Jamaican Diaspora Imitating The Jewish and American Diaspora Model says Jamaica’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
By Alicia M. Phidd, Esq.
FT. LAUDERDALE – What Phidd Thinks! (WPT) blogger Alicia M. Phidd, Esq. interviewed Hon. Arnaldo Brown, MP of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica in South Florida on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at the South Florida Media Launch for the 5th Biennial Jamaican Diaspora Conference.
Honorable Brown in his keynote speech shared that the Jamaican Diaspora is imitating the Jewish and American Diaspora model.
Although unlike the Jewish and American Diaspora, Jamaica has a long way to go before discussing absentee ballots to facilitate voting by the Diaspora that are still citizens of Jamaica but residing abroad.
Hon. Arnaldo Brown
Jamaica has always claimed its people off the island as it does those that are on the island. The room erupted in laughter when Hon. Brown even stated that Jamaica will claim you as long as you love it or anyone from it, which includes in-laws.
Attorney Phidd of WPT had the pleasure of interviewing Hon. Brown before the event.
WPT: Where did you attend High School in Jamaica?
Hon. Brown: GlenMuir High School
WPT: How long have you been in the position you currently hold? Please state the actual position and…
Hon. Brown: I am Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. January 6th would have been 1 year.
WPT: Congratulations! Congratulations!
I am sure I will hear most of the projections for trade and the Diaspora in your keynote speech tonight but what are some of the things, some of the bullet points that you would like to make sure that I get out to our audience?
Hon. Brown: Well, my main purpose here is to promote the Diaspora conference that is coming up in June and that is June 16-19. It will be in Montego Bay, at the conference center in Montego Bay. Ritz Carlton is the conference hotel and there will be concessionary rates. The theme this year is a “Nation on a Mission: Jamaica Diaspora Partnership for Development,” and our emphasis is on investment and trade and we are essentially pitching to the members of the Diaspora who are interested in Jamaica, that there are several business opportunities available…that we believe that these opportunities provide a value proposition which is a win/win proposition and whilst persons might have been engaged in the Diaspora movement since its inception, we think that this year…actually we are billing this year’s conference as a watershed conference to shift focus to investment and trade. The fact of the matter is that Jamaica has provided a lucrative investment spot for many persons and we believe that the Jamaicans in the Diaspora should seek to take advantage of those opportunities that are becoming available now.
WPT: What about some of the concerns that the Jamaican Diaspora in the United States has that they will be taxed twice based upon the amount of monies they invest. Some of the Jamaicans feel that since they are Jamaicans they should not be taxed again.
Hon. Brown: I am not aware that we have any double taxation. I don’t know where that came from. One of the things I think is that there is a lot of misinformation and that is not unique to members of the Diaspora in the States. That is anywhere you go. As far as I am aware there is an overall push to improve the business environment. Certainly, last year corporate tax was reduced from 29 percent to 25 percent and there is a commitment to further reduce taxation on businesses. One would appreciate that there is also general tax reform that is taking place as part of the improvement of the business environment. This notion of double taxation I don’t know where that came from.
WPT: What are they doing to assist the returning Jamaicans who would like to open a business in Jamaica and see the success of the business there? I had friends who had difficulty in transitioning there business to Jamaica. What are some of the things Jamaica has in place to help those who love Jamaica although it will take some time to get acclimated to the different environment to put things in place.
Hon. Brown: With any business there is a risk factor involved and persons obviously would have to do their due diligence before they set up in any environment. Having said that, what I would recommend are persons who are keen on in investing in Jamaica should seek and identify a local partner who has a better understanding of the landscape and that will allow them to make the transition much easier. In that regard, JAMPRO can facilitate that and help to partner people. But beyond that, this conference will seek to do that as well. We are going to have a marketplace in this conference that will seek to bring interested parties with like-minded people on the ground so that there can be a twinning of ideas. It may be that the area that the person has interest in is already on offer but the company in Jamaica may need, whether it is additional capital or it may need expertise that the person from the Diaspora might have and can bring to bear on that business… and that person could take an equity stake in the business. I can give you an example: Mr. Hawthorne who is the owner of Golden Krust Bakery partnered with Wisynco to carry their line of soft drinks in his chain. So “Bigga” soft drink is now available and other items. So there is scope for that.
WPT: That’s from Jamaica to the Diaspora. What about those that specifically want to still live here (U.S.A) and open a business there but is concerned about the bureaucracy. Are you going to address some of those concerns in the coming years?
Hon. Brown: That is what I am saying. We are working to bring the networking, the business facilitation through JAMPRO. But let’s use that as an example. There are persons who would have taken ideas from here (U.S.A) and set up successfully in Jamaica. Let’s for argument sake talk about bill payments, “Paymaster” is owned by a Jamaican who lived here (U.S.A) and who came back to Jamaica with that idea. Granted to the best of my knowledge that person spends some amount of time in Jamaica. But it is possible to have a business in Jamaica and move between the States and Jamaica. There are persons who currently now do that. Again, I am saying that with any business, people have to be prudent. They have to get on the ground and establish what the lay of the land is…but in most instances it is better to get a local partner who you can put some trust and confidence in to manage your operation whilst you are here. (U.S.A). The technology again will also assist.
WPT: We must wrap up now as the Consul General from Jamaica to Miami, the Hon. Sandra Grant-Griffiths has arrived and I must release you to her. What would you like to be your legacy? I don’t know if it is too early to ask that question, but perhaps you have already thought about that. What do you intend or what would you like to be the legacy of your tenure as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Jamaica. What would you want me to tell the public?
Hon. Brown: Well, the first thing I want to have in place is a policy on Diaspora and Development, a policy on Immigration and Development. Secondly, more Jamaicans in the Diaspora seizing the opportunity to invest in Jamaica and once those objectives are achieved; I believe that we will have a dynamic relationship both for the country and for the members of the Diaspora.
WPT: Honorable Arnaldo Brown, I would like to thank you for allowing me to conduct this interview.
About Alicia Marie Phidd
Alicia M. Phidd
Ms. Phidd represents businesses in transactional matters as well as litigates on damages for businesses that ranges from half a million dollars to billions of dollars. She practices business law and complex commercial litigation in Florida. She is currently a co-host on Perspective Talk Show on WAVS 1170AM and appeared on WWBA 820AM and WTMPS 96.1FM to discuss current affairs and legal matters.
She holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry, a Masters in Environmental Studies, Graduate Certificate in Solid Waste from SUNY Stony Brook and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from St. Thomas University School of Law.
You may follow Ms. Phidd on twitter at www.twitter.com/phidd and subscribe to her blog at www.aliciaphidd.blogspot.com For more information visit www.aliciaphidd.com
