Four years into the much touted 5-in-4 growth agenda, the Economic Growth Council (EGC) has said that the realisation of its projected target was not achieved and has been worsened by the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer earlier this week, executive director of the council, Senator Aubyn Hill, said the pandemic has shelved almost everything in the world as economies and business activities slump into decline.

“Clearly we haven’t made 5-in-4, but what has changed everything is COVID-19. COVID has not only taken us off growth, but according to the minister of finance, we probably will contract by 5.1 per cent this year. All arrangements will have to be rethought and we have to first get our economy back on balance before we even look at jumping ahead,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business-report/5-in-4-shelved-ecg-says-current-focus-is-economic-recovery-as-covid-19-tramples-growth_198146