Questions for Ambassador Audrey Marks

Colin Hamilton, freelance photographer

"With the experience that Audrey has gained as an entrepreneur, the boards that she has sat on, her presidency of AmCham Jamaica for three years have led her to this point in her life, Jamaica's ambassador to the United States (US). I feel that she will represent us very well, especially at a time of somewhat awkward relations between our two countries and a shattered global economy. Her instincts for trade and tourism are exceptional."

This is the opinion of current president of the American Chamber of Commerce (Jamaica), Diana Stewart, who has worked alongside Ambassador Audrey Marks, Jamaica's newly appointed diplomat to the United States. The Gleaner's Lifestyle Editor, Barbara Ellington, spoke to the innovative businesswoman in an exclusive interview as she contemplates the task ahead.

Why did you say yes when you were asked to take on this role?

AM: My philosophy has always been that private-sector leaders ought to get involved in public service and make a constructive contribution to national development beyond the confines of our narrow, though legitimate self-interests - because a rising tide lifts all ships. This conviction is reflected in the many public sector and business association boards which I have either chaired or served on during both political administrations.

Could you name some of these boards?

AM: These include the Kingston Freezone, the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Tourism Product Development Company, JAMPRO, Urban Development Corporation, University of the West Indies School of Business, National Health Fund, American Chamber of Commerce (Jamaica), Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, etc. Of all my involvement in public service, I see the ambassadorship as providing the opportunity to make the biggest positive impact, because of the economic and political importance of US to Jamaica.

How have your previous experiences prepared you for this task, and are there any similarities in the two worlds - diplomacy and business?

AM: A critical component of being an effective advocate for Jamaica's interest - which ultimately is what diplomacy is all about - is developing relationships with a supportive network of key individuals with a high appreciation of our mutual interests. During the development and growth of all seven businesses I have started and operated, involvement in various organisations such as when I was the Caricom trade representative for the JCC and even more so the presidency of AmCham, I had the privilege of meeting and developing very strong relationships with important individuals within America's business and political establishment. However, ultimately, performance is not only dependent on preparation but also capacity and motivation, on these levels I feel enabled to hit the ground running, and will seek to leverage all avenues to advance Jamaica's interests.

Also, as chairman and director of several state boards, I have had to negotiate vigorously on behalf of the government, which has provided me with a different perspective from my normal role of advancing my private interest as an entrepreneur. I believe I have developed a good sense of empathy for the other point of view - how to compromise in the face of contending and even conflicting interests, and to tailor expectations based on objective reality.

Both former United States ambassadors Sue Cobb and Brenda LaGrange Johnson were successful businesswomen and both have expressed confidence in your ability to do this job. You are the first woman to hold this particular post in the US for Jamaica, do you feel any added pressure to perform or have you decided to continue aiming high having already pioneered bill payments system through Paymaster?

I am humbled by the expressions of confidence from these two diplomats who have both served their country well and are shining successes in their chosen fields of endeavour.

On reflection, it seems that I have always been at my best responding to a challenge. After leaving school, I successfully combined full-time employment at Air Jamaica with undergraduate and postgraduate studies. I then chose entrepreneurship, and at a time when the Jamaican economy had virtually collapsed with the meltdown of the financial sector I pioneered the bill-payment business. The challenge of entrepreneurship has certainly prepared me for the challenges associated with any other undertaking. However, I regard my spiritual journey as my deepest source of strength and inspiration, and I sincerely believe that with God all things are possible.

And on the subject of Paymaster, what have you put in place for the smooth running of your company during the next three years? How will the adverse Supreme Court ruling in the case you brought against GraceKennedy affect Paymaster going forward?

Even though I have been the public face of Paymaster since starting the company in 1997, we have always had in place a strong board and well-defined management structure. Paymaster has also been blessed to have had a cadre of hard-working and qualified personnel. The company employs 130 full-time staff, and operates 150 outlets through a combination of owner-managed stores, and agencies including the post office network and PC banks. We have over 50 client companies on whose behalf we have processed up to 750 thousand transactions each month. Clearly, we would not have been able to execute this operation without having in place multi-tiered leadership. My absence will not have any material impact on Paymaster's operation.

In terms of the unexpected judgment , be reminded that this is just a first instance judgement, hence we are treating this case as an ongoing litigation. As you know, our court system provides a three-tier process for justice, and, based on the historical evidence, for very good reason. We have already been granted leave to appeal the ruling, and will argue our case vigorously before a panel of judges at the Appellate Court. We expect a very different result.

Therefore, the case from this point forward does not require my personal involvement and now will be led by Paymaster's chairman , General Gary Cooper.

Given the current state of soured diplomatic relations between Jamaica and the US, what do you consider the most urgent of the issues: 'Dudus' overdue extradition, visa cancellation issues that have led to fear among travellers or Manat, Phelps and Phillips, and what is your strategy to fix these problems?

AM: The economic, social and political ties between Jamaica and United States are so deeply and historically rooted that it would take a series of events of catastrophic proportions to permanently alter that friendship. One simple measure of this closeness is that, by most estimates, there are as many Jamaicans and direct Jamaican descendants living in America, as there are here. That is not to say that friends can't quarrel and have genuine disagreements; neither is it to understate the urgency of addressing the issues you have identified. My job as ambassador will be to open up the communication channels on a wide range of issues, including those you have mentioned; but you must bear in mind that priorities are dynamic, so a priority that is set today could be pushed to the back-burner by unforeseen fundamental developments. I believe the key is to establish and maintain robust communication channels and working relationships with our counterparts, to quickly reaffirm and strengthen our common interests, and therefore build enough political capital to be able to deal with the differences that could affect our cherished friendship.

The prime minister has asked you to work at getting more investments into Jamaica but given the challenges and your extensive experience in doing business in Jamaica, in spite of your track record of doing so, how will you convince potential investors to take a chance on a country where crime is the number one cause for concern?

Ultimately, attracting investments into Jamaica and developing sustained socio-economic relations is the holy grail of my job, because at the end of the day, without a growing economy, we will continue on the vicious cycle that you have alluded to - unemployment, crime, degradation of social infrastructure, uncompetitive cost structure, and therefore the unwillingness of investors to come here at the scale and numbers required for rapid economic transformation.

We already have multiple agencies that are involved in varying levels of investment promotion, and let us not forget that they have had some solid success in a very challenging global environment - you just need to travel along the north coast to see some of the fruits of their efforts.

As ambassador, I will ensure that all the resources of the embassy, including our contacts within the US private sector, are made available to facilitate the investment promotion drives by our local agencies, because this has to be a collective effort.

My experience as an entrepreneur is that one of the easiest ways to attract investment into Jamaica is by forging partnerships between local businesses and foreign capital. To hit the ground running, the embassy should mount an aggressive, unprecedented and coordinated drive (with our local promotion agencies) to identify and bring together best-fit partnerships between local entrepreneurs and American investors.

How do you see Jamaica's standing in the global picture as we approach 50 years of independence; what should we be doing now to gain "developed country" status?

We still have a lot going for us, and will have to find a way to harness the collective will of those among us who still believe in this country.

I am very hopeful about the future. We should bear in mind that this is an administration of two and a half years. Over the past month, my experience with the various ministers of government and their team has shown very capable individuals with a clear vision of what they are hoping to achieve in terms of development for this country. As a businesswoman, I was very motivated by the meeting with the minister of finance and, as a former farmer, the meeting with the minister of agriculture.

Of particular significance for me was the orientation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Minister Baugh, Minister Robinson, Minister Malahoo-Forte and Ambassador Coye and their team. They form an impressive and formidable foreign affairs support base that gives me tremendous confidence in what I will be required to do to contribute to a faster pace in our development as we approach 2012.

You are an entrepreneur at heart. Looking into the future, is there any other venture that you would want to consider or do you plan to continue in public service when your tour of duty ends?

AM: I am likely to return to Paymaster.

Your father is not alive to see this but he was very proud of you, what would he have said were he alive to see you as Jamaica's ambassador to the US?

My father was always proud of all my siblings and my achievements at the various stages, growing up. He probably would say that he expected no less of me!

What sort of legacy do you want to leave for your two daughters?

AM: I want my children to be confident and conscientious and to believe that they can achieve anything they set out to achieve.

What are you most and least looking forward to?

AM: I am looking forward to developing the relationship that so clearly identifies our common mutual interests that there can be no doubt, even when there is a disagreement, that we are friends and allies first and foremost.

I have to be prepared for the unexpected, and to be able to implement a flexible and robust strategy in my advocacy for Jamaica's interest. Then, even the biggest challenges can be easily resolved.

It is both a privilege and a responsibility to have been asked by the Government of Jamaica headed by Prime Minister Bruce Golding to serve as Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States. My predecessors have established a tradition of distinguished service and I am motivated to rise to the challenges which come with the job at this critical time.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com