Deon P. Green, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Members of the Jamaican Diaspora listen keenly to Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Omar Davies during a meeting at the Jamaican High Commission in London

Looking at what Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and others have achieved with no support from the state, it has struck me that we need to start organising that aspect of what is viewed as special characteristics of Jamaica and turn them into business ventures.

LONDON:

Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Omar Davies told Jamaicans in London last week that there is no special treatment or concessions for members of the diaspora when tendering for government contracts. He said this is due to local and international fairness of competition regulations. The minister, who met with international bankers on Friday while in the United Kingdom, was responding to questions at a community meeting held at the Jamaican High Commission.

The issue of qualified Jamaicans in the diaspora accessing tenders for government contracts, as opposed to foreign developers, was raised by Jamaican migrants in Brixton earlier this year. It was argued then that an avenue should be made available where expertise residing among migrants could be used in major development projects involving government contracts. The view was expressed against the notion that many government contracts were being awarded to overseas developers who have limited knowledge of the country's physical and social geography.

However, Dr. Davies said, "in a globalised society where Jamaica is asking for access to other markets he cannot block others from the Jamaican market". He explained that contracts had to be advertised and bids tendered with the priority being on quality, price and time. He said that he would welcome the involvement of the diaspora, urging them to look for and explore available opportunities.

Turning to other matters, the Finance Minister said he would be examining a British investment model as a means of developing Jamaica's micro businesses into larger enterprises.

Dr. Davies said that Jamaica's economy has changed considerably over the years with less dependence on agricultural products. He noted that the country has to start restructuring the economy where more investment comes into the island to impact the man in the street. "We have to see how we can get more of the foreign direct inflow to impact on the life of the average person, that is where we have to go," Dr. Davies told the gathering.

He pointed to the music industry as one area that the country need to capitalise on. "Looking at what Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and others have achieved with no support from the state, it has struck me that we need to start organising that aspect of what is viewed as special characteristics of Jamaica and turn them into business ventures," the Finance Minister said. In this regard he said he was looking at the British model where the treasury assumes some of the collateral risk for loans to small businesses operators.

Dr. Davies said, however, that he does not want the small business sector to be controlled by government or a government agency, but rather working with the private sector. "There is the need for a revolving fund with some bankers working on it...government will offer guarantee, but will not be up-front," said the Finance Minister.