WESTERN BUREAU:
Dennis Morrison, chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), has charged the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry to spur further investment in the continued development of the city, saying that the investment climate in Jamaica was teeming with development prospects.
“Investment opportunities are staring us in the face. Let us take, for instance, the present condition of what was once a vibrant area of commerce, the Hip Strip; it is disheartening and disappointing to see the closed shutters on hotels and other tourism-related businesses on the Hip Strip,” said Morrison.
No Excuse
Morrison, who was delivering the keynote address at last Tuesday’s launch of the second annual MoBay City Run, which provides financial assistance to young students pursuing tertiary education, said it was an opportune time for Jamaicans to invest and reap the benefits available.
“There is no excuse, and we should not wait for foreign investors to come in, and then complain about their presence, which is what we tend to do,” added Morrison.
The JTB chairman, in giving further rationale for investing in Montego Bay, pointed to the need for employment opportunities for young people, whom, he said have already achieved their goals for higher education, and would be forced to look outside of Montego Bay for job prospects.
“So, you invest in tertiary and higher education, but you need to take the other step of increasing your involvement in the city in terms of economic activity and invest, expanding production in the city and creating jobs,” continued Morrison.
Morrison further explained that the investment climate was right with the economy stabilising and the Government facilitating investment through tax reform provided encouragement, “not just to the well-connected, but to people who have never had access to benefits for small hotels and attractions”.
