Dear Editor,

The recent stand-off over non-payment of wages at the worksite of Moon Palace Jamaica Grande, a Mexican consortium, exposes the downside of Foreign Direct Investment(FDI).

FDI has been a controversial issue in international economics. It may provide great advantages for the investor but not for the host country. Ideally there should be numerous advantages for both. In former years, investment from developed countries only required senior managers to be present in developing countries. Today, there is a major shift, especially when developing countries like China or Mexico invest in other developing countries.

FDI has been a controversial issue in international economics. It may provide great advantages for the investor but not for the host country. Ideally there should be numerous advantages for both. In former years, investment from developed countries only required senior managers to be present in developing countries. Today, there is a major shift, especially when developing countries like China or Mexico invest in other developing countries.

As part of the deal, large numbers of their own low-skilled labour force are expected to be employed and jostle for scarce jobs. A part of this tragedy is that the Jamaica Grande was previously owned by a Jamaican, whose business was crushed by government policies. It is unlikely he would employing Mexicans to compete with poor, low-skilled Jamaicans.

Together our Government and our private sector have sold everything; now it is likely that we will have to compete with Trinidadians, Hondurans, Mexicans and, of course, the Chinese. In 2012-2013, according to Derrick Kellier, his ministry issued 4,098 work permits. Of that number, 1,741 or 43 per cent were given to Chinese nationals, which he attributed to the levels of Chinese investment. Meanwhile Pearnel Charles is telling us that the Canadians are considering reducing their overseas labour programme because Canadians are now willing to pick apples and cherries. This is where a Jamaican sugar worker who gets called to one of these programmes earns in six months what it takes him four years to earn in sugar, without the compulsory saving. No wonder more and more sugar workers are attracted to these programmes in an attempt to escape the ‘working poor’ label.

Damion Crawford, minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, has the most cogent message for young people, he is telling university graduates to migrate. Something has to give, and it isn’t a matter of if, rather it is when.

Mark Clarke

Siloah PO, St Elizabeth