State Minister Seiveright Calls on Diaspora Jamaicans to Claim Greater Share of National Growth

As Jamaica enters what officials describe as a period of strong economic momentum, Hon. Delano Seiveright, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, has called on Jamaicans overseas and at home to secure a greater stake in the country’s expansion.

Addressing the 11th Biennial Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on June 15, Mr. Seiveright said current conditions offer a concrete chance for nationals to hold more of Jamaica’s growth. He encouraged members of the diaspora to claim their “piece of the rock.”

“While foreign investment is flowing into the country, Jamaicans must not stand on the sidelines,” he stated.

Mr. Seiveright welcomed the positive trends but cautioned against sitting idle. “The concern is not whether Jamaica’s future is bright. The evidence is already there. My concern is whether Jamaicans themselves will own enough of that future,” he said.

The State Minister pointed out that overseas investors are committing billions of dollars across the island, while many local residents have still not turned that inflow into personal or generational wealth.

“Jamaicans abroad and at home need to capitalise on these opportunities… don’t allow complacency to set in and be left behind,” he argued. “Through JAMPRO… through the Ministry… seize and explore these opportunities,” he added, setting out a goal of wider ownership across several sectors.

He identified openings in land, property, businesses, factories, warehouses, shares, technology firms, farms, and tourism assets. “Whatever fits your means and your ambitions,” Mr. Seiveright said, reflecting a policy direction aimed at opening investment access to more people.

The appeal follows official accounts of an improved investment environment, supported by steady macroeconomic readings, continuing infrastructure work, and regulatory reforms designed to lower entry barriers. Authorities say those factors draw foreign funds while also giving small and medium-sized enterprises room to grow, innovate, and take part in the wider economy.

“Land. Property. Businesses. Factories. Warehouses. Shares. Technology companies. Farms. Tourism assets,” Mr. Seiveright listed again, describing a wide range of paths for prospective investors. He maintained that ownership should be within reach for people of different incomes and backgrounds, not limited to the wealthy.

His central point, he said, is straightforward: expanded ownership, stronger generational wealth, and deeper economic involvement for all Jamaicans.

Mr. Seiveright also noted that the present opening will not last indefinitely. “There has never been a better time to start. The opportunities are real. And those who move early will benefit most,” he said.

He pressed Jamaicans living abroad to move quickly, asking potential investors to return, put money in, form partnerships, develop ventures, and acquire assets before Jamaica is widely seen as an obvious place to invest.

The State Minister stressed that the administration’s aim goes beyond drawing capital—it wants citizens to help steer the country’s development. “By encouraging ownership across diverse asset classes, our aim is to create a more resilient economy with shared prosperity and stronger intergenerational wealth transfer,” he said.

“Every Jamaican, whether resident or in the diaspora, should have a stake in the country’s next chapter,” the State Minister added.

He said the Government will continue outreach and support initiatives to ease access to financing, land, and enterprise development, so that participation produces lasting gains for families and communities across the country.