Robert Pickersgill (left) Minister of Transport and Works peruses documents with Dennis Morrison (right) Chief Technical Director, Development Division Cabinet Office and Aubyn Hill, Chairman, National Investment Bank of Jamaica. The occasion was the Government Communication Group's panel discussion on developments in the physical and social infrastructure held at Jamaica House last Thursday. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer
CHAIRMAN OF the National Investment Bank of Jamaica, Aubyn Hill, has pointed to a trillion dollar worldwide health tourism industry, which he said Jamaica was suitably poised to take advantage of based on location and the availability of services.
He made these observations last Thursday during a panel discussion series hosted by the Cabinet Office to examine developments in Jamaica's physical and social infrastructure and the linkages that have been created across various sectors in the economy.
Mr. Hill noted, however, that in order to attract more investments to the island, particularly in non-traditional areas such as health tourism, there needs to be closer collaboration between agencies and departments of government. In advocating a 'one stop shop' for investors, Mr. Hill said Jamaica should "lay out the red carpet and cut the red tape."
Mr. Hill, an accomplished banker, cited the United States as the main target market for Jamaica with an estimated 40 million uninsured individuals, eight million of whom will seek health and wellness services overseas. He said Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe were also sources of potential clients.
"A market penetration by Jamaica of just two per cent will have over one million visitors coming to the island just for health or wellness related treatments," he asserted.
He argued that this was a clear opportunity for entrepreneurs and project promoters to do specific facility research in order to ascertain the health and wellness projects that would be most feasible.
Turning to the matter of education, Mr. Hill said there should be greater collaboration among school boards which he said should be empowered to recruit capable and autonomous school principals who are committed to engaging stake-holders in policy decisions.
He said Jamaica should adopt international standards of education that would prepare students with portable skills that would allow them to work in other countries. He said they would later return to Jamaica with higher levels of skills and experiences that would be of great benefit to Jamaica.
SUCCESSFUL LINKAGES
In concluding his remarks, the NIBJ chairman urged the development of an enabling environment for more successful linkages within and across sectors through greater inter-agency networks and measures to reduce bureaucracy.
Other speakers at the forum were Minister of Transport and Works the Hon. Robert Pickersgill and Chief Technical Director in the Development Division of the Cabinet Office, Dennis Morrison.
The panel discussion series, which began in November last year was organised by the Cabinet Office to analyse Jamaica's progress toward achieving growth and to determine the next steps to reach our national goals. It has stimulated public discussion on issues relating to poverty alleviation, governance, Jamaica's role in the international arena and the impact of information and communication technology on development.
