KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition spokesman on Labour and Social Security Dr Fenton Ferguson, is expressing deep concern about the potential impact the new policies of President Donald Trump could have on our Farm Workers and Hotel Workers programme to the United States.

In a press release a short while ago, Ferguson noted that on inauguration day, Trump emphasised that he would be putting America and the American worker first. 

The Opposition spokesman is contending that this, coupled with the new immigration order restricting access to visas and other benefits issued by the United States, could cut the workers program significantly.

He added that over 6000 Jamaicans travel to the USA on the workers program and encouraged that any policy which curtails the work program be treated with the highest priority.

“While recognising the complexity of the new policy pronouncements, the impact on the US overseas work program, which must be a critical part of the growth agenda, cannot be overstated,” Ferguson said.

He further called on Minister of Labour and Social Security, Shahine Robinson and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith to urgently engage US authorities.

Yesterday, Opposition spokesperson on youth and culture Lisa Hanna, called on the Government to clarify whether Trump’s executive orders on immigration issued on Friday could affect Jamaican students seeking employment in the United States.

However, the Government has since urged Jamaicans to remain calm in light of recent events in the United States..

“We just need to be calm. We will be having discussions with our international partners to have all the concerns addressed. We don’t want any panic because there have been no definitive actions taken of which Jamaica is directly impacted,” Education and Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid said yesterday.

Johnson Smith who later made a similar appeal, sought to assure that the Government was monitoring the issues which may arise from Trump’s new policies.