FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KINGSTON, September 16, 2026: The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (The PSOJ) is calling for a renewed national commitment to values, character and ethical conduct. The PSOJ stressed that Jamaica’s social and economic progress must be underpinned by citizens and institutions that demonstrate integrity, accountability, respect and responsibility.
The call follows comments by Jamaica Teachers’ Association President La Sonja Harrison, who urged schools to place greater emphasis on character development, values and attitudes in shaping young Jamaicans. Her comments, reported by The Gleaner on September 15, highlighted the responsibility of schools, working alongside the home and other institutions, to help develop young people who can contribute positively to society.
The PSOJ believes this is a timely and necessary conversation, but one that must extend well beyond the school gate.
Jamaica’s values are shaped in our homes and schools, but also in our workplaces, communities, institutions and through the conduct of those entrusted with leadership. Strengthening our national character therefore requires collective responsibility and a willingness to ensure that the standards we promote are also reflected in how we behave.
Chairman of The PSOJ’s National Values and Attitude Advancement Committee (NVAAC), Howard Mitchell, said strengthening national values requires sustained action rather than periodic appeals for change.
“Values are ultimately demonstrated through behaviour. If we want our young people to embrace integrity, respect, accountability and responsibility, then they must see those qualities consistently demonstrated by the adults and institutions around them. Schools have an important role, but they cannot carry that responsibility alone. Families, businesses, public institutions, community organisations and leaders at every level must be part of the solution.”
Meanwhile, The PSOJ President, Patrick Hylton said the country must recognise that economic development and social development cannot be separated.
“As a country, we rightly place significant emphasis on economic growth, education, technology and the skills our people will need to compete in a changing world. But the Jamaica we are building must also be grounded in character. Integrity, respect, discipline, accountability and a sense of responsibility to others are not secondary considerations. They are fundamental to building strong institutions, productive workplaces, safe communities and a society in which people can trust each other.”
For the business community, the PSOJ believes the challenge is equally clear.
Businesses cannot advocate for stronger governance, accountability and ethical conduct in public life without holding themselves to those same standards. Corporate leaders have a responsibility to demonstrate integrity in decision-making, transparency in their operations, fairness in how employees and customers are treated and responsibility in how their organisations engage with communities.
The PSOJ has consistently advocated for good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability as essential to Jamaica’s development. These principles must not only exist in policies, governance frameworks and corporate statements; they must be visible in everyday leadership and decision-making.
The Organisation is therefore encouraging businesses and business leaders to consider how they can play a more active role in reinforcing positive values among young Jamaicans.
Through mentorship programmes, internships, apprenticeships, work-readiness initiatives, school partnerships and other structured engagements, businesses can help young people understand the relationship between character and success in the workplace.
As Jamaica accelerates efforts to develop the human capital required for a more competitive and technologically advanced economy, technical and digital capabilities must be complemented by the interpersonal and behavioural competencies that allow people and organisations to succeed.
Discipline, respect, integrity, accountability, teamwork, reliability and responsible decision-making are workplace competencies as much as they are personal values.
The PSOJ believes this should form an important part of Jamaica’s wider skills-development and human-capital agenda.
The PSOJ is calling for the current back-to-school period to become an opportunity for a broader national conversation about the kind of citizens Jamaica seeks to develop and the standards expected of its institutions and leaders.
Rebuilding values cannot be treated as the responsibility of any single institution. Schools must teach and reinforce them, families and communities must nurture them, businesses must practise and reward them, institutions must uphold them, leaders must model them and the state must exemplify them as a matter of policy and enforce laws which shape appropriate behavior.
For Jamaica to achieve sustainable economic and social progress, the development of skills and knowledge must go hand in hand with the development of character.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Velton Gooden Jr.
Communications Associate
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica
Email: veltong@psoj.org
Telephone: (876) 836-4285