OCHO RIOS KIWANIANS URGED TO CONSIDER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
Senator Matthew Samuda says there are many business opportunities in St Ann, as in Jamaica and society must find a way of reaping benefits from them while sustaining the environment.
(Senator Matthew Samuda, left, receives a token of appreciation from Kiwanis Club of Ocho Rios President Luke Thomas-Shorter)
Senator Samuda, JLP caretaker for the North East St Ann Constituency and Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, addressed the Kiwanis Club of Ocho Rios’s weekly meeting on Thursday, January 25. The meeting was at Almond Tree Restaurant in the resort town.
The President of the Club is Luke Thomas-Shorter who introduced Mr Samuda.
In his address, the Minister, who has portfolio responsibility for the environment, said St Ann was a microcosm of Jamaica and the issues and opportunities in Jamaica were also in St Ann. He posed the question of how the people of St Ann would ensure that while sustainable inclusive development took place there was no further harm done to the environment. He said that was a challenge that even developed countries faced and there was no easy answer.
(A section of the audience at the meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Ocho Rios)
Mr Samuda said that in many societies there was often a question of how to handle the environment side by side with economic development. He said civil society, such as the service clubs, could play a role in helping to hold Government accountable on the environment.
Describing St Ann as “blessed” he encouraged the people to view economic opportunities as being tied to the environment.
Among the guests were representatives of five other visiting clubs, including the Kiwanis Club of Moneague, represented by DLGE Donna Coombs. Councillors Michael Belnavis (Ocho Rios Division) and Ian Issacs (Exchange Division) attended.
A portion of the speech by Senator Matthew Samuda
Distinguished President and Principal of the Exchange All Age school, Ricardo Moncriffe, did the vote of thanks
