Baugh stresses importance of diaspora

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Kenneth Baugh, has reiterated the view contained in the Government's Vision 2030 document that the Jamaican Diaspora is a major resource that can play a strategic role in the long-term development of the island.

Delivering the main address during the opening ceremony of the Jamaican Diaspora Convention 2011 at Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, St Ann, yesterday, Baugh said such development includes more than remittances and other financial inputs.

"This goes well beyond remittances. It also goes beyond the wealth of contributions in response to natural disasters; it includes the potential for investment and entrepreneurship for business ventures, a valuable source of academic and technical expertise, a strong basis for building tourism and trade and an influential network of activists in the main centre of decision-making in the capitals of their host countries," said the deputy prime minister.

Baugh said investments in Jamaica that originate in the diaspora are sizeable and the Government must do what is required to simplify the process to make doing business in the island hassle-free.

He also encouraged the diaspora to take on the challenge provided by the Green Paper on Tax Reform that looks at the simplification of taxes in Jamaica, and make an input.

Baugh noted that Finance Minister Audley Shaw has tabled the paper in Parliament and is awaiting input from the diaspora.

At the same time, Baugh has also challenged the diaspora in Canada to unite with other CARICOM diaspora members and engage in lobbying their members of parliament to secure policy changes in the trade negotiation mandate in response to legitimate concerns of Caribbean countries.

- Carl Gilchrist