Jamaican Nurses looking forward to their “double pay”

 Source: Jamaica Gleaner - October 3rd, 2007

Just when I thought I could exhale, along comes the Nurses Association of Jamaica, claiming that they “have di tape”. Di Tape? Well this morning’s Jamaica Gleaner has reported that this group will be holding the Minister of Finance to his word. Apparently when he was the Opposition spokesman on finance, he had cut their cake with them at their 60th anniversary party and promised them at least “double pay”.

“We have him on a DVD where he cut the cake with us at our 60th anniversary/Founder’s Day and he really sympathised with us and we are holding him to it (the promise),” declared Edith Allwood-Anderson, NAJ president, yesterday at a Gleaner Editors’ Forum.

Now anyone who has listened to Edith Allwood-Anderson over the last year will see that this is a woman who doesn’t joke around. She takes her position seriously and I am sure Omar Davies must be saying “Thank yuh Lawd seh dat woman get off mi back”.

Interesting times ahead……………

Read: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070926/lead/lead1.html

That tuition refund from the Government of Jamaica

Folks, I couldn’t miss the news tonight. In fact, I had to watch both television newscasts so that I could hear both perspectives on the issue of the tuition refund. The Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness held  a press conference this evening to announce that the nation will hear when the disbursement of refunds will be forthcoming, at a later date. He claims that refunds will be some time in November…ok cool.

However, we are now hearing that tuition costs amounts to some B$1.8!! This is after we were told it would cost a little over B$1.0. What a drastic difference! There was I thinking (because I am so stupid) that the tuition would have cost exactly B$1.0. Wow. Someone dared to ask where the money was coming from to facilitate this refund, to which the Minister expressed that we shouldn’t be concerned about that. He continued to say that if we are really THAT concerned then we need to direct that question to the Minister of Finance. Well, well, well…….there is even the suggestion that when the refund is made it should be left with the schools for development purposes……well, well, well….there was I thinking that schools ran on chocolate…silly me.

On another note, the Gleaner reported a story this morning about the auxiliary fees “which vary from school to school, usually cover developmental, PTA, insurance and laboratory fees, among others, and range from $2,000 to $12,000″. The Minister states that the Ministry will now begin a debate about these fees, with a view to constructing policy. Good for them.Alphansus Davis, president of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals, claims “That aspect needs to be regulated because we can’t have a system where people increase these fees to supplement tuition fees,” Mr. Davis said.

If I were a primary or secondary school teacher, which I am not, but if I were, I would succumb to the rules of capitalism. You get what you pay for. Want extra? It’s gonna cost you! I wonder if they think that quality teachers come cheap. If I ran a primary or secondary school there would be a sign at the gate saying “Basic services only. For premium services, call 1 888 PAY MORE and press 2 for more details on how to obtain our services at an additional cost”.  The Ministry could never be in their right mind.  How will they attract QUALITY teachers?

To top it off, the feedback question on TVJ this evening was “Do you think this administration has been reckless with their spending and promises?” (or words to that effect)…..funny..71% of the respondents said YES!! It’s those Comrades….they are sitting by the phone and pressing 2 FOR YES. They manipulated the straw poll this evening!!

To the Jamaican Diaspora - Please come home

Here is a question I have always wanted to ask those in the Jamaican Diaspora and hopefully I will get some honest answers. Since it has been said that Jamaica has been so mashed up over the years, and it appears there is now a shimmer of hope on the horizon, when can we expect you back here, on a full time basis,  to contribute some sweat and tears with the rest of us? We would love you all to come back home and give us some brain power which may, in the long run, reduce our dependence on remittances.

 Can I hear an Amen from the crowd? Just curious to know if you are coming home to help.

 I await your wrath……………….

Dear Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce Golding

As always, I visit my fellow bloggers to see what’s happening in their neck of the woods and found this letter quite interesting. Bobby thanks for letting me link you…haffi big yuh up. You can read some more of his posts at:

 http://hecklefind.wordpress.com/

 Ok…here goes: 

Dear Sir Our Honourable Prime Minister O. B. Golding

Allow me this opportunity to congratulate you on your ascension to the highest public post that we have in our blessed land we love. It was an hard fought battle, personally i don’t think the battle has come to a conclusion as yet, but we’ll see.

You personally got my attention, the day you took on to yourself the role of convert. Speaking glowingly of your changes and your principles that you have now adopted. You offered a straw and i held on to it with my heart heavy with doubt, i rode that doubt out and decided to take a chance with blind hope.

Well, here you are, not by any major doing on my part, but you are at the helm. Allow me to remind you that power corrupts, remember that. Be steadfast in your doings, and hold true to your words as it was spoken today (sept. 11,) at your inauguration. To you much has been given and from you much is expected.

You made a slip, and for me a really bad one when you lied about the discussion you had with the commissioner of police, in regards to the state of emergency, that is strike one for you, you have two more strikes to go. Be careful be really careful.

There are those among you, who i am sure do not share the same perceived passion you continue to exhibit, for wanting a united and prosperous country, they have other plans. They fought tooth and nail like rabid dogs to help get you there…… they are hungry and will need to be fed, cause if not they will turn on you and rip you to shreads. So my advice to you; chain them and do it quickly, we cannot afford their pang like desires.

There is a very thin line between love and hate, very very thin, i profess no love for you, but i have faith and i have showed charity, and i took a chance and trusted you, placed in you my hope, the future of my “kedked”, Please don’t ramp with my vote!!!

Yours a faithful

Jamaican Citizen

Xaymaca Blog Strikes again!

After a sort of long break….my friend at Xaymaca Blog strikes again…and with a most appropriate tune, “Vaya Con Dios” Read this blog’s post-mortem on the elections: 

http://xaymacablog.com/2007/09/17/jamaican-elections-prove-time-longer-than-rope-for-both-pnp-and-jlp/

Jamaica Labour Party’s start

As quick as I am to congratulate Mr. Golding, I am quite disappointed in a few moves he has made, within a short space of time. He led an opposition party who opposed every single thing including the way the wind blew, which is why his actions intrigue me so much.

Let me begin with the extension of the Olive Branch to the new Leader of the Opposition, Portia Simpson Miller. After the way the Jamaica Labour Party treated her in the media over the last few months, how could they expect her to become bosom buddies all of a sudden? The Opposition is now pursuing Constitutional issues, Magisterial recounts plus facing a seat in St. Mary being swiped from them because 2 ballot boxes were not counted…and there is now an injunction preventing the boxes from being counted….and now “best friendship”? Surely we all have feelings and blood running through our veins!

Next, the size of the Cabinet is appalling. When the JLP was in opposition they criticised the now opposition, for being too top-heavy…yet we now have a cabinet comprising 18 persons, with an additional 13 persons as junior Ministers etc. So now taxpayers will have to bankroll 31 people for the next 5 years, after we were promised a leaner government. What is most appalling to me is that Audley Shaw, the new Minister of Finance, now has 2 other persons Don Wehby of Grace Kennedy Limited and Dwight Nelson) as Ministers without Portfolio overseeing the national coffers. What happen? Audley can’t manage the job? Let me be frank by saying that I question his ability to govern the national coffers, especially with his entrepreneurial experience or lack thereof. Wignall gave us some insight a few years ago:

http://jamaicaobserver.com/columns/html/20040222t030000-0500_56087_obs_audley_shaw_s_day_of_shame.asp

In addition to that, I too am asking, if Wehby will collect a government salary and in addition collect the difference between the government salary and his regular salary from Grace Kennedy, then who will he be answerable/accountable to?

I will continue to comment in future posts, but I couldn’t end without saying that the cessation of weekly press briefings is the best one. When I heard it on the news last night, that the current administration will take a retrograde step by cutting out weekly meetings with the press, I couldn’t help myself…I had to laugh. Why? The same set of people who sang “Halleluiah” last week are now singing something else this week. The first point of duty was just to cut them off….and it is so funny!

Congratulations Mr. Bruce Golding

I have been meaning to put up a post congratulating Mr. Bruce Golding et al. on their election day victory. I think all Jamaicans are looking for that change which we expect that your administration will bring.

I wish you all the best.

Portia Simpson Miller finally concedes victory

Mrs. Simpson Miller has finally conceded victory to the Jamaica Labour Party. Most people thought she should have done so from Monday evening, but this was not to be. She claims she would address the nation once there was a recount, which so far has brought the JLP further victory. (32-28).  Personally I think she should have just conceded on Monday evening.

Now the next thing on the PNP’s agenda is pursuing the JLP candidates who allegedly have US citizenship and are now about to be sworn in.

 Here is where the problem is:

Under the Jamaican Constitution (1962) 40 (2 a)  it states that:

No person shall be qualified to be appointed as a Senator or elected as a member of the House of Representatives who-

is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign Power or State;

There has been much talk about this and it has been explained by the legal eagles that once you are a citizen of a Commonwealth state, you would be somewhat exempt from this if you are resident in Jamaica for at least one year. Based on this, there could be a problem in the formation of the next administration. 

I shall form no opinion until the matter is sorted in the courts, but in the interim I ask, what’s your view?

Who is in charge of Jamaica? - General Election keeps Jamaicans in limbo

Last evening, it was unofficially declared that the JLP had won with 31 seats to the PNP’s 29. I was shocked by the fact that the JLP did not cop more seats than that. One has to give credit where credit is due. The JLP ran a very organised campaign in this election. Their PR was second to none and so were the commercials. My favourite was “Me and mi neighba”. No matter what I was doing at the time that ad was on TV (not so much radio), I stopped and watched it. The little old lady dancing in her green, the crowd, the people, the dancers….one had to love that commerical! But how come the JLP, millions of dollars later and the message of change couldn’t cop more than that in the preliminary count? My guess is as good as yours, but you have to admit that the struggle also is a reflection on the PNP (good or bad, you decide).

There were some real surprises and upsets. Sally Porteous has worked assiduously in her community and I really expected her to win her seat. Bunting just got there 6 months ago and he beat her…..maybe not by a landslide…but he still beat her. Shaw’s seat came as a surprise to me as I thought Paul Lyn would have unseated him. Richard Azan was another surprise considering how it was said that he did a great job but I gather Stern is a likeable guy so that was tough. Horace Dalley….well not much can be said about his seat just yet. Daryl Vaz and Abe Dabdoub had me on the edge of my seat ALL NIGHT.

 I really expected Rosie Shaw to defeat James Robertson and wasn’t surprised at Lisa Hanna’s victory (The beauty of politics)…plus that big “diss” she got the other day could only help and not harm her. I can hear the little country man now “Wi haffi vote fi har. Look ‘ow shi pretty wid tall ‘air and skin like butta”. I remember when she was first selected (not elected) I heard a man on the news with a wretched smile on his face saying that “Is 5 a Lisa Hanna wi want down ya”. Jamaican men for you.

I was surprised that Harry Douglas and Roger Clarke held on. I was surprised that Marisa Dalrymple beat Donneth Brown Reid….as for Phillip Paulwell…..I was wondering how it is that the JLP didn’t use a stronger candidate against him….especially as they had hit out on him due to the numerous scandals behind his name.

Bruce’s speech was perfect, while Portia’s was disappointing. I felt she should have just said that the election was too close to call and she would not concede immediately and left it at that. I was a bit disappointed that she didn’t end on a note of peace and a message of “no violence please”. Bruce on the other hand was humble and did not gloat. I think this was a wise move on his part pending the outcome this evening. He really surprised me to tell you the truth. 

We await to hear tonight’s results. What are your thoughts on the General Election?

Jamaican Elections 2007 Results - September 3rd, 2007

**Mrs. Simpson Miller has not conceded victory until further notice. She claims she will speak again tomorrow. There are constitutional issues which are currently an impediment, amongst other things. We await further notice. There is going to be a recount. ********** 

Declared Seats:

 Karl Samuda - JLP

Othneil Lawrence - JLP

Shahine Robinson  - JLP

Laurie Broderick - JLP

Derrick Smith - JLP

Bruce Golding - JLP

Olivia Babsy Grange - JLP

Kenneth Baugh - JLP

Delroy Chuck - JLP

Horace Chang - JLP

J.C. Hutchinson - JLP

Everald Warmington - JLP

Ernie Smith - JLP

Ruddy Spencer - JLP

Michael Stern - JLP

Christopher Tufton - JLP

St. Aubyn Bartlett - JLP

Clive Mullings - JLP

Robert Montaque - JLP

James Robertson - JLP

Daryl Vaz - JLP

Gregory Mair - JLP

Joseph Hibbert - JLP

Andrew Gallimore - JLP

Franklyn Whitter - JLP

Andrew Holness - JLP

Marisa Dalrymple - JLP

Ronnie Thwaites - PNP

Phillip Paulwell - PNP

Omar Davies - PNP

Peter Phillips - PNP

Portia Simpson Miller - PNP

Robert Pickersgill  - PNP

Noel Arscott - PNP

Wykeham McNeil - PNP

Sharon Haye Webster - PNP

Luther Buchanan - PNP

Morais Guy - PNP

Peter Bunting - PNP

Natalie Neita Headley - PNP

Dean Peart - PNP

Harry Douglas - PNP

Maxine Henry Wilson - PNP

Henry Wilson - PNP

Patrick Harris - PNP

Lisa Hanna - PNP

Anthony Hylton - PNP

Michael Peart - PNP

DK Duncan - PNP

Fitz Jackson - PNP

Roger Clarke - PNP

 See why we are nervous?? These are preliminary results and I gather some may be recounted.