. You understand when I say efficiency is a resource, like oil, like bauxite, like tourism."According to Holness, Jamaica's global reputation and future competitiveness will increasingly depend on its ability to become faster and more productive."We must become the fastest economy and society in the world to do business," he declared.- Albert FergusonFollow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.