Jamaica – Minister Bartlett In New York Urges Diaspora To Become Country Ambassadors

The Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, is urging the island’s Diaspora to be proud and champion the record growth being experienced in tourism and the country overall. The Jamaican diaspora is scattered across the globe with thousands who make up a vibrant and critical group that contributes to the development of the country.

Speaking at the 30^th anniversary of the popular Team Jamaica Bickle fundraising event in New York, Minister Barlett highlighted the significant growth and development that the country was experiencing which he says the Diaspora should be proud to champion.

“The Jamaican Diaspora can be proud of the growth that their country has experienced since COVID. The island can be compared favorably with countries that show the highest level of recovery since the pandemic in terms of economic, social and human capital development,” said Minister Bartlett.

He continued, “There is no question that Jamaica’s eleven consecutive quarters of economic growth; its reduction in debt from around 113% to 74%; and the country’s reduction in unemployment from 13% to 4.2% is enviable.”

Team Jamaica Bickle is a sports organization that provides support services for Caribbean athletes, particularly Jamaicans who compete at the annual Penn Relays Carnival, which is held at the University of Pennsylvania, (UPENN) in Philadelphia.

The event brings the Jamaican Diaspora in the Northeast United States together to support Jamaican athletes through advocacy and fundraising activities.

In closing his presentation to the group, Minister Barlett said, “Jamaica’s tourism has been at the heart of this consecutive growth as the island continues to outperform projections. Last year, we welcomed over 4 million visitors and earned USD $4.2 billion, and already for January and February of this year, we welcomed 1 million visitors and earned USD $1 billion. These positive strides being made by our little island should be heralded by the Diaspora so we can unite and take Jamaica to another level during this post-COVID period.”