From left, Hon. Christopher Chaplin, Jamaica’s Honorary Consul in Philadelphia; Hon. Alando Terrelonge, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; and Dr. Eric Nzeribe, publisher of FunTimes Magazine, at the October 23 reception in Energy Hall at the PECO Building.
To explain the possibilities of investing in Jamaica, Hon. Alando Terrelonge reached for a story about turmeric powder.
Earlier that day, he told guests at a Philadelphia reception that an entrepreneur had approached him about a turmeric product made through an investment in Jamaica. The businessman wanted guidance on using the Jamaican flag on the label. Terrelonge referred him to a representative of JAMPRO, Jamaica’s investment and export promotion agency.
The story made his point. The entrepreneur had already invested. He now needed guidance on his product’s label.
“We see you as partners,” Terrelonge told the gathering.
The October 23 reception at the PECO Building, hosted by Jamaica’s Honorary Consul in Philadelphia, Hon. Christopher Chaplin, welcomed Terrelonge and Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s newly appointed Consul General in New York. It was part of the second Jamaica Diaspora Northeast USA Conference, which brought the country’s relationship with overseas Jamaicans into focus in Philadelphia.
A minister with experience across borders
Terrelonge, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, brings legal training and international experience to that relationship.
Raised in Grants Pen, St. Andrew, he studied law at the University of the West Indies and trained at the Norman Manley Law School. A Chevening Scholarship took him to the University of Warwick in Britain for postgraduate study. He subsequently worked with the Madrid-based policy organization FRIDE before returning to Jamaica in 2010.
He entered Parliament in 2016 and has served in portfolios covering culture, entertainment, sport, education and youth. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in 2023 and was reappointed after the 2025 general election.
A financial relationship with room to grow
The diaspora already contributes on a substantial scale. Opening the conference at Temple University earlier that day, Terrelonge told more than 300 delegates that overseas Jamaicans sent home US$3.12 billion in the 2025–2026 fiscal year, Jamaica Information Service reported.
Those transfers sustain a relationship built through family responsibility and affection. His reception message added another possibility: an investment that supports economic activity in Jamaica while creating an asset or income for the person abroad.
“Think of making your money work for you,” he urged.
The connection to home can include a business partnership, a product sold in an American store or a creative project with an international audience. Each requires its own preparation, but the invitation recognizes overseas Jamaicans as people with commercial ambitions as well as family commitments.
The invitation also speaks to Jamaica’s pursuit of economic independence, a challenge former Prime Minister Bruce Golding raised in an earlier Philadelphia address covered by FunTimes.
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From familiar crops to international screens
Terrelonge highlighted agriculture and food security, naming mangoes, bananas, ginger and turmeric. These are familiar products with business questions attached. Who processes them? Who packages them? How do they reach customers, and where can a diaspora entrepreneur participate?
The turmeric example suggested that the next opportunity may lie somewhere along that chain. A Philadelphia retailer or food business could begin by exploring Jamaican suppliers. An entrepreneur with marketing or distribution experience could investigate a partnership that helps an existing producer reach another market.
He also pointed to logistics, drawing attention to Jamaica’s location, transport connections and workforce. For readers with experience in shipping, warehousing or business services, these were invitations to investigate specific commercial needs.
The creative sector offered another illustration. Terrelonge cited Possession, the television thriller directed by Jamaican filmmaker Storm Saulter. Written by Karla Crome, the series is set between Britain and Jamaica and was released on Sky and NOW in August 2026.
Its relevance extended beyond seeing Jamaica on screen. Productions bring together writing, performance, technical work, locations and distribution. For diaspora professionals, that opens questions about where their expertise, networks or financing could support the next project.
Property also featured in the minister’s remarks. He described the appeal of owning a home in Jamaica and earning short-term rental income. Readers considering that route should request a full operating budget, including financing, insurance, maintenance and management, and test the figures against periods when the property may be vacant. Whether rent covers the mortgage depends on occupancy, rental rates and operating costs.
How to begin from Philadelphia
The agency Terrelonge referenced is JAMPRO, formally the Jamaica Promotions Corporation. Its published investor services include business matchmaking, assistance navigating government agencies, site identification and guidance on incentives and registration. Readers who have an idea but need help finding the right institution or commercial partner can start there.
Calling the diaspora partners also creates an expectation of clear requirements and reliable answers. The response an entrepreneur receives after making an inquiry will help determine whether the invitation becomes a workable business relationship.
Start with a defined proposal. Prepare a one-page description of the product, service or project. Include the intended customer, relevant experience, proposed budget and timeline. Someone still exploring can describe the information needed before making a decision.
Ask JAMPRO for guidance specific to that proposal. Request a sector contact, the relevant requirements and an explanation of what assistance the agency can provide. Ask which questions need to go to another institution, and obtain current information on documents, fees and eligibility.
Use the Philadelphia connection. Chaplin’s office offers a local point of contact for readers seeking direction. Jamaica’s Embassy in Washington lists trade and investment promotion among the functions supported by its honorary consuls. Ask for an appropriate referral or information about upcoming business engagements.
Put the commercial details in writing. Before committing funds, establish who owns the business or asset, how revenue would be earned and what expenses apply. Obtain independent legal and accounting advice suited to the proposed arrangement.
Contacts to take the conversation further
JAMPRO United States office
Email: jampronewyork@dobusinessjamaica.com
Telephone: +1 212-366-5211
Online inquiries: https://dobusinessjamaica.com/contact-us
Hon. Christopher Chaplin
Jamaica’s Honorary Consul in Philadelphia
Email: chris@jamaicaconsulatephiladelphia.com
Office: 2010 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Visits by appointment.
Contact details checked October 27, 2026.
For Philadelphia’s Jamaican community, the reception offered a reason to explore the economic possibilities of a longstanding connection. Readers can begin with a specific idea and a written inquiry about what would make it viable. FunTimes will follow what comes of those inquiries and report on the diaspora entrepreneurs who pursue them.
Dr. Eric John Nzeribe is the Publisher of FunTimes Magazine and has a demonstrated history of working in the publishing industry since 1992. His interests include using data to understand and solve social issues, narrative stories, digital marketing, community engagement, and online/print journalism features. Dr. Nzeribe is a social media and communication professional with certificates in Digital Media for Social Impact from the University of Pennsylvania, Digital Strategies for Business: Leading the Next-Generation Enterprise from Columbia University, and a Master of Science (MS) in Publication Management from Drexel University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Temple University.
