Jobs, education and an openness to foreign investors are the main factors for solving Jamaica’s social, economic and crime problems, believes Democratic United States State Senator Malcolm A. Smith.
Smith, who travelled to Jamaica last Thursday for the swearing in of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, said it was essential that the new government provide incentives that would allow for small and large companies to do business with the country.
“The Jamaican government needs to understand that the world is no longer a big world, it is very small. Just like we are taking foreign investment in New York, they should do that here,” said the state senator in the 14th district in Queens, New York.
He also advised that the government look at new industries while focusing on key ones, such as agriculture, the sciences, social networking and technology.
Smith told The Gleaner that, “As a ranking member on banking, I think it is going to be important to introduce the Jamaican minister of finance (Dr Peter Phillips) to the banking community in New York, perhaps have them come here and foster a relationship. Because at this point we know that the credit that banks are releasing today are very difficult and challenging but, given the financial capital of the world, and the number of people from Jamaica that live there, I think, from a banking perspective, that we can develop a good relationship to help with the economy.”
Jamaican community excited
Smith, who is an integral part of the large Jamaican community in his district, said they were excited about the possibilities of working with the new Simpson Miller-led administration and fostering a good relationship.
Describing the existing relationship between Jamaica and the US as interesting, he said: “It is one where we are still struggling in New York. We just got rid of a big deficit. We think Jamaica is also struggling where it comes to jobs and the economy and perhaps we can foster some of the practices and best practices that we are doing to assist the government in moving forward with the economy here. We can learn from each other.”
The senator, who has Jamaican roots through his father, who was raised in Mandeville, Manchester, revealed that there would be celebrations across New York for Jamaica’s 50th year of Independence.
Smith was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2000.
Jamaica Gleaner
