Obama's visit could open door for more economic support for JAMAICA— Trade Minister Senator AJ Nicholson Says....."He didn't address that frontally, but from our perspective, I think coming out of the bilateral, that is something that he himself could not push. It is something that the finance minister would have to raise with the World Bank and others," the minister said.

THE Government has signalled its intention to capitalise on the visit of United States President Barack Obama, with Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Senator AJ Nicholson indicating that the visit could influence the opening of more doors for economic support for Jamaica.

"I strongly believe that the visit of the president to Jamaica at this point in time, points to the kind of international profile that Jamaica should have," Nicholson said.

Trade Minister Senator AJ Nicholson

The minister was addressing a press briefing at Jamaica House in St Andrew, yesterday, where he went over the details of bilateral discussions between Obama and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, as well as those between the president and Caricom leaders.

"From our perspective, we believe that we are in a better position to be listened to, and for it to be acted upon, because of the way we have conducted ourselves over these past few years," he said.

Obama, he said, had not directly put the prospect of debt relief for Jamaica on the table.

"He didn't address that frontally, but from our perspective, I think coming out of the bilateral, that is something that he himself could not push. It is something that the finance minister would have to raise with the World Bank and others," the minister said.

Nicholson noted that it had been agreed that Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips would discuss this and other matters during his attendance at the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, in Washington DC.

The annual meetings facilitate discussion among ministers of finance, heads of central banks and other high-level authorities, on financing and debt-related issues faced by member countries.

Nicholson indicated that the Government would take advantage of the platform that the visit has provided for cooperation and development in areas such as energy, security, education, and trade.

"It (the visit) revealed the readiness of the president to have his administration follow up actively, on the points made by Jamaica and Caricom, and to have the process of engagement continue, going forward," he said.

Meanwhile, as tensions continue to mount between the United States and Venezuela, Nicholson said it is hoped that the two countries can resolve their differences through diplomacy.

"We hope that this apparent conflict, between our two close friends, will be resolved around the diplomatic table. After all, we live in a zone of peace in the western hemisphere. We would wish for that to continue...the president (Obama) did tell us that he has sent a special envoy to president Maduro, to move along the path that Jamaica is suggesting," the foreign affairs minister told journalists. ...Read More