Diana Stewart - leading AmCham through turbulent times

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Diana Stewart is the bubbly and petite businesswoman and president of the American Chamber of Commerce (Jamaica) AmCham and the petite dynamo behind the family-run Stewart's Auto car dealership. As she, like many other Jamaicans, braces herself for the challenges ahead in the present turbulent period of our country's history, she talks about her plans for the organisation she leads with Outlook Magazine.

Would you say that AmCham has achieved its mandate to promote investment and trade between Jamaica and the United States of America (US) since being established here in 1986?

AmCham Jamaica has worked tirelessly to promote trade and investment between the US, Jamaica, and the region, in a variety of ways, which include the hosting of trade missions, most recently a delegation from Haiti in September last year, and an upcoming US Trade Mission to arrive on June 16. We provide match-making initiatives among our members and interested parties from overseas who wish to invest or do business with Jamaica, promote Jamaican exports; and, most importantly, are our lobbying efforts which have been successful both here, as well as in Washington, DC, toward creating a more business and investor-friendly environment in, and for, Jamaica.

However, the single largest impediment to attracting new business and investment has been the negative image created by crime and violence, and the resulting operating costs. I believe our cost of doing business is at least three per cent higher than other Caribbean countries for utilities and security. Nevertheless, I would say we have achieved and will continue to achieve our mandate to promote investment and trade between Jamaica and the US. One of our major achieve-ments is the attraction of Tavistock, an American company that, with the passage of the casino bill, will be moving forward on their investment here, estimated in the region of US$2-4B.

How is the chamber funded?

AmCham is funded by membership, publications and events; and contrary to a popularly held belief, we are self-sufficient and receive no grants from the United States or Jamaican governments; the United States embassy, its Chamber of Commerce, or Department of Commerce.

How long have you been a member and how has it helped your business?

Stewart's has been a member of AmCham for 12 years, and our business has benefited greatly from the networking and exposure that has been made possible through the chamber, whether through business or philanthropy.

How many members does the chamber have presently and what are your goals for your tenure at the helm?

Currently, we have 198 member companies, and importantly, the majority are now Jamaican companies - which means that the services and benefits we provide are critical to both US and local companies. Our current goals include:

• Making the chamber more visible in Jamaica and in the region, through our great networking activities;
  
• Continuing to provide forums through which to advocate public policies which will enhance the business climate between the US and Jamaica.
  
• Utilising the powerful lobbying tool available to us through the US Chamber of Commerce; to meet with and assist with effective decisions made in Washington, DC, which impact our members, and Jamaica, whether through aggressive contacts with the US private sector; members of Congress; and all agencies of government on issues of importance to us.
  
• We are extremely energised by what we feel can be accomplished for our members an Jamaica's economic development, through our efforts, focusing on private-sector interests and contacts, in conjunction with the efforts of our former president, Ambassador Audrey Marks, on the diplomatic level. We will continue to work together for Jamaica, and to guide the country through these turbulent economic and political times.
  
• Leaving behind a vibrant and solid foundation for the next generation of AmCham members.

Tell me about the American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA) conference to be held here, how will that benefit us?

AmCham Jamaica will be celebrating 25 years in 2011 and actively participates in the process of decision-making on issues that affect the businesses in Jamaica. We have submitted a bid to host the AACCLA 'Mid Year Meeting' and 'Business Future of the Americas Conference', in Montego Bay, in June 2011.

We foresee that this high profile event which will attract hundreds of business leaders, and government officials from the US, Jamaica, and other countries throughout the Western Hemisphere, and will highlight the investment opportunities that exist, and could vastly improve the image of our country. The conference also represents a rare opportunity for business networking among Jamaican businesses and all our visitors from so many foreign shores. Also, to continue to highlight Jamaica being named 'Regional Golf Destination of the Year', in 2009, if we win the bid, we intend to plan a golf day, to re-emphasise all that Jamaica has to offer for tourism and leisure. The proposed theme for the conference will address the concerns and priorities identified by business leaders of the region in the 2009 AACCLA survey, and focus on the following aspects: recovery, trade and growth.

What are some of the key reasons why Jamaica is a good location for investment and business, and the right choice for the 2011 AACCLA conference?

On our trips to Washington, DC, and elsewhere, AmCham continues to highlight the following points in our efforts to promote Jamaica:

Jamaica is the ideal and central location to North and South America as well as Europe, along with the availability of direct flights from many locations.

Jamaica is the premier shipping hub for the Caribbean, South America, the United States and Europe, with one of the largest ports and with the best equipment in the region, and is equipped to both store and trans-ship goods on a regular basis.

Montego Bay has a newly refurbished airport which handles thousands of guests to our country each day. Its immigration and customs, as well as transport facilities are set up accordingly. Approximately 5000 new rooms have been added in the past three years, which speaks for itself.

The paradise-like venue has been involved in tourism for many years and is cognisant of the manner in which to treats its guests, and the venues are in close proximity to medical facilities.

Jamaica's current crisis

Does AmCham have a position on the current crisis in Jamaica, any possible solutions? How difficult do events like these make your goals to achieve?

As an American Chamber of Commerce in Jamaica, and as is recommended by the US Chamber of Commerce, AmCham refrains from making public statements regarding political issues in Jamaica. The continuing and very troubling recent events have already cost Jamaica billions of dollars in lost revenue to business and the Government of Jamaica, lessening the funds required to improve Jamaica's infrastructure, health, education and other sectors that are critical to having a safe community to invest in.

We are seeing some investors sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see the outcome of this massive problem that has stymied investment for so many years. However, we at AmCham feel it best that we express our comments, concerns, suggestions and offers of assistance to those in positions of influence, in a less public manner.

AmCham's role in Grant's Pen being turned around is well known, do you have any plans to repeat the programme in any other community any time soon?

In the past, AmCham, in collaboration with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) have sponsored community policing in our efforts toward creating a more business and investor-friendly environment in Jamaica and we would like to see more public/private/donor relationships such as that initiative go forward in other troubled communities in the future.

In 2004, AmCham Jamaica took on the task of designing, fund-raising, building and partially furnishing a 25,000 square foot state-of-the-art new Edna Manley Health Centre and Community Policing Facility in Grants Pen, with assistance from USAID; the Government of Jamaica and the private sector. This year, AmCham will continue to work with the Culture Health Arts Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, to complete the 'Peace Park', across the street from those facilities, which provides a basketball court, bleachers, and other recreational features.

AmCham Place opened in January 2006, and is a model that has been put forward by many as the answer to health, wellness, community policing, and a precursor to the economic development of many of Jamaica's troubled inner-city communities. Guns no longer bark on a nightly basis in that community which sees a steady flow of traffic both day and night, the delivery of goods and services have returned to the communities, and businesses such as Tropicair have opened.

Based on what has transpired in Jamaica over the past few weeks, now is the opportune time to review the many successes of AmCham Place, and for other initiatives be launched to replicate aspects of that model which transformed Grants Pen, on a number of levels in other key crime-prone areas of the island.

Where would you like to see AmCham in the next 10 years?

I would like it to be a pro-active organisation working to resolve issues that affect our membership, business and Jamaica's economic development; as a pro-active organisation in promoting Jamaica's products and services; providing a network and avenue through which business and investment ideas become reality.

To remain and grow as the voice of US and Jamaican business in Washington, DC, to impact, when necessary, the decisions made by both the leaders in US business, and those in US Government. As the Chamber is focused on the promotion of commercial activities, AmCham would like to work more closely with Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), formerly JAMPRO, in the future and to combine and enhance the efforts of both organisation to increase the level of trade and investment with Jamaica's largest trade partner, the US.

• Some major calendar events this year are:

1. Co-hosting with the US Commercial Service, a trade mission, with a delegation of approximately 10 US businesses wanting to conduct business in, or forge business relationships with Jamaica later this month.

2. An AmCham delegation will be travelling to the 2010 AACCLA Conference in Lima, Peru; June 21-23.

3. Annual trip to Washington, DC, to attend the US Chamber Conference, will also provide an opportunity to meet with Washington officials; October 4-6 .

4. The fourth annual Corporate Citizenship Awards dinner which is expected to attract 300 participants, will feature a new name and a new twist in 2010 and beyond, as the 'AmCham Business and Civic Leadership Awards Gala', which each year, unlike other corporate award events, will recognise businesses with exemplary Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programmes; and will have the added goal, to recognise and highlight, many individuals or organisations who make extraordinary contributions to the Jamaican society.

5. In December, the annual AmCham Christmas celebration will also take on a new format as our Christmas after-work blast, on Thursday, December 9, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel.