Brenda LaGrange Johnson, Contributor

Tourists being taken down the Rio Grande in Portland. - Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer

Over the past decade, Jamaica has been successful in attracting 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in foreign investment. The challenge has been to translate that investment into economic growth greater than 1 per cent a year. Greater productivity will increase growth, creating more income streams and improving living standards. Fine goal, but how can that be accomplished?

Complete education

George Peabody defined education as, "A debt due from present to future generations." Even more than that, education is the key to this hemisphere's continued development. Affordable, quality education and training is critical to social and economic growth, and the reduction of poverty. If a country's educational system has fallen on difficult times it is an economic disadvantage. If any country cannot improve the educational prospects for its children, then it will suffer in the global marketplace.

The people of the United States, through our government, and our businesses and private institutions, continue to partner with Jamaica on education. Whether through the Centre of Excellence for Teacher Training, our Fulbright scholarship and Humphrey programmes, our grants to educational institutions, or our International Visitor and Exchange programmes, we focus on expanding learning opportunities for Jamaicans committed to Jamaica. We believe that the potential of Jamaicans is limitless, and its development vital to the long-term economic prospects for the country.

Create Positive Change

As business leaders you have a tremendous stake in the education of your fellow Jamaicans. You have the power to create positive change — not only by assisting with the system, but by the micro-economic effects you have on your, neighbourhoods. Public private partnerships that benefit communities are an ideal way to help overcome educational deficits. Cable and Wireless has been an innovator in this regard, helping to facilitate the ICD4T Jamaica/project. There is room for more collaboration at a more basic level for all of you. I look forward to your endeavours.

Clear capital

Among the Jamaican entrepreneurs, small businesspersons and inventors of today are the financial giants of tomorrow. But, will they be able to generate growth around them in their home parishes or will they have to go abroad? If they manage to stay in the country, does the future captain of industry, with great ideas, but no credit with which to realise them fall prey to accepting money from the shadows? Jamaica cannot afford to let these future engines of the economy be swept aside or sucked into the downward spiral of questionable financing solely because they lack access to reasonable, legal credit.

In support of entrepreneurs and the Jamaican economy the United States continues to do its part. We have helped Jamaica recover from Hurricane Ivan, develop drip irrigation and greenhouse agriculture; we have supported the certification of Jamaican ports and its inclusion in the Container Security Initiative. Beyond that the United States economy is inextricably linked with the two largest pillars of the Jamaican economy - remittances and tourism. Close to 70 per cent of Jamaica's U.S. 1.65 billion remittance dollars flow from the U.S. 72 per cent of Jamaica's U.S. 1.54 billion plus tourism dollars originate in America.

And now here is a challenge for you - Reach out and educate the ordinary Jamaican about business and the economy. Many of the dollars I mentioned above are used for schoolbooks, bill payments and groceries. But communities can also come together to pool some of those resources and channel them into productive investment spurring the economy as a whole. Reach out and educate the ordinary Jamaican on how to create capital, create legal businesses and create wealth. Show them how to work with their government for improved tax and duty regimes to keep the money circulating.

Confident security

Security covers many issues including crime. By some estimates, crime accounts for a seven per cent reduction of Jamaica's GDP every year. This suggests the loss to the Jamaican economy of nearly 850 million U.S. dollars each year owing to crime. Imagine if the entire 2004 portfolio of foreign direct investment in Jamaica (a record year) suddenly decided it would invest elsewhere. Jamaicans realise that this cannot go on. But security is not only about preventing crime within Jamaica, but also protecting it from crime from without — effective internal police work and Jamaica's ability to secure its borders.

The United States remains engaged on all these fronts. On the grassroots level, we support projects, such as the Community Policing Centre in Grants Pen, the Youth Crime Watch of Jamaica, and conflict resolution programmes. We support the Jamaica Constabulary Force with equipment, cooperation and training in many aspects of police work including crime scene investigation. In the pursuit of secure borders for Jamaica we have provided Jamaica with an entry/exit system, and training, scholarships to our military academies, equipment and close cooperation with the Jamaica Defence Force.

Continue to look for ways to make a difference for your country. Consider supporting the groups that seek to draw members away from gangs. Consider training and providing jobs for those who prefer the path of peace. That extra investment could well not only profit you as a businessperson, but as a person who loves their country and is willing to invest in its future. Only by coming together can a people be secure.

I would just like to take a moment for an aside. My public affairs officer has told me he has received a number of requests for information on campaign finance and whistleblower protection legislation. He asked me to mention that information on those topics can be found on our embassy website at Kingston.U.S. embassy.gov.

I know there are many factors in building a productive nation. I have only outlined three areas - complete education, clear capital, and confident security — where a country can make great strides if the public, private and grassroots sectors come together. I hope that you will leave here today with a renewed vision of "the business of business". To continue building Jamaica into the powerhouse nation that it can be, that vision must transcend, inform and spur to action.

Thank you for this gracious opportunity. Congratulations, once again, to the PSOJ, to the award winners, and to all of you who help build Jamaica every day.

Speech made by Her Excellency Brenda LaGrange Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica , on October 24 at the PSOJ's Job Creation Seminar held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel.