THE Jamaica diaspora, and in particular, the eight entrepreneurs who have been nominated for this year’s Jamaica Observer Business Leader Award, have been lauded for their critical role in the continued development of the local economy.

The eight entrepreneurs — six from the USA and one each from Canada and The Cayman Islands — will arrive in the island next week for the annual awards at which one will be named the 2010 Business Leader. The event takes place on Wednesday, November 30 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston beginning at 6:30 pm.

“We view the business community in the diaspora as an essential partner in the economic development of the country,” declares Sancia Templer, president of JAMPRO, the Government’s investment promotion agency.

JAMPRO along with two private sector corporations — Digicel Jamaica, and J Wray & Nephew through its Appleton brand — are sponsors of this year’s award; the institutions throwing their weight behind the effort of the Jamaica Observer newspaper to raise public awareness of the potential economic benefits from a full engagement of the diaspora business community.

The eight nominees were selected from 70 entrepreneurs who were identified by an Observer search committee with the help of the Jamaican Embassy in Washington, DC. They are involved in financial services, food processing and distribution, restaurants, health care services and retail. They are:

* Richard M Powell, co-founder and co-senior managing director of the Florida-based private equity company called AP Capital Partners Inc.

* Vincent and Jeanette HoSang, founders and principals of the New York-based Royal Caribbean Bakery; and Caribbean Food Delights — makers of widely distributed frozen patties, as well as baked products.

* George Yap, founder and principal of Miami-based LEASA Industries — grower, processor and distributor of a wide range of health food products.

* Beverly Nichols, founder and principal of the New York-based Beverly’s Home Health Care, a provider of health care services primarily to the aged.

* Monique Hamaty-Simmonds and Marcus Simmonds, operators of the Miami-based Tortuga Imports, the international marketing arm of the Cayman-based Tortuga company.

* Verona Greenland, the founder and president of New York-based Morris Heights Health Centre, provider of social and health services primarily to underprivileged individuals.

* Vincent and Lorain Lai, founders and operators of the Toronto, Canada-based Nicey’s Food Mart, a four-branch retailer of Jamaican and other ethnic foods and other products.

* Lowell Hawthorne, founder and executive chairman of Golden Krust Patties & Grill, a 122-branch restaurant and bakery franchise operation that is headquartered in New York

Brian Bennett-Easy, head of Digicel Business, says that the nominees for the award have demonstrated “an admirable capacity to plan, produce and provide quality services” and that through this award the Observer newspaper had proven “its understanding of that critical link between global entrepreneurship and national development”.

Like JAMPRO, the Digicel executive pointed to the positive role that the success of the diaspora entrepreneurs had on the local economy.

Paul Henriques, managing director of J Wray & Nephew, also cited the impact of the entrepreneurs on Jamaica.

“Despite no longer living here these sons and daughters continue to fly the black, green and gold flag high and it is very fitting that we turn the national spotlight on these proud Jamaicans, not only for the success they have achieved in their adopted home, but also for the great benefits they have brought Jamaica and Jamaicans through their philanthropic work,” he noted.

In fact, several of the entrepreneurs maintain strong business ties with Jamaica — mainly through their purchase of agricultural products as input for their processing operation. In the case of Tortuga, it has in Montego Bay one of three franchise operations that are found throughout the region.

In addition to their business arrangements, several of the nominees have made charitable contributions to various causes in Jamaica.

JAMPO urged members of the diaspora generally to “continue to explore and pursue the lucrative business opportunities in Jamaica, and in so doing, play a greater role in enhancing and promoting trade and investment linkages between Jamaica and their adopted homes”.

The Jamaica Observer Business Leader Diaspora Award programme coincides with the efforts by the Government through JAMPRO to tap into the resources of the Jamaica diaspora, and to deepen economic ties with local businesses.

The Diaspora Award marks the 15th year of the Business Leader programme which started in 1996 to promote indigenous entrepreneurism. Last year, the focus of the award programme was on foreign investors who have had major positive impact on the local economy. Digicel’s owner Denis O’Brien was named Business Leader.