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Business View Caribbean
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce,
Agriculture, and Fisheries – Jamaica
A conversation with the Honorable Karl Samuda
This past February, in the country’s general elections,
the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) won a narrow victory
over the governing People’s National Party (PNP) and
formed a new government. As a result, the incoming
administration, as it is wont to do, reshuffled some of
the cabinet ministries and appointed new heads of the
various government departments. The new Ministry of
Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries is now
being led by the Honorable Karl Samuda, CD, MP.
Recently, Business View Magazine spoke with Minis-
ter Samuda in a free-wheeling discussion about his
Ministry’s functions, as well as the general business
environment on the island, today. The following is an
edited transcript of that conversation:
BVM: Mr. Minister, can you begin by telling us about
the makeup of your new Ministry?
Samuda:
“This is a very comprehensive Ministry. It
now incorporates industry and commerce, along with
agriculture and fisheries. The reason for that is very
simple: what we have come to realize is that it is best
