THE Jamaica/Haiti squabble has momentarily hurt business relations between both nations, by Christopher Levy's reckoning, but with billions of US dollars of investment expected to be poured into the earthquake-devastated country in the near term, he believes Jamaicans need to invest there now.

The mutual "respect" between both countries will, however, transcend the recent boycott of Jamaican products and the burning of its flag, he argued.

"It is a bit unfortunate from the (perspective of) public relations and relationship building," stated Levy, president and chief executive officer of Jamaica Broilers Group (JBG) yesterday at a seminar on 'Caricom's new business frontier: Haiti' held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

"I think that the relationship and respect that both countries have for each other is strong," he said. "We have spoken about it over there and they do feel slighted and we would be too. But I think that the relationship is considerably deeper than that."

At the same time, dozens of nations and organisations have pledged almost US$10 billion in immediate and long-term aid to help Haiti recover from the catastrophic earthquake. The United Nations (UN) said, of that amount, more than US$5 billion was pledged for disbursement by 2012.

"If even 10 per cent of the money is in the development fund then we are talking about US$1 billion. And you want to be on that wave. I would encourage you try it. Just make your contacts and if you have one once of entrepreneurial spirit in you then you will see the opportunities," stated Levy.

Adrian Tait, Executive Director of Advisory Services for accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), stated in his address at the seminar that Jamaica needs to contemplate investing in the largest rebuilding effort in modern memory.

"This is our largest single economic activity on the planet. True. So it is important to Haiti as a nation and Caricom as a group of countries," Tait said. "If that US$10 billion, even 10 per cent comes through, it will focus on the public sector and so there is a significant collateral investment (by the private sector) that needs to be made."

JBG is already expanding into Haiti, which initially will involve the distribution of animal feed to that country. It would be fuelled by the group's feed mill, which recorded increased production, plant reliability and operational efficiencies in 2010, according to its latest annual report.

JBG has so far expensed $12.7 million for its 'Haiti relief and market research' according to its 2010 annual report. The relief relates to last year's earthquake, which killed over 250,000 persons and decimated the country's infrastructure.

"Without hesitation, our staff members stretched out their hands to our Haitian brothers and sisters -- rallying to the call for help by initiating and coordinating a food and clothing drive," the JBG annual report stated about its staff efforts to assist earthquake hit Haiti. "That staff-driven initiative was truly remarkable and, indeed, demonstrated that altruism and love for mankind are alive and well in the hearts of our employees".

Items collected from that effort were packaged and delivered to the Salvation Army's Jamaican Chapter, for distribution as a part of the chapter's relief efforts.

JBG made $1.3 billion in profit for its 2010 yearend, which represented a 56 per cent rise in profit year-on-year. The group already operates overseas subsidiaries including Atlantic United Insurance in Grand Cayman; ERI Services in St Lucia; International Poultry Breeders and Wincorp International in the US, according to latest financials.

Last month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with Haitian officials in an effort to soothe anger over the treatment of members of the French-speaking Caribbean country's Under-17 football team. Local doctors found that members of the team had malaria during the early stages of the CONCACAF championships in Montego Bay.

The team was quarantined at a hospital's emergency ward in Falmouth. However, the coach, upset with the delays having waited for a day, left the hospital, and returned to his hotel room. He was allegedly handcuffed and removed by representatives of the Ministry of Health. The team was sent home between Thursday and Friday via private jet.

It resulted in protests by Haitians who called for the boycotting of Jamaican products and saw the symbolic burning of the Jamaican flag. In response, the local-based People's National Party's Patriots condemned the burning of the flag by protesters in Haiti. The group claimed that there was "absolutely no justification for this ungracious action" and demanded an apology