I know. I am really late with my mid-week bulletin (usually Wednesdays), but other things got in the way – primarily my second encounter with the flu (December edition) which really laid me low this time. It takes a lot for me to stay in bed for a whole day. Ugh. Moving on…
Apart from the overwhelming wonderfulness of Tessanne Chin’s win in “The Voice,” there have been some other bits of news to preoccupy us, as Christmas draws nigh. It was amusing, though, that the Ministry of Transport and Works found it necessary to formally respond to an off the cuff remark by Ms. Chin (who has a great sense of humor) on winning a nice car. She joked, “And we have the worst roads!” To which the National Works Agency’s Earl Patterson responded: “Certainly the point that Tessanne made that the roads could do with more investment, that point is noted.” Indeed. Noted long time!
Jamaica is on track: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) sounded tentative but positive in its latest statement on Jamaica – which passed its second quarterly review recently. There are “tentative signs of a gradual economic recovery,” says the IMF in the December 18 statement on its website. Looking ahead, it also notes: “Achieving inclusive growth and enhancing the effectiveness of social protection are central components of the authorities’ reform program.” Inclusive? Social protection? How do these phrases sound in the Jamaican context?
The most important part of this for the government (reflected in the Jamaica Information Service headline) is “IMF approves US$30.8 million for Jamaica.”
So is it true that as of January online readers will have to pay to access Gleaner articles? Well, that’s one way to lose thousands more readers…
The Buff Bay Community Hospital is virtually derelict, and Health Minister Fenton Ferguson is taking urgent action. He is considering pulling it down. Oh, and by the way the Minister has reviewed the anti-smoking legislation recently passed and has decided to reduce the penalties, which are really too high (as a result, local tobacco firm Carreras has withdrawn its pending lawsuit against the government). It was good to see Minister Ferguson at the launch of the government’s HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy the other night. He is actually well on the way to replacing Minister Phillip Paulwell as Petchary’s Favorite Minister. I think his heart is in the right place.
Buying into the Caribbean: I notice that China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), which is seeking to set up some kind of outfit (an enclave?) on Goat Islands, is sponsoring a cricketer, Trinidadian Dwayne Bravo. Thank heavens he is not Jamaican. CHEC apparently thinks the way to ingratiate itself is to buy into (literally) Caribbean sport. It is also sponsoring awards for coaches and for “Star Baller of the Month” at the G.C. Foster College of Sports Education. And it recently donated J$23 million to the Premier League Clubs Association. Not bad going. So, cricket, football – what next? Sponsoring an athlete? An entire football team? Who knows where it will end.
No, PetroCaribe was NOT an aid program: We just took on more debt, albeit on fairly gentle terms. Now, we are having to pay the Venezuelans back in kind, so to speak. So the Prime Minister had to travel (again) to that country to “activate” the trade compensation mechanism, enabling Jamaica to repay the debt in clinker rather than cash. They are making a huge deal out of this. Carib Cement just shipped, with much ceremony, US$8.5 million worth of clinker to Venezuela. Doesn’t seem like a lot to me – US$2.5 billion is the total loan amount and Jamaica owes the Venezuelan US$100 million annually! A drop in the bucket.
Hungry schoolchildren: Education Minister Ronald Thwaites says he estimates more than one-third of early childhood students come to school hungry daily. This is, of course, very disturbing news and the problem is only being addressed in a half-hearted way. This must affect the children’s performance at school, as well as their physical and mental growth. This age group is particularly vulnerable, but it’s reported that all age groups are going hungry. Have we seen any reports on malnutrition in Jamaica? Is it on the increase? Perhaps this is something our local media could look into. I’ve heard reports from non-governmental organizations of malnutrition in rural areas, from years ago.
Crime, again: National Security Minister Peter Bunting says his ministry is working hard with the Jamaica Constabulary Force on the right mix of policy and on-the-ground operations to bring the crime rate down. I do believe Minister Bunting fully understands the issues involved, and his Unite for Change initiative reflects this broad understanding. But as always, the devil is in the details… The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has gone on the attack on crime; former National Security Minister Derrick Smith has pointed out that the crime rate has gone up under every People’s National Party administration since Independence, and I believe he is right.
The Prime Minister speaks… In what appeared to be informal television interviews (cleared, one presumes, with questions sent in?) the Prime Minister spoke on crime to CVM Television, who asked her why she had not made any comment on the over 1,100 murders to date this year. “I am very concerned…I want to see solutions…We have to find a way…Children are being murdered…Women…” were among her comments. She vaguely mentioned “serious discussions” and “tough measures.” But why do I often get the feeling the PM is just “winging it” in these interviews?
…and vehemently defends herself: On the matter of overseas travel, the Prime Minister was much more defensive with Television Jamaica’s Kirk Wright. She pointed out that all her overseas trips are taken to Cabinet for approval, “and I cannot say that of the former administration” (were we asking?) Venezuela apparently sent a plane for her to travel there. She came back from China “with $1.6 billion in grants” (not loans!) OK. More downward finger pointing.
The PM also mentioned ALBA on television, which puzzled me. Is Jamaica considering joining? ALBA – the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas – was founded by Cuba and Venezuela (under Chavez) in 2004 and the other members are Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Bolivia, Ecuador, St. Lucia (who joined in July this year), Nicaragua, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Chavez intended ALBA to be an alternative free trade area to the north-south trade with North America. I am not sure what benefits it has brought to its member states to date. I do know however that the previous Jamaican administration was dubious about it, seeing it as a destabilizing factor for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Meanwhile, Venezuela’s own economy is in shambles. Let’s see what happens next. How will Carib Cement get paid for its clinker?
Incidentally, that extended arm and downward-pointing finger gesture is more appropriate for a party political campaign than for a friendly one-on-one interview with a journalist, Madam Prime Minister. But I guess it’s a reflex – mere emphasis, perhaps? Does not look good, though.
Christmas shopping: Local businesspeople say consumers have been very cautious and frugal in their buying, so far. But a lot of Jamaicans leave their Christmas shopping until the last minute. Businesses have cut their profit margins and are being equally cautious. There is no doubt that business and consumer confidence remains very low. But I do see signs of entrepreneurs opening small niche businesses, and a little optimism – in other words (in the words of a tweep) “more hustling and vibes.” I hope the new young entrepreneurs do well over Christmas. Please support Jamaican businesses and products wherever you can!
I am going to ask again: Since nobody has responded and somebody must know… How is Transport and Works Minister Omar Davies‘ health? Some time ago he took leave for a medical operation. This is presumably overseas, since politicians rarely have major medical treatment in Jamaica.
Huge Christmas kudos to:
Food for the Poor (FFP), who just paid the fines of 37 prisoners serving terms for minor offenses, so they are released to their families for Christmas. Under FFP’s Prison Ministry Program, 140 were released across the Caribbean and also given money for transportation, food and a care package. And they do the same at Easter time.
Ms. Berette Macaulay: This bright young photo-artist is holding her first solo exhibition in Jamaica, opening today at 6:30 p.m. at the HiQo Gallery, 24 Waterloo Road, Kingston. Berette’s creative spirit currently resides in New York City. Do go see. Open until January 9, 2014.
All the students who did so well in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE); in particular, Dea Thomas of Ardenne High School, who was awarded by the Caribbean Examinations Council as the Most Outstanding Candidate in the Caribbean overall in CAPE.
Dwayne Anderson of CVM Television, who has been anointed by the Prime Minister for the “way in which he approached her and asked for an interview.” Kudos from the Prime Minister, then, oh favored one. You will be given preference in future! (Referring to last night’s interview, again…)
My condolences, as always, to the family of the following Jamaicans who lost their lives violently:
Mark Sterling, 32, Salt Spring, St. James
Unidentified man, Frankfield, Clarendon
Petchary's Blog 
I haven’t picked up the Sunday Observer or opt to pay for the e-newspaper when they decided to bar us from reading certain articles. I just decided to stop reading them. (bye bye Mark Wignall) Not that I’m a cheapskate, if I’m on the road I will pick them up, but there is more than enough reading online to keep me up to date.
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Yes, I did the same. I’m not a cheapskate either… But on principle. And yes, there is plenty of stuff to read out there already!
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