Seaga EDWARD SEAGA, the JLP leader, said yesterday that he had found American investors in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, "very receptive" to his economic development proposals for Jamaica ahead of the upcoming general election.
"Of the many trips I have made here recently, I have found more interest this time than at any other time and there is greater potential in terms of investment interest," he said by telephone from Atlanta.
Asked why he felt there was growing interest, Mr. Seaga answered, "Well, we're getting near to that date and people are ready and want to talk about what they would like to invest in and to get involved from now".
He said they had discussed primarily, his proposals for the development of the Fort Augusta-Kingston seafront area for tourism, as well as plans for a major convention centre in Montego Bay.
He said his objective in meeting with the American investors, was to enable him to jump-start the economy if his party is elected government in the general election expected later this year.
Mr. Seaga met with representatives of Atlanta's top 25 companies at a dinner on Wednesday night and yesterday morning had one-on-one talks with several of them at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where he is staying.
Yesterday he had lunch with Jamaicans residing in Atlanta at the Negril Restaurant operated by Claudette Solomon, a Jamaican who is originally from Ocho Rios. Last night he was scheduled to attend a reception hosted by Friends of Jamaica at Club 191 near the Ritz-Carlton.
In an interview with CNN in Atlanta yesterday, Mr. Seaga indicated that the basis of Jamaica's crime problem was the inability to source new investments to create jobs and wealth. However, he pointed out that the crime was concentrated in areas outside of tourist resorts.
Mr. Seaga is scheduled to return home tomorrow. He will be the main speaker in Montego Bay at a Youth Rally at Chatwick Gardens tomorrow morning. The rally will end at Tropical Gardens tomorrow night. On Sunday he will tour the South St. James constituency.
He is accompanied on his visit to Georgia by Edmund Bartlett, JLP spokesman on tourism.
