Jamaica despite being one of the leading developing countries post independence, 50years later has failed to establish a durable dynamic for development worse yet sustainable development. The emerging question is what has led to this untenable situation. A number of factors, some endogenous others exogenous tend to impact on the development trajectory of a country including the governance and planning techniques employed. Over this period various governments has employed different governance and planning techniques. This paper examines the nature of these techniques, their impact and adequacy in supporting a robust development strategy for Jamaica which now operates in an open dynamic global system. It then examines whether alternative approaches to governance and planning will contribute to more positive outcomes in the country’s development and reviews the nature and purpose, as well as the costs and benefits of these approaches.

The University of the West Indies
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