By Andrew Green, Staff Reporter 
From left: Clarence Clarke, President of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association; Don Wehby, Chief Financial Officer , Grace, Kennedy; Andrea Graham, President of the Small Business Association; Mark Kerr-Jarrett, President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Xavier Chin, Managing Director of bookmakers Track Price Plus Limited.
- File Photos
CRIME control needs to top the agenda of the next government of Jamaica, according to a sample of the country's business leaders.
Crime control topped the concerns of business persons polled by the Financial Gleaner, with education and better regulations being also prominent in their thoughts. They had been asked what they wanted from the next government of Jamaica, from their sector standpoint.
"The major thing would have to be crime control," said Kevin Hendrickson, general manager of the Courtleigh Hotel. "That is the single most negative thing in terms of the growth of tourism."
There are a lot of other things which need to be addressed but crime is the single biggest problem, Mr. Hendrickson said.
"The economy is not moving," said Small Business Association president Andrea Graham. "It all seems so hopeless now."
Any new government needs to get the economy growing, she said. "What is happening now cannot continue."
"The next government has to address the very serious crime problem," said National Commercial Bank managing director Aubyn Hill. He said it affects individuals personally, it harms the image of the country and it hurts tourism.
As well, "our country cannot progress unless our people are very well educated," he said. Countries which are leading in information technology do so because of their edge in education.
"Government should get less involved in business," he said. The state should focus on running a few things well and let a properly regulated private sector operate businesses.
Additionally, "we must get a clear bankruptcy law in place," he said. Based on the experience of the 1990's he said, such legislation would enable entrepreneurs who got into "trouble" to get help.
"Crime needs to be dealt with," said Mark Kerr-Jarrett, manager of Barnett Estate and president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "But education has to be the primary focus."
Jamaica cannot compete in the global economy without an educated population, he said. "Education is more important than infrastructure."
But as an agriculturist he is worried as "praedial larceny has got worse," Mr. Kerr-Jarrett said. "They used to steal coconuts. Now they cut down the trees because they can't bother to climb."
The country's educational standard is getting better, but "I am looking to even more improvement," said Gloria Wright, Ocho Rios craft vendor and member of the National Craft Association executive. She said she was also expecting to see an improvement in discipline within the country.
"We need more discipline in the security forces, in homes and markets," she said. "I would like the government that is coming in to step into the markets and help us with discipline. Harassment is a problem in all the craft markets."
Companies in the manufacturing sector need help restructure their finances, said Clarence Clarke, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association. Interest rates are coming down, but many companies are still having problems with high cost financing. Manufacturers are also looking forward to the introduction of a liquified natural gas project, he said. This promises to cut energy costs by 30 per cent.
" We need to continue the focus on education," he said in addition. "We need an educated work force because this is the age of technology."
Any new government has to continue strengthening the financial sector through strong regulation, said Maxine MacLure, president of Life of Jamaica. "Whoever is in power needs to continue the work that has been done by this particular government,"
The financial sector is, "the lever on which the rest of the productive sector operates," she said. "If you don't have that bottom level of a strong financial sector, you cannot have a strong productive sector."
"Right now I don't think we are being treated fairly," said Xavier Chin, managing director of bookmakers Track Price Plus Limited. "I am in the gambling business and there are others in the business who are not restricted, while I am."
His company was registered under the 1966 Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act while he faces competition from companies registered in the year 2000 who have different requirements for taxation and opening hours, he said. The gaming business needs to be regulated "on a fair basis," he said.
"The first thing I would want from the next government is to deal with crime," said Don Wehby, Grace, Kennedy chief financial officer. You cannot attract international investors with the crime rate so high.
There needs to be a push to create jobs, and in this, "education is very important," he said. Training of Jamaicans needs to be prioritised as well trained people are needed for the new economy jobs.
Job creation also requires that the government encourage foreign direct investment by introducing specific tax incentives.
"We need to create incentives for growth," he said. A clear vision is needed to achieve specific growth targets.
"The next government also needs to ensure a stable economic environment," he said. Inflation, exchange rates and national debt need to be kept in check.
