Seiveright's Message to Jamaican Businesses: Stop Waiting on Government

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Key Takeaways:

- Seiveright's core argument: state incentives and policy support are useful, but they cannot substitute for private initiative, market research, and execution.

- Jamaican entrepreneurs can access real support structures — JBDC, JAMPRO, EXIM Bank, and the MSME grant ecosystem — but these work best as accelerants, not starting points.

- The practical takeaway for the diaspora and local business owners: build the business case first, then layer on government facilitation.

Executive Summary & Background

Delano Seiveright's recent Jamaica Gleaner column landed a line that deserves more attention than it got: government cannot supply your ambition. It's a blunt statement, and in a Jamaican context where "waiting on government" has become something between a coping mechanism and a national pastime, it cuts deep. Seiveright isn't arguing against state support — he's arguing against the mindset that treats government facilitation as the prerequisite for enterprise. That distinction matters enormously for anyone trying to build something in Jamaica right now.

For the diaspora, the message carries a different weight. Thousands of Jamaicans abroad send remittances, buy land, and dream about returning to start a business — but many stall at the planning stage, waiting for the "right" policy environment, the "right" incentive, or the "right" government program. The reality is that Jamaica's most durable businesses were built by people who started with what they had, where they were, and figured out the regulatory and financing landscape as they went. Government can smooth the road. It cannot walk it for you.

Key Jamaican Laws, Regulations & Requirements

If you're moving from ambition to action, here's the regulatory and institutional landscape you'll actually deal with:

• Business registration: The Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) handles business name registration (currently around J$2,000–J$5,000 depending on type) and company incorporation. Online filing through the ORS (Online Registration System) is the fastest route.
• Tax registration: Every business needs a TRN from Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), and depending on structure, GCT registration once turnover crosses the threshold.
• Support institutions: The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) offers incubator services, business plan support, and training. JAMPRO handles investment facilitation and export promotion. The EXIM Bank provides trade financing and MSME loans.
• MSME grants and incentives: Post-disaster and development grants (like the Hurricane Melissa MSME grants) exist, but they are supplements — not seed capital for an unproven idea.
• Sector-specific licensing: Food businesses need BSJ and Public Health approvals; tourism operators need JTB licensing; importers need customs registration.

Step-by-Step Actionable Process

1. Validate the market before you register anything. Talk to ten potential customers. If you can't get ten people to describe a problem your business solves, no government incentive will fix that.
2. Register the business properly. Use the COJ's online system for name or company registration, then get your TRN and GCT status sorted with TAJ. Do this early — it unlocks bank accounts, contracts, and grant eligibility.
3. Build a real financial model. Revenue, costs, break-even, cash flow. The JBDC offers free or low-cost help here. Banks and EXIM won't look at you without it.
4. Layer on government support deliberately. Once you have a working model, approach JAMPRO for investment links, EXIM for trade finance, or the JBDC for growth programs. Use them as accelerants, not life support.
5. For diaspora entrants, do the groundwork remotely first. Register the entity, open a local bank account (or use a credit union), and appoint a trusted local agent before you relocate. Don't quit your job abroad to "figure it out" on the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start a Jamaican business from abroad without relocating?

Yes. You can register a company with the COJ remotely, appoint a local director or agent, and operate through a Jamaican bank account. Many diaspora entrepreneurs run the business from the US, UK, or Canada for years before returning.

What's the single biggest mistake new Jamaican business owners make?

Starting with the incentive instead of the customer. People chase grants, tax breaks, or government programs before proving anyone will pay for what they're selling — and the business collapses the moment the support ends.

Does Seiveright's argument mean government support is useless?

No. It means support works best when it follows private initiative, not when it substitutes for it. JBDC, JAMPRO, and EXIM are genuinely useful — but only for businesses that already have a working model.