Barnett
With the collapse of the local bauxite sector, dwindling remittances and a vulnerable tourism product, there is much to worry about. Yet there are untapped treasures in this island that have excellent potential for engaging the displaced as well as the disenfranchised. Utilising the natural bio-diversity coupled with the country's rich heritage of cultural practices, Jamaica can fashion products for which the world is always eager, even during this time of economic woe. At worst, the country should prepare to take the world by storm once the curtain of austerity lifts.
This formed the backdrop for the Scientific Research Council's recent foray 'Secrets Revealed'. The exposé was geared towards awakening members of the private sector - small and large, to the gems that are yet untouched. While limitations related to size, sustainability of supply and consistency in quality are all considerations that preface the full exploitation of opportunities that abound, we should not be shackled in the perpetual maelstrom of the traditional or the expected.
SECRET # one
Food security and safety have come full circle, despite all the technological advances of the past four decades, emerging as critical socio-political issues which have been impacting economies large and small. Guaranteeing food safety, for example, has become the visa in our trading passport irrespective of our destination - be it CARICOM, North America or the European Union.
Some say this simply creates legally biding technical barriers to trade, often placing unrealistic criteria for small developing economies to meet. Irrespective of this, when faced with the harsh reality relating to conditions in our abattoirs and some of our food processing facilities, it is a miracle that we have managed to keep food-borne illnesses under the radar. The establishment of a national food safety body is a welcome long-awaited initiative that will serve to provide some reassurance to our population regarding foods being consumed - local as well as those traded.
SECRET # two
The food processing sector is largely underutilised with, for the most part, a regurgitation of the 'same old, same old'. Optimising factory space by running two or three shifts is a practical way of increasing the country's productive capacity in short order without a massive outlay of capital.
Protecting what is usually a minuscule market turf or reluctance to have others share the use of equipment during downtime due to narcissistic tendencies, while plausible in days gone by, is now quite short-sighted and downright foolish considering the modern paradigm, where the whole wide world is our marketplace.
SECRET # three
Novel approaches, capitalising on unique attributes, resources and image are needed for Jamaica to increase and maintain its piece of the tremendous market share. The Organisation of American States (OAS) funded an innovative agro-tourism project coordinated by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA). This Caribbean project stimulated a refreshingly new outlook on our local agri-based resources and provided a menu of non-traditional activities linking the tourism product with our indigenous agricultural product.
Of course, this has tremendous advan-tages for expanding the scope of both sectors as well as many players in between. Imagine the 'coming out' of Granny's 'bush tea' - used for various maladies as well as in bush baths for our total spa experience! The work of the SRC in identifying therapeutic chemicals in our local herbs and 'bushes' will serve to bolster the sustainability of such initiatives.
So while the current hardships are real, persons in every walk of life can use this respite to capitalise on the varied opportunities and the awesome brand Jamaica that we currently enjoy, and in so doing keep our black, green and gold flying high.
Dr Audia Barnett is executive director of the Scientific Research Council