CARICOM OR CARILEF - Vernon Derby

It seems as if our Caribbean neighbour Trinidad, has redefined CARICOM. CARCOM now means, “Carry Yu Money Cum, But Wi Can Do Wid out Yu”. Many Jamaicans have been treated poorly when they visit Trinidad. This has been reported in the media. Jamaicans visiting Trinidad are seen as a burden to the Trinidadian state. Jamaicans are now not sure if they are CARICOM or CARIGO. Should we now replace the strong call for CARICOM to call for CARILEF.

I cannot believe that the Trinidadian government has been subsidizing fuel for their manufacturers for a number of years now, while we are buying their fuel at a premium price. So the Jamaican people have been subsidizing the Trinidadian manufacturing sector while our manufacturing sector has been falling apart?

We have been big on CARICOM but small on JamaicaCom and we have paid dearly for it. We are big on the Caribbean Court of Justice but our justice system like an old broken down and dilapidated building is still waiting for that great overall to take place.

We go to CARICOM to have big talk yet we are not communicating with our people enough. We talk and talk about CARICOM and yet very little attention has been paid to crime in Jamaica. Our parliament is yet to come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with this challenge.

Trinidad has approximately 1.2 million people while Jamaican has 2.7 million people. Trinidad has one of the highest per capita income in the Caribbean while Jamaicans struggles near the bottom of the economic ladder in the Caribbean. Jamaica has a large market which Trinidad has made the best of.  Jamaica still continues to go down the road of poverty while Trinidad continues to climb the hill of prosperity. Trinidad is certainly having a carnival while we prepare for a nine-night. What a life, what a country. 

Jamaica Land we love.

Fi Wi Concerns 20160418 - Michael Spence

GCT

According to news reports Jamaicans could see an increase in general consumption tax (GCT) and or be required to pay taxes on items now zero rated as the Andrew Holness administration projects to collect $16 billion more in GCT for the new financial year. Regarding the General Consumption Tax (GCT) now at 16.5 %, I hope will be lowered to a round figure like 10% easy to calculate then put it on all things in sight exempting only books just to keep education and that dying industry alive. If there is concern about the politics of poverty and love for the poor just sell the idea as a partner plan where every citizen should contribute to this partner and you get your draw when your child goes to school, when you call the police, when you drive or walk on the road or when you access any services is provided by from your GCT and other tax dollar. I guarantee you would collect more GCT due to increased buying, selling and production. As a matter of common sense dictates that every cent of that tax forgone from that $1.5 million threshold would be back in government coffers faster than you can think because more money in circulation mean more GCT everybody happy. I would like to hear from an actuary or actuaries out there to provide some kind of enlightenment us on this matter. We do not need to hear any more arguments from partisan people or book bright Tax and Borrow Economists.15/04/16

Slow Learners

There are persons in the society who want Government to put an end to streaming, a process wherein students are placed in a class based on their 'presumed' capabilities. Slow learners in a class tend to slow down the progress of fast learners and make life harder for a teacher to accomplish the relevant curricula, so what do you do? Put speed bumps on the highway to slow down the faster cars so that the slow cars look like they are up to par? No, you fix up the slow cars that they can keep up with the pace. In the case of students if they are streamed special arrangements can be made with special teachers who would target the challenges fix that then when they are up to par transferred appropriately.15/04/16

Those Murders

Last year 2015 the number of murders recorded by the police stood at 1,207, which was 202, more than the 1,005 reported the previous year. What is the figure for those missing because criminals are very creative getting rid of bodies without a trace. For example are the St Ann’s Bay police still trying to locate a family of four who went missing since November 2015 after their house was destroyed by fire? Fifty-seven-year-old Joseph Lynch, 43-year-old Lascelle Lynch, 50-year-old Ruth Lawrence, and seven-year-old Rimeka Haynes, all of Authurs Mount, Lime Hall, St Ann. recommend that the numbers of missing annually must be published alongside the murder figures to give a more holistic view.14/04/16

It’s a long time the tables have not turned where it is the criminal/duppy running and hiding even in a church perhaps looking for Divine intervention. The intensity must be sustained where decent people are not running, hiding, traumatized and cowering in fear. We must stop pet and powder criminals in Jamaica we must bring them in or bring them down from Morant point to Negril point.14/04/16

Mr. Bunting? 

Did Former National Security Minister Peter Bunting exceed his authority when he issued a certificate in January this year that shielded members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) from prosecution for the use of mortars in Tivoli during the May 2010 operation.  Is this form of demonstrating government against justice, the people and the constitution? What a pity as he hopes to be Prime Minister one day the top man is that an example of top behaviour? Well Mr.  Do you recall the second state of emergency in Jamaica's history June 20,1976 to end of February 1977 or Green Bay atrocities in January 1978 where 10 men promised jobs were lured to that area of Helshire 5 of them shot dead by our/their own Jamaica Defence Force soldiers. It is possible that some of those architects are even revered today. Could it be that what Mr. Bunting has done is mild in comparison and is on his way to be revered one day? 13/04/16

That Coconut Oil 

Amazing isn’t it? The once vilified COCONUT OIL is now taking centre stage in helping with Alzheimer's disease also called brain diabetes, dementia and general improvement in brain function. Guess what there is now difficulty getting adequate supplies of coconut oil at a reasonable price and it could get worse as global demand increases. I stick with boiled oil as this is the old tradition don't know what the scientists are saying about that one. COCONUT OIL has a specific smell but I notice some in retail establishments have no smell for me that's not it. Check IT. 12/04/16

I sympathize with both sides of this story and needs immediate intervention as the environment and the law has to be taken seriously. In all of this though it is Jamaica that is suffering in all of this losing and have lost millions of hard currency and if we recall that society is a whole individuals ,families, communities and the attendant problems that arise like crime and other social ills. Therein lay the problems. 09/04/16

King Sugar Dethroned?

One challenge in saving King Sugar from being totally dethroned is that most drinks, ice cream, pharmaceuticals and pastry on the market use sweeteners to keep down prices so we consume them unknowingly. Let us say therefore we do not knowingly consume artificial sweeteners and what the package says I know does not lie in many cases that sugar added but many use a blend. The ones that are very clear are the very sweet items that say "no sugar added" they may as well say "artificial sweeteners added" but that would not be creative marketing. To save oneself a little self help is good make your own daily drinks from in season fruits /vegetables and travel with them in a small cooler save money and save your health.09/04/16

Michael Spence 

        

Tattered State.....Of Affairs? - Vernon Derby

Is The Jamaican Economy in Serious Trouble?

Is the #Jamaican  #economy in more serious trouble than we are aware of? Unconfirmed reports are that reagents are not available for the processing blood and medical equipment in some hospitals are sitting there waiting to be serviced.  Mrs. Jean Anderson-Seaga called the programme this week stating that she was unable to get blood for her husband who was on dying. That audit report of the public health sector could shred some light on this.

Free Education?

Education is free but principals are charging auxillary fees and the Education Minister is saying do not refuse to admit students who are unable to pay these fees.

Paying Our Bills

Recently, another major government institution was not able to offer certain services because insiders said that providers of services to that institution were demanding that outstanding bills be paid. Reports are that utility bills are outstanding and pension payments are being be made late. Can you imagine if the JPS was allowed to charge the government interest on outstanding bills.

General Elections

It's clear that funds are not even there for the next election campaign. I believe that there will be no massive street meetings and no excessive media campaign. No more Olint and no more Cash Plus???

Suicide!

I am getting calls from persons who feel like committing suicide because they are not coping. Why even the police are getting involved in crime? Quite a number of persons are living on our streets. These are serious signs which cannot be ignored.

Waste Not!

It means therefore that we cannot waste what we have because tougher days could be ahead. Remember that, willful waste make woeful wants.

Fi Wi Concerns - Michael Spence

Renato Adams - Former police officer

Effect of Renato Adams On Crime In Jamaica

I recall while Adams was around regarding crime he had a kind of socio therapeutic effect on the population. Crime really is functionally a socioeconomic phenomenon that really cannot be tackled in isolation other socially supporting efforts.If you mash up the  economy, unemployment ,crime and a bundle of social evils accompany and then the police get basket to carry water ending up with even police, parson, lawyer, teacher,  committing crimes like ,robbery, extortion, fraud, scamming and murder.

Crime Is Big Business

Crime is also a multi  billion dollar business and if you were to eliminate crime people would be demonstrating in the short run "we want justice we want crime" because thousands would lose their jobs.Court house become wholesales ,police and lawyers become taxi drivers or farmers, prisons become colleges and you are allowed to imagine many more options. 24/04/15

The problem is that our large fines have no other objective than to collect taxes through a convoluted back door. It seems that police are being assessed and graded for promotion and a part of it is how many tickets they write .That in itself is a corruption of due process. Our authorities thrive on the multibillion industry of crime i.e. people breaking the various laws that require punishment and or imprisonment. Sooner than later you may be able to go to prison and pay for a 5,4,3,2.1 or no star room as long as you can afford it meaning you will soon have 5 star prison hotels where you can stay and run your business a road and gwaan mek money. That is a business opportunity Jam Law arrange the signing of a MOU nuh for even $4 billion to build out some graded star prisons where we can house prisoners from all over the world for a fee so what we have now is  a"Prison Tourism Product".25/04/15

The Tivoli Enquiry Chairman

Chairman Simmonds  is really a five star chairman in full control from week one - if you form the fool he will expel you. I rate him highly. The best I have seen in my lifetime. Do you recall an enquiry when the chairman started to snore during those proceedings and it was dubbed the "snoring commission". Chairman Simmonds is always on the ball "big him up".25/04/15

Jamaica A Criminal's Paradise!!!

For the past 10 years over 15000 murders how many people hung or on death row? Check it, any was hung and less than five on death row. Criminals/murderers are having a good time isn't this a Criminal's paradise? 26/04/15

Taxation

Did we really have to wait on a study to know that “JAMAICA'S taxation levels are higher than most of its developing nation peers”.We  have perfected tax and borrow economics. Soon the IMF  will have to learn from us and get us to teach other poverty stricken economies how to love and create the poor and enjoy the parasitic non productive lifestyle. Jamaica no Problem - every living and dead Jamaican know what UHY. An international accountancy network is just revealing that to themselves. 26/04/15

The Qur'an

Chapter in the QUR'AN named Surah 4:24 I read it and it seems to prohibiting slackness Surah4: 22 and 23.For example 22 says "marry not women whom your fathers married, it was shameful, odious an abominable custom indeed" In 23: "prohibited to you for marriage are your mothers daughters, sisters, fathers sisters, brothers, daughters, foster mothers who gave you suck and it goes on. Those whom your right hand possess I interpret to mean the woman who you are married to or in other words "fi you woman" nothing to do with, raping women, slavery or evil ideology.29/04/15

Legalize Abortion 

Quite frankly I believe that it is a wasteful argument  not to legalize abortion  in Jamaica.Women must be free to legally choose what they do with their bodies and even if they bear children. The fact is that abortion is going on everyday some dangerously in the shadows all around the country. I would have no problem with legal abortion, prostitution or euthanasia. Prostitution (consensual sex for a fee) also saves family life needed to maintain a stable society. 29/04/15

Downtown - A Disaster Happening!

I constantly said downtown was a disaster waiting to happen, now it is a disaster happening with someone being shot on the streets with greater regularity. I was almost shot myself, vehicle shot up and man beside me shot while we were both hugging the ground on upper King Street on the 4th of March 2015. Eight people shot thankfully none fatally, one police included. There needs to be some rapid interventions from West through Central to East Kingston to help reduce strife. The source of the killings is mainly gang /domestic related and less of rampant criminality/robberies which is also unacceptable. The more what is going on continues the more reprisals are fuelled and the danger of passers by getting shot increases without warning at times. If you hear shots just hug the ground I mean stay low and crawl to cover better than running. There is also need for hard intelligence driven and community policing. Hope "Bigga Ford" can help they need to get back McGregor also they both know the East, Central and West Kingston very well .Businesses are being affected large and small. The downtown economy is dying. 29/04/15

Getting A House

In the face of one bank posting a profit over a year in excess of $3 billion.Can you imagine a youth taking a mortgage on a $10million house at 10% for 30 years has incurred a debt of over $40 million before the keys are handed to them, then he needs a car he and a generation after him may be indebted for life if he takes a mortgage on the equity developed over time. This is where I think it is ripe for the NHT to enter the housing market, widen the clientele with lower rates thus forcing down the other regular market rates. If Jamaica is to make a significant dent in poverty interest rates have to get in line with the rest of the productive world while being more accessible.29/04/15

These Fines 

The problem is that our large fines have no other objective than to collect taxes through a convoluted back door. It seems that police are being assessed and graded for promotion and a part of it is how many tickets they write .That in itself is a corruption of due process. Our authorities thrive on the multibillion industry of crime i.e. people breaking the various laws that require punishment and or imprisonment. Sooner than later you may be able to go to prison and pay for a 5,4,3,2.1 or no star room as long as you can afford it meaning you will soon have 5 star prison hotels where you can stay and run your business a road and gwaan mek money. That is a business opportunity Jam Law arrange the signing of a MOU nuh for even $4 billion to build out some graded star prisons where we can house prisoners from all over the world for a fee so what we have now is  a"Prison Tourism Product".25/04/15 (Editors Note: DCP Grant says that the assessment system does not encourage police to issue tickets.)

Murders - What Have We Done?

For the past 10 years over 15000 murders how many people hung or on death row? Check it, none hung and less than five on death row. Criminals/murderers are having a good time isn't this a Criminal's paradise? 26/04/15