Business
Jamaican manufactures caution against leaving CARICOM
Brian Pengelley, the president of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), is warning that walking away from membership in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) would not solve the vexing issue of trade imbalance.
Last week, Gregory Mair, the opposition spokesman on industry, commerce and energy, questioned the benefit of Jamaica remaining a member of CARICOM.
“Taking into consideration that policy is set to ensure that we do what is in the best interest of our people, taking into consideration that of the approximately five million members of CARICOM, we, Jamaica, are three million, what has this arrangement with CARICOM, what has been the advantage, the benefit for the people of Jamaica?” Mair had asked.
“What is the benefit for our people for this arrangement,” he added while reacting to trade data presented to the Parliament by Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton.