“Jamaica is Open for Your Business” — Prime Minister Andrew Holness

The 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference (16-20 June 2019), with its mantra this year “Building Pathways for Sustainable Development”, attracted thousands of delegates seeking to reconnect with their homeland, invest in rebuilding the country, and seek answers to some of Jamaica’s ills. The 5-day conference saw packed sessions at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston, a model of sustainable development as it sits in the middle of an area once defined by crime and poverty, but is now being redeveloped and reenergised for growth.

It is this theme that ran through Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ opening presentation as he welcomed delegates to Kingston, the heart of Jamaica.

“We want to genuinely make Kingston not just the Capital of Jamaica, but we feel that it is the central city in the Caribbean. We want to make Kingston the centre of trade, commerce of the Caribbean. We want to make Kingston the centre of art and culture and entertainment. We want to make Kingston the business centre, the finance centre of the Caribbean”, Holness emphasised.

The Jamaican Prime Minister sees the diaspora as an integral part in this process to make Kingston, and the entire island, a vibrant economic hub for business, culture, and families.

“Something is happening that is positive in the diaspora, but more than that, we must never underestimate the value of our diaspora in ensuring that the economy of Jamaica remains strong even in the depths of a recession”, Holness said.

He talked about the diaspora’s direct and indirect involvement in the more than forty projects islandwide that are improving lives and the health of the economy. But, he did not hesitate to speak about the level of crime in Jamaica, how it affects the national psyche and the country’s economic growth.

Uncomfortable

The Prime Minister explained that “Over the last three decades or so, we have seen an unabated rise, even acceptance, of violence in our society. We have to look at ourselves and address this uncomfortable subject. And we require members of the diaspora to help us with this conversation about violence in our society. There are some deep-seated long held cultural issues which are used from time to time to justify violence”.

For example, he noted that corporal punishment is still viewed by many as the best way to instil discipline in children. He said that many in the diaspora, and in Jamaica, hold on to the belief that some physical punishment was beneficial to their own personal development, and would be reluctant to support any other view. But, he warned that not only does it have a generally negative impact on the psychology, the outlook, and emotional development, it also leaves an imprint of violence which people end up projecting onto generations forward.

But all is not dire. According to Prime Minister Holness, the government is spending close to $20 billion Jamaican dollars on national security two years running, the highest ever spent on social issues, particularly violence. Coupled with massive investment on infrastructure, and fiscal discipline, the country is experiencing positive growth.

Said Holness: “Our interest rates are the lowest they have been for decades. In 2013 our unemployment rate was 16 percent. Today, I am pleased to report that the last figures tell us it is now 8 percent. In 2013 thereabouts, our national debt, some people say it was 151 percent, but it was probably in reality 141 percent of GDP. Today, we are expecting it to be at 96 percent of GDP”.

Prime Minister Holness also assured the diaspora that the government is redoubling its efforts at fighting corruption to make it easier to do business in Jamaica.

“Public sector bureaucracy, corruption, those issues continue to occupy the mind of government. We are making the necessary investments in those institutions to ensure that we can bring corruption under control and improve public sector efficiency”.

“We invite members of the diaspora to now seriously look at Jamaica as a safe, profitable opportunity for investment. Jamaica is open for your business. Yes, I want you to come back and be tourists in your land, but I want you to come back and be investors in your land as well”.