FI WI CONCERNS - Michael Spence

 Getting Into Ganja

Getting any one or a combination of the many licensees to participate in Jamaica's nascent marijuana(ganja) industry calls for big bucks, as prices start at US$2,500 (approximately J$315,000). However, chairman of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), Hyacinth Lightbourne, is adamant that Jamaica must not make the mistake of having a lax regulatory regime, as this would put the country in a bad position regarding its international obligations.

“This has to be a heavily regulated industry, and heavy regulations cost money" What is this money for and where will it go. It is my view that these bureaucrats and lawyers are heading to most expensively regulate Jamaica out of the ganja business. Can you imagine a small farmer coming up with approximately JA$250000 for a cultivators license. This decriminalization may turn out to be one of the worst nightmares for the traditional ganja farmers. One thing will lead to another because a small planter in the hills needs money and that is why he plants ganja but you tax him before he starts he/she is going to do business as usual without the requisite regulators input so now you have a Ganja Authority Enforcers running down farmers in the bush with confrontations right left and centre or that the regulations are unenforceable and the authorities turn a blind eye and unregulated business as usual or the original planters just abandon ganja business to the more wealthy of the local and global society. The process sounds too complex, simplicity and not too much expense makes for easier compliance. The CLA and the government must think on these things then act appropriately or is anyone going to listen and act according to Peter Tosh who in song said “legalize it and I will advertize it”. I am adamant that too much regulation in the industry will destroy what is left of it and marginalize people who operated before regulation if it survives.. 23/06/16

Another Fatal Crash 

Another fatal crash on the Llandovery main road in St Ann claimed the lives of three people Tuesday night. Five others died as a result of injuries they received earlier this month, when the bus they were travelling crashed and overturned.This piece of road seems from reputation very dangerous. I have known personally some who have died over the years. I believe it mainly has to do with faulty road design and all the authorities’ response is to increase fines and to blame motorists for everything that happens. It’s not all speeding and defective vehicles as they say, so the appropriate persons must be mandated to a proper forensic investigation into these accidents and act based on findings. I advise motorists travelling between St Ann's Bay and Falmouth to drive carefully as I find it most dangerous and mentally taxing. In addition that some motorists in that region drive like they are riding racing donkeys in the bush disregarding road signs and markings. All across Jamaica the road code literature is either unknown or irrelevant so one solution is to add it to the integrated syllabus in schools so that even if they buy licenses the road code is known and understood and applied. So whether you walk, drive, ride bicycles, mule, horse, donkeys or cows we all on the same page commuting resulting in less chaos and accidents. 23/06/16

That road has taken the lives of so many over the past 2 decades or more is unbelievable some of whom I know personally. I believe faulty road design is a factor and must be investigated and addressed promptly. This fixation on speeding and rush to increase traffic fines I find myopic and intellectually dishonest in some instances. 23/06/16

Investment in Agriculture

"Capital investment in agriculture has declined over the years significantly affecting production." Add to that Mr. Campbell the importation of cheaper foods e.g. red peas, onions, chicken, fish etc valuing billions of dollars. What passes for agriculture for the most part Mr. Campbell is subsistence farming that is farming to enhance or feed families and their income. Making Agriculture mandatory in all high schools is not the way to go. Making it available as a subject in schools that have the facility and space to do so(infrastructure) because doing so will make the subject come alive.

Does Ferncourt High School, Jamaica College, Cornwall College, Wolmers or Kingston College have the infrastructure/land to do so? Doing Agriculture in a vacuum is like doing literature. Jamaica does not have the amount of arable land to make commercial agriculture a really viable and cost effective endeavor for thousands of people. We could concentrate on areas however where we have an advantage like coffee, cocoa, pimento etc.23/06/16

 Local Government Minister

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, has suggested that accessing benefits from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) should be addressed. To date Jamaica has paid out in excess of Ja$3 billion since 2007 and has not benefitted even in one instance because of how stringent the requirements are in order to benefit. Not even the damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 was sufficient to trigger an insurance payout,” the minister said.One writer compared our negotiating politicians to our good innovative and frugal higglers who spend their own money, sell their own things, finance their own well being and negotiate beneficial deals they are not stressing out Jamaica. They are hardworking honest and independent people. Many of us know better than that and would not even imply in any way because in the 70s-80s era of foreign exchange (F/E )shortage higglers took things abroad yams, breadfruit, dasheen and you name it earned foreign exchange imported well needed goods from Cayman, Panama, Curacao, United States, UK and Canada to be sold. Are you aware that it was higglers that supported many stores some big ones today to stay afloat and have goods to sell during that period? This kind of beneficial import export model should be encouraged alongside the large scale big man thing a way of deepening the economic process. 23/06/16

 Ganja

The police say they have seized a large quantity of ganja and several thousand dollars during an operation in St Elizabeth on Tuesday.Wait! How this make news! This looks like backward move in the light of decriminalization seems to be confusing people and a trap to get people arrested. By the way what charge is this "storing ganja without the appropriate tier license”, "preparing ganja to transport without a license", what? All the judge need to do if it reaches court is give them time to get the appropriate licenses for whatever their intention. A level of reeducation of the police needs to take place immediately in this new dispensation of ganja laws. Ganja operators must be able to put up a sign reading. “It is my intention to apply for the appropriate ganja tier license at the next sitting of the licensing authority” 23/06/16

 Venezuela

News has emerged that Venezuela is interested in improving its rocky relations with the United States, and hopes President Barrack Obama will "rectify" US policy toward the crisis-torn South American country, its president Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday is good news.Maduro is learning "if you can’t beat them join them" it’s not too late as the sweet syrup of capitalism is flowing globally communist china is drinking, Russia is having regular drinks, Cuba is tasting, North Korea is nauseating and Jamaica is dancing in it. Venezuelans are good people take some advice given by the Hon Marcus Garvey our first national hero "capitalism to date is the most productive social and economic system known to man and only a fool would oppose it" Man study the thing and tweak it to suit yourselves don't get in any fight with the USA embrace them as friends as they control the Global capitalist system make use of their wealthy markets and urge the formation of a new free trade block with you included in Caricom. Come Maduro "mek wi teach you a thing or two patois included, have a free trade agreement with Jamaica now you will learn faster". "Hablamos en espanol pequeno" ie we speak little Spanish.23/06/16

This has to be a heavily regulated industry, and heavy regulations cost money" According to Ms Hyacinth Lightbourne chairman of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA).What is this money for and where will it go. It is my view that these bureaucrats and lawyers are heading to most expensively regulate Jamaica out of the ganja business. Can you imagine a small farmer coming up with appr JA$250000 for a cultivators license. This decriminalization may turn out to be one of the worst nightmares for the traditional ganja farmers. One thing will lead to another because a small planter in the hills needs money and that is why plant ganja but you tax him before he starts he/she is going to do business as usual without the requisite regulators input so now you have a Ganja Authority Enforcers running down farmers in the bush with confrontations right left and centre or that the regulations are unenforceable and the authorities turn a blind eye and unregulated business as usual or the originals just abandon ganja business to the more wealthy of the society. The process sounds too complex simplicity and not too much expense makes for easier compliance.20/06/16