CONLEY SALMON, assistant vice-president of Marketing for Jamaica Broilers, is the latest voice in the private sector to be predicting what he called a "rough year" ahead. Mr. Salmon, who was addressing members of the Rotary Club of Mandeville at the Golf View Hotel recently, said that "whether you are logged on or not" there were tough times ahead so we "may as well enjoy the ride."
Mr. Salmon's prediction came one week after Vice President of the National Workers Union (NWU) Norman DeCosta made a similar prediction from which some senior members of his union distanced themselves.
Despite Mr. Salmon's pronouncement, has predicted a bright future for his company particularly in the aquaculture market. Jamaica Broilers, he said was putting a lot of effort into expanding the production of its fishery division. He said some experts have already predicted that the major economic growth to come was not in information technology but in aquaculture (fish).
He said fish was the only thing that could be eaten and can be traded without borders around the world. There are no international tariff boundaries or restrictions at customs anywhere in the world, according to Mr. Salmon. This, he said, coupled with the dwindling fish supply globally, presented a good potential for Jamaica Broilers.
The company, which he said had a turnover of $6.4 billion with a profit margin of five per cent last year, is the largest agricultural entity in the region, although small when compared to North American standards.
He said Jamaica Broilers managed to survive in an economy "which at best can be described as hostile, trying and taxing" by creating a number of partnerships with other companies, and the government in particular. He said Jamaica Broilers had to change the way it did business and re-evaluate its relationship with government which at one time looked at the company as an adversary.
Mr. Salmon challenged the Rotary Club members not to be preoccupied with their jobs but take time out to assist others in the society and spend time with their children. As Jamaicans, he said, "we must focus on getting things done and stop 'sugar coating' our problems and be frank and up front about them."
Mr. Salmon said, "we have adopted the process of getting applauded for what we say we are going to do and not what we have accomplished and we need to get out of that mode."
