Domestic politics The prime minister, Bruce Golding of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), will face an increasingly precarious economic and social balance during the forecast period as his government formally returns to the IMF, an economically necessary--but politically dangerous--policy decision. The administration will struggle to maintain public support for its austerity measures--including potential cuts to social programmes and public-sector employment--which are crucial for reining in expenditure. Although the government's popularity will suffer, the opposition People's National Party (PNP) will be unable to capitalise on the JLP's misfortune owing to growing internal divisions within its own ranks. The Economist Intelligence Unit expects the JLP to defend its slim 32-28 majority in parliament in the short term, but the Golding administration will be increasingly vulnerable if it fails to jumpstart growth in 2010.

Source: Jamaica economy: Country outlook

Source: EIU Country Data