Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Letters
December 30, 2010

Prescriptions for manufacturing

Dear Editor,

I was in Jamaica over a week ago and noticed that many people have flourished from their ties with China and brought in products made in China. I noticed that a few sizable Chinese companies have arrived in Jamaica helping with construction at the university hospital and roads linking the airport and Kingston. I also visited farms and factories, and appreciated the current level of industrialisation.

People asked about China, expressing curiosity about the world’s second largest economy. What I did not see was the thousands of workers moving in and out of the Three Miles area. Some who have an interest to invest told me about the exorbitant rates of electricity and import duties. I have doubts whether the industrial parks in the various parts of Jamaica can take off.

Manufacturing, which can bring foreign-exchange earning jobs and import substitution activities, is a long-lost word in Jamaica. The island’s vibrant tourism industry and links with China, Cuba and certainly Caricom, represent opportunities for manufacturing in Jamaica. The Government of Jamaica must do the following:

* Negotiate for free trade agreement with the United States, Canada and the EU, fostering duty exemption for products made in Jamaica. The Caribbean Basin Initiative was a champion in the 80s, allowing Jamaican-made goods to enter into the United States of America with preferential duties.

* Encourage the hoteliers and cruise ship operators to buy “Made in Jamaica” products, for example, towels, juices and fruits in foreign exchange, and give full tax rebates to the manufacturers, thus lowering selling prices.

* Attract Chinese enterprises which can bring in machinery and know-how to the island, facilitating lower-cost parts made in China to be finally assembled in Jamaica; and give the manufacturers not just tax holidays but also duty-free access to the domestic and Caricom markets.

* Assist Jamaican manufacturers to promote Brand Jamaica in Asia and find themselves niche markets in China – a market with 1.3 billion consumers and where the currency renminbi or Yuan is appreciating at 4-5 per cent a year.

* Reactivate the HEART programme with funding from the EU, UN and USAID, and even export levies allowing young Jamaicans to be trained as a skilled workforce in a sustainable manner.

In reality, cheaper and cleaner sources of electricity will not arrive in Jamaica overnight. But consumers can benefit from products which come with lower taxes and LDP (landed duty paid) price if the Government of Jamaica can take that extra stride.

Lewis Leung

Prince Edward Road Management Co Ltd

Hong Kong, China

lewis_leung67@yahoo.com

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

‘Chicken’ killed in St Andrew police shootout; illegal gun seized
Latest News, News
‘Chicken’ killed in St Andrew police shootout; illegal gun seized
September 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —A man was shot dead during a alleged confrontation with the police at Lincoln Alley in St Andrew on Friday morning. The dead man ha...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
JPS Freezer Swap Initiative in Riverton Meadows empowers small business operators
Advertisement, Latest News, Social Love
JPS Freezer Swap Initiative in Riverton Meadows empowers small business operators
September 11, 2026
JPS, through its Community Renewal Department, has taken another step to empower residents in the Riverton Meadows community, more popularly known as ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaican boxers make weight ahead of Caribbean showdown
Latest News, News
Jamaican boxers make weight ahead of Caribbean showdown
September 11, 2026
GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Jamaicans Daniel Hylton and Toriano Nicholas have successfully made weight ahead of their respective bouts at the Caribbean Boxin...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
CPFSA removes five abandoned babies from Spanish Town Hospital
Latest News, News
CPFSA removes five abandoned babies from Spanish Town Hospital
September 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) has removed all five babies who were previously abandoned by their parents ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News, Videos
Market Bag: Peppers hit $700, lettuce now $1,500 as food prices continue to soar
September 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Food prices continue to rise at the Coronation Market in downtown Kingston as farmers struggle with the effects of a worsening dro...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
APB recovers $17.6m in stolen agriculture produce
Latest News, News
APB recovers $17.6m in stolen agriculture produce
September 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica   — The Agricultural Protection Branch (APB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is reporting the recovery of more than $17.6 mi...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cashan urges fans to ‘Take It Easy’ amid social media pressure
Entertainment, Latest News
Cashan urges fans to ‘Take It Easy’ amid social media pressure
September 11, 2026
Reggae singer Cashan is encouraging listeners to resist the pressure of social media and allow success to unfold naturally with her latest single, Tak...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
St James man charged in connection with $71m drug bust at Kingston Freeport Terminal
Latest News, News
St James man charged in connection with $71m drug bust at Kingston Freeport Terminal
September 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—A St James man has been arrested and charged in connection with major narcotics seizures at the Kingston Freeport Terminal last mont...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct