Letter of the Day | Jamaica must seize the Africa-Caribbean opportunity

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Ghana’s President John Mahama has placed before us an idea that could have consequences far beyond the immediate question of trade: the possibility of Jamaica, and potentially the wider Caribbean, being included in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The concern is that Jamaica may respond to this announcement in the traditional way, welcome it, discuss it, and then wait to see what happens. We should not wait. We should act.

If President Mahama is prepared to champion this initiative when he assumes the leadership of the African Union, then the government of Jamaica should immediately establish a small, highly capable strategic team to work with Ghana in developing and advancing the proposal.

But this should not be a lobbying team whose purpose is simply to persuade Africa to let Jamaica with an offer.

We should help develop the answer to the inevitable question that African governments will ask: What does Africa gain by including Jamaica and the Caribbean?

Jamaican athletes, coaches, musicians, educators, engineers, consultants, entertainers and other professionals can provide services to African markets.

The ports, logistics infrastructure, financial services, tourism industry and position within the Caribbean could allow Jamaica to serve as a bridge between Africa and the wider Caribbean, while also providing African businesses with access to North and Latin American markets.

This could eventually create an Africa–Jamaica–Caribbean economic corridor through which goods, services, capital, knowledge and people move in both directions.

Tourism should also be part of this proposition. Jamaica could become not only a holiday destination for Africans, but also a destination for conferences, executive retreats, sports training, education, cultural exchanges, wellness and investment.

Jamaica can be viewed as an extension of the African diaspora in the Caribbean, a place where African heritage has been transformed into a distinctive global culture. Closer economic relations could therefore become more than a trade arrangement. They could help reconnect two parts of a wider African family.

For this reason, the government should act before the formal African Union discussions begin.

Jamaica should not arrive at that conference asking: “Will you allow us to join?” but “Here is what we propose to build with you.”

President Mahama has opened a door. Jamaica’s responsibility is to help build what lies beyond it.

CARLTON FEARON