Jamaica’s Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips is calling for Jamaicans
in the United States to have a representative in their country’s parliament.
This eventuality would mean an amendment to the Jamaican Constitution. According to Phillips, this is long is overdue.
Relic of 1962
“That’s a relic of the world of 1962 and, quite frankly it needs to be
adjusted. But it requires a national discourse here,” Dr. Phillips said
during a meeting in Montego Bay on July 14.
He added, “Certainly, it is something that ought to be done because
a critical part of Jamaica resides in the United States. These people
and those who live in Canada and the United Kingdom are no less
Jamaican in love of the country than those live in Jamaica,” Dr Phillips
said.
Phillips, who succeeded Portia Simpson Miller as president of the
People’s National Party (PNP) this year, previously served as
Jamaica’s transport, health, national security and finance minister.
He also spoke about expanding a critical area that the Diaspora
contributes to the Jamaican economy.
Improvement in investment flows
“I would like to see moves from remittance to investment flows in
a much greater degree, because I consider the Diaspora community
to be a vital source of investment capital that can lift the Caribbean.
And, at the same time, we in Jamaica, and the rest of the Caribbean
need to recognize an important fact. If we could see the Diaspora
community as an extension of our domestic market for locally produced
goods, it could make a tremendous difference to our productive
capacity. This would also improve our productivity, our earnings, and
the scale of wealth in our country. But this requires an engagement,” Dr.
Phillips stated.
