Salutations:
Master of Ceremonies
The Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica;
Hon. Anthony Hylton, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Karl and Faye Rodney of the New York Carib News
The legendary Harry Belanfonte
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, and participants in this momentous conference
It is timely to express my sincere and heartfelt support for all those affected by the passage of Hurricane Sandy, both in the Caribbean and the USA and to express regret at the loss of life and property and human tragedy that is still unfolding, as victims valiantly try to recover and return to normality as Federal, State and Local Governments seek to deploy needed resources. Our hearts are with you at this time.
I also wish to congratulate President Barak Obama on his re-election only days ago. We in Jamaica and the Caribbean extend hearty congratulations on his resounding victory
How wonderful it is that we can meet tonight in the most beautiful island in the world!
How wonderful it is to welcome you to the “island in the sun…” with the glorious “forests waters and shining sands” of which the Honourable Harry Belafonte sang. Welcome to Montego Bay – the complete resort!
Congratulations to Carib News and its Publisher, Mr. Karl Rodney for achieving this milestone of having the 17th Carib News Multinational Conference here in beautiful Montego Bay Jamaica, against the backdrop of vistas of tropical beaches, mountain views, hotels, fine golf courses, good infrastructure and serious business persons seeking investment opportunities.
This is indeed a fitting place for deep reflection on important issues of boosting international trade in goods and services between the Caribbean and North America, for establishing valuable business contacts and renewing friendships.
The publication Carib News has played an epic role in informing our Caribbean Diaspora of issues affecting the Caribbean nations and its people both in the Caribbean, throughout North America and the world in general.
It has at times taken highly courageous positions on critical issues, involved elected leaders on both sides of the ocean and weathered the many storms that affect a business in the highly competitive media industry.
How special it is, that we have had the good fortune to have in our midst- a living legend- in the person of the great Harry Belafonte!
Many of us in Jamaica grew up believing that Harry Belafonte was born in Jamaica.
I am sure that if a poll were to be done, either here in Montego Bay or in Kingston, that most of the respondents would claim him as a ‘born Jamaican’ and a ‘son of the soil’!
You have pledged your affinity to the Island, which as you sang, was ‘willed to you by your father’s hand’.
So authentic and sincere has Mr. Belafonte’s representation and embodiment of the culture of Jamaica been, that one can understand why we love this wonderful man and our hearts and our spirits are so aligned to his.
So I maintain tonight, that until he produces his birth certificate, Harry Belafonte is a Jamaican, who happened to be born in Harlem!
As we say in Jamaican Patois, “we nah change dat”
But seriously-
Harry’s formative years in Jamaica, growing up as a child in the foothills of Aboukir and Alexandria, St. Ann in deep rural Jamaica, provided the early context and content to construct the character and fierce conviction, which have made him such an inspiration to Jamaica, and to the world.
Harry Belafonte is Jamaican because Jamaican-ness’ is wired into his DNA, and so Harry cannot help being Jamaican because he is genetically disposed to be so. I have a sense of this because of what I have read about his long and productive life, and so much of it resembles and honours the very best in us as Jamaicans! I have been told that I need to watch the powerful film on his life, which was screened at the Conference last night. I plan to.
What I have read of Harry Belafonte fascinates me, if for no other reason than that I can identify the manifestation of the Jamaican gene in how he has lived his life. I can identify at least 5 commonalities between Belafonte and the best of the Jamaican culture and spirit:-
Number 1: Like Jamaicans, Harry Belafonte, all his life, has used what comes to hand. Inventive, adaptive and succeeding against incredible odds, these are attributes that are deeply embedded in Jamaica’s culture. They are informed by a sense of fierce independence from a shameful past of slavery and colonial exploitation.
Number 2: Like Jamaicans, Harry Belafonte has always questioned what is obsolete in order to make something new. Innovators, trendsetters, fashionable, colourful- Jamaica’s vibrancy and bold energy springs from its people, who are never content with standing still when initiative and enthusiasm are required.
Number 3: Like Jamaicans, Harry Belafonte has taken nothing for granted. Hardworking, committed, high-achieving- Jamaicans when given the right environment, encouragement and motivation, will move mountains and achieve unprecedented levels of excellence!
Number 4: Like Jamaicans, Belafonte honours people everywhere in all spheres of human endeavor. Naturally hospitable, warm, genuine- Jamaicans have welcomed all nationalities of the world to our island-home. This has been the bedrock upon which we have built a world-class tourism industry that caters to over 3 million visitors every year.
And Number 5: Like Jamaicans, Harry Belafonte embraces the world with passion, curiosity and originality. Jamaicans are stand-outs in a crowd, loyal, real people who will tell you like it is. We have the record to show. We gave the world- Garvey, Marley, Manley, Tosh, Bolt, and yes, Harry Belafonte!
And so ladies and gentlemen, Ihave always regarded our culture as embodied in our people, as the most important asset we have.
This culture springs from the creative imagination of a diverse people, forged in a crucible of common experiences, struggles and successes and expressed to the world in our national motto- “Out of Many, One People!”
Equally, as my Government seeks to transform Jamaica and pull our people out of poverty by creating an enabling business environment that supports greater inward investments and robust global trade, I am convinced of one thing:
The culturally inspired creativity and innovation of the Jamaican People must be the basis and the platform for sustained wealth creation that benefits all our people. This has been my life mission as a politician.
Tonight, as we all drink in of the inspiration arising from the life and times of Harry Belafonte, I want to tell you that the People will always be at the heart of our strategy for development.
Human capital formation is therefore a major priority of my Government. From brawn to brain, we are on a mission to create knowledge workers for a knowledge society to take those on welfare to wellbeing and all Jamaicans onwards to wealth creation:
We are not afraid of working all night till the morning comes counting the fruit of our labour as we sing to make work light, just like the refrain of the hard working banana man at work… “Six foot, seven foot, eight foot…Bunch
As Jamaicans we have
Agile minds with a unique capacity to initiate and innovate without being directed.
As Jamaicans we are:
Always thinking on their feet. Adapting and improving.
As Jamaicans we need:
More inspired, educated, trained and trainable among us generating new knowledge and new ideas, working together to find new ways of getting things done… Better and faster.
This is the vision of the new Jamaica. This is what our founding fathers saw when they pursued and achieved our political independence. It is now our duty to fulfill the mandate.
Among the many things we will do, is to ensure that we capitalize on the global appeal and popularity of the Jamaican brand that Harry Belafonte played such a major role in helping to define back in the 1950s and 60s long before Bob Marley and Reggae music were global phenomena.
A strong national brandhelps to attract investment, talent, consumers and tourists, and enhances the country's cultural and political influence. It is virtually impossible for countries, particularly small-island states like ours, now-a-days to compete without one.
It goes without saying that Jamaica is more than sun, beach and sand. Jamaica is more than a brand it is the pride of a people.
My Government will implement a nation branding programme, also known as a ‘country branding’ initiative to effectively communicate and reinforce the true essence of what it means to be truly Jamaican.
By so doing, we will be able to better coordinate and manage our image and reputation, especially among people we are seeking to do business with.
You can help us by using your connections and networks to help us to do a great job of country branding! I would be happy to hear your ideas and perspectives on Brand Jamaica!
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to share a position statement that was adopted by CARICOM over a decade ago, which helps to define the Caribbean people:
“The Caribbean People, due to a multiplicity of historical, sociological, psychological and political factors, are relatively open, animated and hospitable, tolerant of diverse cultures, ambitious for opportunities for social and economic advancement, inquisitive, creative and energetic, and generally, do well when placed in a context where reward and advancement is based on merit…
…These characteristics represent the single most important basis for selecting the area of economic activity with the greatest potential for forging globally-competitive advantage and a niche compatible with our people’s innate qualities and abilities.”
The fruits of the creative intellect and expression of the Jamaican people hold the key for economic growth and wealth creation.
I passionately believe in our people. I believe that our people are the living embodiments of the culture. It is this culture that differentiates us from the rest of the world; and that traditionally manifests in stellar achievements in the fields of sports, culture and music.
Much of our cultural capital and attributes have been skillfully harnessed over many years.
It has been used to build our social way of life and to engender nationalistic pride and a sense of belonging among Jamaicans on the rock, and beyond, to those in the Diaspora.
We now have to take it a step forward by leveraging our people’s culture into high-value, globally competitive niche products and services that will marvel the world!
I want to thank you all for inspiring us with your presence in Jamaica over this weekend!
And to Mr. Belafonte, please accept the gratitude of a grateful nation for your unyielding love for Jamaica, and for carrying us in your heart for so many years with such consummate ease, skill and artistry.
But then, you are Jamaican!
Thank you all for making this ‘island in the sun’ your choice even after the ravages of Hurricane Sandy.
Though your lives may take you to ‘sail on many a sea’, I welcome each and every one of you to make Jamaica a second home – and come back again and again.
God Bless you all