My name is Zaneta Scott and I am so excited to join the team at Pinchina Consulting as a research assistant! I am an urban planner by profession, with experience working among various government agencies, particularly within the housing sector. For as long as I could remember, growing up in Jamaica’s fastest growing urban environment, I have had a peculiar interest in space and how people interact with it. This has therefore contributed to my passion for national development and good urban design. 

I am eager to assist Pinchina Consulting in diving into and sifting through the complexities of China’s presence in the Caribbean. This phenomenon is fluid – daily adding new components to its scale, nature and its impact – filtering into and manifesting itself in various aspects of Caribbean life.

Over the next few months, I will be keeping my finger on the pulse of the emerging, real-time stories and issues on this topic. In particular, I will bring into sharper focus the Jamaican perception of and partnership with China. This research calls me to draw from my experiences as a planner in Jamaica to identify development concerns, particularly how China’s involvement affects us as a community of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Ultimately, I want to help steer the narrative on how academia acknowledges the presence of the Chinese in the Caribbean and to allow that conversation to further spill over into local mainstream media and household conversations.

Looking forward to keeping you updated in this forum as I take you along with me on this journey!

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