Home  Business Karl Samuda talks business
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Karl Samuda talks business |
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Written by Sonia Morgan
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Sunday, 08 June 2008 |
A number of Jamaican businessmen and businesswomen gathered at the Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale for the Jamaica USA Chamber of Commerce’s 2nd annual Jamaican Business Expo held on May 29 and 30.
The expo had on display a moderate range of businesses and products from Jamaica and some impressive artwork from the island as well. However, the attendance paled in comparison to the previous expo and some were speculating that it could be because of the venue.
However, the 3rd Annual Recognition and Installation Luncheon carried a full house and was a success. Welcome remarks came from Broward County Commissioner, Diana Wasserman-Rubin who welcomed attendees, lauded the Chamber and broke out into Marley music.
President of the Jamaica USA Chamber, Marie Gill, delivered the State of the Chamber Address, reporting that despite challenging times, the entrepreneurs are still working hard to build their businesses and are still confident in their abilities to beat the odds.
Jamaican Consul General Ricardo Allicock also introduced Keynote Speaker, Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Karl Samuda, who spoke pointedly about the direction that the government wants to take business and trade in Jamaica and how they plan to improve the economy there.
Samuda told the gathering that their mandate has three main focal points, 1. to create jobs 2. to grow the economy and to 3. provide security for our people. The Industry minister said his party, the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) “inherited an economy that has had much advancement” but that they still have a burden to carry in terms of the country’s debt in relation to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He praised the Diaspora for their “continued support through remittances” which amounts to about US$3 million annually.
Encouraging trade and economic ideas, Samuda told attendees he would come and hold constructive dialogue with leaders of the Diaspora, citing a new way forward for the government. He said “In the past we have governed on one-upmanship, but said instead of focusing on the negatives of the past government they have to look to the future. “We have to harness our resources domestically and internationally.”
Addressing the ominous issue of the escalating crime in Jamaica, Samuda said the government has to provide opportunities for the youth to stem the tide of crime in the island nation. He pointed to the Jamaica Business Development Sector and the progress they are making to help small businesses in the island but added that too many people are discouraged because of their inability to get loans to start and grow their businesses. The industry minister said they are embarking on an effort to provide small businesses with lease-purchase arrangements for equipment and would give a one year moratorium on any payments of any loan.
On the tourism front, Samuda said he wanted to create a change in the attitude towards economic advancement in Jamaica, so that people can recognize that tourism is in no way limited to resorts. He said Jamaicans should be able to “pick [the tourists] pockets literally with the things we produce.”
Samuda said the government is “business friendly” and “prepared to take the necessary risks” to get investors into Jamaica and to “reduce bureaucracy by 50 percent over the next four years” as it was a deterrent to many investors.
Following Samuda’s remarks, there was a presentation of Jamaican Milestone Awards for outstanding services to Chiropractor Dr. Lisa Owen, Healthcare; Maureen Shaw of Junie’s restaurant, Hospitality; Trevor McBayne of McBayne Construction, Construction services; Hugh Ferguson of National Weekly, Media services; Zemroy Lewis of Code Red Band, Entertainment; Grace Vernon of Flowers by Grace, Professional services; Tony Maxey of FedEx Express Latin America and the Caribbean, Advancement on Trade in the Caribbean and Tameika Pottinger Esq., Real Estate attorney.
Omar Azan, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association installed the 2008 Board of Directors.
At the event were political candidates Lauderhill Commissioner, Dale Holness, who is running for the District 9 Broward County Commission seat; Attorney Ghenete Wright-Muir who is running for a seat on the City of Sunrise Commission; Attorney Roshawn Banks, who is running for State Representative of District 94.
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