Lopez, left, and Clare
Yahneake Sterling and Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writers
SOME OF Jamaica's most influential private sector leaders, while hopeful that 2006 will be more robust in terms of the economy, than was 2005, are concerned that the country will continue to be dogged by a crime problem that has seen a record number of Jamaicans - approximately 1,660 - killed this year.
Mark Kerr-Jarrett, president, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he expects to see a "meaningful" crime plan which is workable and implementable, "one that embraces a social intervention component."
"I look forward to the race for the leadership of the People's National Party (PNP), coming to an end, because it has been a terrible distraction, and has gone beyond a protracted period, which is unnecessary," he added.
"It (2006) will be an interesting year in respect to the leadership race in the People's National Party," said Beverly Lopez, president, Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). She, however, expressed concern that it will be a difficult year due to the problems of crime and violence, law and order and a justice system which, she believes, needs revamping.
Mrs. Lopez said it would be interesting to see how local businesses are able to maximise onthe potential from increased rooms in the tourism sector. "The outlook for bauxite and the expansion on the ports and airports augurs well for the business sector. Strong tourist and bauxite dollar should help stabilise the exchange rate" Ms. Lopez added.
For his part, Dr. Andre Gordon, head of the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA), was quite optimistic. He said that 2006 would be "the year that Brand Jamaica will begin to take flight in transforming the volume and value of export of goods and services to global markets."
"We hope that crime will have peaked (in 2005)," said Noel DaCosta, President, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce. He also hoped that there would be no more devastating hurricanes and that business would "go forward." "With so many variables, it is difficult to predict exactly what will happen," he stated.
Mr. DaCosta expressed doubt that the Government would achieve a balanced budget at the end of the current financial year, but was hopeful that conditions in 2006 would allow for this to happen.
EXCHANGE RATE
"We're a bit apprehensive about the exchange rate with the dollar coming under pressure recently and of course, the leadership race in the People's National Party poses some amount of uncertainty," DaCosta concluded.
Reflecting on 2005, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Horace Peterkin said the year was a tough one for tourism.
"It was extremely challenging for the tourism sector, from a busy hurricane season to the increased cost in operation, including utilities and taxes, things were pretty rough," he told The Gleaner.
He said crime and violence continued to be a major factor, reducing the effectiveness of the marketing efforts of several stakeholders in the industry.
However, he said during the last two months of the year, the industry was able to breathe a sigh of relief, as "arrivals picked up significantly."
And Irwine Clare, managing director, Caribbean Immigrant Services, also expressed concerns about the crime situation while hoping for a better 2006.
"Without a doubt, I as a Jamaican in the Diaspora join many others in hoping that a solution to decreasing the record levels of crime and violence can be achieved," he said.
He cautioned however, that one would be naive to believe that this scourge on the society will disappear overnight.
Mr. Clare warned that "Jamaicans in the Diaspora and especially in the United States who are faced with immigration challenges will experience even more new obstacles as they seek to regularise their status."
