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Golding Raps with British Media

May 26, 2008

The Full Story

Prime Minister Bruce Golding met with 20 editors from major media houses in London while on a four city tour of the United Kingdom. The journalists, drawn from major media houses including The BBC and newspapers such as the Guardian, the Independent, the Evening Standard, the Voice and the New Nation rapped with the Prime Minister over lunch.
The discussion focused on the administration’s social intervention programmes and how they could impact on the Jamaican community in the United Kingdom.
Questions were raised about the high levels of deportation from the UK to Jamaica. The Prime Minister said there was genuine concern around the issue and that discussions were taking place to address the concerns.
“We have a problem when there are people who migrated to the UK at an early age get in trouble with the law, and are then sent back to Jamaica where they have no support system.
“We have a responsibility to take them back if they are Jamaican but we have to ensure that legal processes that they are entitled to have been completed and that we are aware of any dysfunctional behaviour they may have that will impact upon our society. Even where their criminal expertise has been acquired in the UK, if they are Jamaicans we have a legal responsibility to accept them.”
Mr Golding was joined by Transport and Works minister Mike Henry, Industry, Investment and Commerce minister Karl Samuda, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr. Hon Ronald Robinson, High Commissioner to the UK His Excellency Burchell Whiteman and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Mrs Patricia Sinclair-McCalla.
The Prime Minister emphasised the attractiveness of the present investment climate in Jamaica, noting that the Economic Partnership Agreement between Cariforum and the European Union presents an opportunity for entrepreneurs to produce goods and services in Jamaica and enjoy duty-free, quota-free access to European markets.
“Jamaica is ripe for investment at the moment. We are saying to the world that we are open for business. Come and take advantage of our lower costs of production and the fact that we can give you access to the largest single market in the world in terms of purchasing power,” said Mr Golding.
There was widespread interest in Mr Golding’s visit from the mainstream press. He was interviewed for major programmes including the leading BBC programme Hard Talk, broadcast worldwide.
He made appearances on the BBC Caribbean Report and the BBC’s World Today programme.
He was also interviewed by BBC Nottingham and Channel M News in Manchester. He was featured in the Manchester Evening News and Nottingham Post newspapers and was interviewed live on New Style Radio in Birmingham.
Mr Golding’s television interviews can be viewed by following these links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/7410382.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7415305.stm
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1213934526/bctid1569823043
http://mail.micys.gov.jm/owa/redir.aspx?C=d6303ba202b64d05868e99a281711708&URL=http%3a%2f%2fuk.video.yahoo.com%2fwatch%2f2737317%2f7964505
The Prime Minister held talks with several potential investors while in the UK. He said the discussions were very productive and set the stage for further trade talks in anticipation of the signing of the EPA in July.
The Prime Minister held meetings with the Jamaican community in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham.

Last Updated: May 26, 2008

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