Commitment deficit eroding Jamaica's economy - Frankson

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's economic woes are a direct result of the lack of commitment on the part of successive governments and the private sector over the years.

That's the view of business-woman Doreen Frankson, who has accused the Government of lacking the political will to take the necessary steps to make Jamaica a competitive business environment.

"I don't think there is a real commitment to the country on either side (and) it has always been so. In other countries, the private sector fights for their country," she said shortly after partici-pating in a Gleaner Editors' Forum at the newspaper's North Street, central Kingston, offices last week.

"When some of the premier companies come up for sale, they are not stepping up to the plate. For instance, I object to the fact that Wray & Nephew, Appleton Rum is now owned by the government of Trinidad. How many Jamaicans know? Do they care?" Frankson lamented.

"That was something I was born and saw as a Jamaican product. It's now owned by a foreign country. Excelsior biscuit company, which was before I was born, is now owned by a foreign company. What do we have left? We have sold the Air Jamaica brand."

She added: "I find that they are really not investing in the country. Yes, there are difficulties, but you live here, you make your wealth here, so why is it they are not investing in the country?"

Frankson pointed to a case where a CARICOM company went into Guyana seeking to buy out Banks Beer, the flagship product of a local company founded in 1961. According to Frankson, the Guyanese private sector was firm in blocking the sale of this national brand to a 'foreigner'.

Profit before people

Admitting that as a member of the public sector she was not blameless, the former head of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Asso-ciation chided her colleagues for their callous behaviour during last year's civil unrest. She accused them of putting profit before people.

"They started to count how much money they were losing by how many days their businesses were closed. The country wasn't put first, the Government didn't put the country first and the private sector didn't put the country first," she lamented.

Describing herself as a product, Frankson said she remained optimistic about a turnaround in the country's economic prospects.

"I am meeting some very bright and progressive young people out there, and so I am hopeful or I would not be here."