Primarily because of the interest payments Jamaica must pay on its debt to the World Bank, IMF, and other foreign debt. The interest payments alone swallow up a substantial portion of the annual budget. It is the root cause for much of Jamaica's high taxes with poor return on investment to the taxpayers. Keep in mind for the most part tourists are seeing the best of roads, sanitation service, public utilities, etc...The general public sees far worse in areas not heavily frequented by foreign visitors.