Diane Edwards (centre), president of JAMPRO, addresses journalists during a press conference at the JAMPRO offices in Kingston on Thursday. Looking on are Robert Scott (left), vice-president of export and marketing development, JAMPRO, and Claude Duncan (right), vice-president of investments and promotions, JAMPRO. Photo: Ian Allen/Gleaner

By Caribbean News Now contributor

KINGSTON, Jamaica — On Thursday, the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), the government agency established to promote inward investment in Jamaica, wrote to Caribbean News Now demanding removal of an article published on Tuesday concerning JAMPRO’s relationship, if any, with alleged Ponzi schemer Mark Jones.

According to Diane Edwards, president of JAMPRO, “The assertions made in said article pertaining to JAMPRO are not only baseless but are potentially libelous and likely to cause grave and irreparable damage to the reputation of JAMPRO in the fulfilment of its statutory mandate.”

The letter imposed a deadline of 24 hours within which to comply with JAMPRO’s demands.

Caribbean News Now responded to Edwards on Friday morning to the effect that neither the article nor the letter disclosed any cause of action known as “potential libel”.

JAMPRO has not, thus far, specified exactly what the “assertions” are it claims are “potentially libelous” – a phrase that seems to be as legally meaningless as “potentially pregnant”.

Meanwhile, in a press statement on Thursday, JAMPRO said that, following publication of our article, there have been speculations about the integrity of the agency in facilitating investments to Jamaica.

“Allegations that JAMPRO has any direct involvement in fraudulent investment ‘Ponzi’ or ‘bridge loan’ schemes are totally unfounded, detrimental to our good reputation, and must be retracted. JAMPRO handles investments in Jamaica against principles of pure business professionalism. We facilitate investors and investment projects that we believe can add value to our economy and create wealth for our people, for generations to come. Our systems and operations are transparent. We operate in good faith with all our investors and always expect positive returns,” the statement read.

Also on Thursday, at a hastily called “emergency” press conference at JAMPRO’s Kingston offices, to which Caribbean News Now received neither notice nor invitation, Edwards also attempted to explain why, if the agency has nothing to hide, it has sought to conceal photographs, videos and other publicity material visually connecting JAMPRO with Jones and his company by removing them from its website.

“The removal was done to protect the reputation from people who may add two and two and get five,” Edwards said.

Jones is due to return to US District Court in Boston on Monday.

IMAGE: Diane Edwards (centre), president of JAMPRO, addresses journalists during a press conference at the JAMPRO offices in Kingston on Thursday. Looking on are Robert Scott (left), vice-president of export and marketing development, JAMPRO, and Claude Duncan (right), vice-president of investments and promotions, JAMPRO. Photo: Ian Allen/Gleaner

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-JAMPRO-demands-retraction-29948.html

The offending article – “JAMPRO or SCAMPRO? The politics of investment funding in Jamaica” can be found at: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-JAMPRO-or-SCAMPRO%3F-The-politics-of-investment-funding-in-Jamaica-29894.html